Protect Me (Broken Heroes 2)

I spot Candy working the bar. I feel calm, relaxed even, as I make my way to her—until the realization hits me: little fucking Keira escaped again. I’m done with her not obeying my orders. I’ve let this slide too many times. This time, I will show her a lesson, one she will never forget. I will have to hurt her to prove my point.

Leaning over the bar top, I motion for Candy to come over. She eyes me cautiously, almost as if she’s afraid, and she has reason to be. She’s been working here long enough to know when I’m in an explosive mood.

“Have you seen Kiera?”

“She was walking around here a while ago just looking around, eyeing the back doors. I haven’t seen her for a while. I thought she went back to your office.”

Motherfucking fuck. Of course she slipped through the cracks. She might stick out like a sore thumb, but she could make herself invisible if need be.

“Did anybody leave their positions, even for a moment?” I crack my neck, ready to beat someone’s ass.

Candy doesn’t say anything, but I see her eyes flash to where Diego is standing. I turn around, heading straight for him. As soon as he sees me coming, his face goes pale. He is a big guy, but I’m bigger…not that it matters. He wouldn’t dare retaliate, not if he values his life.

I don’t even stop to ask questions. I swing and hit him square in the jaw. His head snaps back, but—props to him—he doesn’t pass out. Which is good. I still need him to man the door.

“What the fuck is more important than doing your job?”

“Nothing, boss.”

Clenching my fist, I pull it back before slamming it into his nose. He grunts, but remains standing. Blood trickles down his nose and over his lips, but he doesn’t dare make a move to wipe it away.

I grip Diego by his shirt and lean into his face. “Lie to me again, and I’ll cut out your fucking tongue. I trusted you to guard this door. You know the rules, and I expect better from you.”

Diego swallows and nods his head as if he understands. Well, maybe if his head wasn’t in the fucking clouds, I wouldn’t have to go searching for Keira.

Without another word, I march back to my office, feeling eyes on me. Slamming the door shut behind me, I get out my laptop and pull the surveillance tapes up. As I comb through four different screens, I spot her. Her silky brown locks and perfect body. I watch as she walks around the floor, eyeing the doors for a weak spot. Diego leaves post, and the light bulb inside her head turns on. She slips out the door and appears on another screen, an outside camera.

As I stare at the screen, I realize she’s not alone.

Who the fuck is the girl she’s with?

They talk like they know each other, which makes me wonder if Keira called her. Then I realize who is standing behind them. Gunner.

He’s one of my bookies for the college, and now he’s got something in his possession that is fucking mine. Clenching my teeth, I watch them get into Gunner’s car and drive off.

I take a calming breath, trying to get my temper under control. If I don’t, I’ll seriously hurt Keira when I get my hands on her, and that’s the last thing I want to do. If anything, I just want her to listen to me. Her brother sent her to me for a reason. She doesn’t have to like it, but she has to follow my rules—and if she doesn’t want to, maybe I should just wrap her up in a tight little bow and send her off to my brother.

My stomach lurches at the thought. Yeah, that’s not going to fucking happen.

While I’m already on my laptop, I pull up Gunner’s address from my files and punch it into my phone. If Gunner knows she belongs to me and took her anyway, I’ll have no choice but to put a bullet in his brain.

I slam my laptop shut, lock up my office, then head out back and get into my Cadillac. The faint smell of strawberries enters my nostrils. My car smells like her…my fucking car. Is there anything this girl isn’t going to take over? It feels like she’s under my skin, inside my head. I grip the steering wheel hard, turning the ignition on and throwing it into drive. As I follow the directions to Gunner’s place, I’m already thinking of ways to make her pay for leaving again. I hate that she’s pushing me like this, forcing my hand.

After tonight, she won’t leave again. I’ll make sure of it.

The punishment will fit the crime.

I pull up to the curb, parking directly in front of his place. I stare out the window at the house, wondering if I’m in the right place. There’s a white picket fence and flowers out front. The lawn is well-manicured, and I’d bet anything there is a BMW and 2.5 kids inside.