Page 29 of Irresistibly Wicked

ZANDER LAY IN bed staring up at the ceiling, one arm bent over his head, his other around Kitty, who was curled up beside him. For the first time in forever, Kitty hadn’t followed him into the bedroom when he’d turned in for the night. She’d sat outside Shauna’s closed door and had finally come to bed about an hour ago. It was nearly two in the morning, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Shauna. The more he got to know her, the more he dug her. She was cool and smart and unafraid to give him shit. He loved being around her, and talking with her was like talking to someone he’d known forever. Only, when Shauna spoke, he wanted to hear every word she said.

How many times had he given his brothers and cousins shit about being so into a woman she was first and foremost in their minds at all times? And here he was spending hours trying to figure out what to do about Shauna’s situation with Brian.

He told himself that’s what friends did and went back to trying to figure out how to help her. She loved Brian too much to walk away and let him fend for himself. Not that Zander wanted her to. Zander lived by a code of honor, which included helping those who couldn’t help themselves. Before she’d turned in for the night, he’d tried again to lend her the money for Brian’s rehab, but she was too proud to take him up on it. He’d have to find another way.

The sound of a car approaching too fast on the dead-end gravel street jerked him from his thoughts, propelling him to his feet and sending Kitty scampering off the bed. He got to the window as the car fishtailed, headlights slicing through the darkness, tires screeching, sending gravel flying against the front of the house as the car crashed into the bushes.

What the hell?

Zander pulled on jeans, snagged his phone, and hauled ass out of his bedroom.

Shauna rushed out of her room in her sleeping shorts and a tank top, her eyes wide. “What was that?”

“A car crashed into the bushes. Stay here.”

As he headed for the front door, someone pounded on it and shouted, “Shauuuna! I know you’re in there!”

Shauna froze. Zander’s blood boiled as more pounding shattered the silence.

“Shaun…Talk to me!” Brian slurred. “Please!”

“How does he know you’re here?” Zander asked through gritted teeth.

“I don’t know,” she said anxiously. “I didn’t answer any of his texts.”

“I’ll take care of it.” He reached for the doorknob.

“No!” She tried to push past him. “This is my mess. I’ll handle it.”

“The last time you saw him, he put his hands on you.” His gaze dropped briefly to the bruises on her arms. “That’s never happening again.”

“I need to talk to him, Zander,” she insisted.

“Then you can do it from behind me.” He opened the door, hulking over Brian, who was swaying unsteadily on the front porch in a ripped T-shirt and jeans. His light brown hair stood on end, his eyes were wild and bloodshot, and he reeked of alcohol.

Zander set a dark stare on him. “Back the fuck off my porch.”

“Shaun…” Brian bobbed and swayed, trying to see around Zander. “Shauna.”

“I said back the fuck up.” Zander stepped onto the porch and kept going, forcing Brian to stumble down the steps.

“Shauna!” Brian hollered.

“Brian, stop it. I’m really worried about you.” Shauna’s voice was thick with restraint. “You could have killed yourself or someone else, and that scares me.”

Zander knew what she was doing, turning her anger into compassion, trying not to fuel his intoxicated demise with judgment, accusations, or blame, and he respected the hell out of her for it. He knew it must be killing her, and he wouldn’t have been so kind.

“I had to see you. You’re not answering my texts,” Brian whined.

“There’s a reason for that,” she snapped. “How did you find me?”

“That stupid tracking app you put on our phones. ’Member how I hated it?” Brian laugh-slurred, but his humor faded fast. “You can’t just disappear, Shauna. I need you. I can’t do this without you. Just…come home. Please.” He stumbled forward.

Zander blocked his way. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”

“Who are you?” Brian yelled, looking confused, like he hadn’t seen Zander standing there the whole time. “Is this who you’re with now, Shauna? He doesn’t know you! Not like I do, baby—”

“I’m not your baby,” Shauna seethed, but there was a thread of sadness woven in that twisted Zander up inside. “And I’m not with Zander, but I’m not safe with you anymore, and I am safe here.”