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“Promise?”
“Promise. Now talk.”
I settled back into the couch and tried to think of the best place to start. “He was jealous.”
“Because you have a prettier face than him? That ain’t breaking news.”
My lips twitched despite myself. “No, he got upset because I told him about you and me.”
I waited for Daire to clue in to what I was telling him. That Joey had not been happy at all to learn that I would be moving in with him now that my brother, Donovan, and his boyfriend, Kelly, were about to shack up.
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about? We aren’t?—”
“Moving in together?” I cocked my head to the side. “It’s still okay for me to move in tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, of course.” Daire blinked as though his brain was catching up with what I’d just said, then he sat forward to rest his hands on his knees, his eyes pinned to the marble floor. “You’re telling me that shithead laid his hands on you because you’re moving in with me?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Daire slowly turned his head, and his dark hair fell across his hooded eyes. “Prove it. Pull up your sleeve.”
“No, I?—”
“Gavin, I’m not gonna touch you after whatever you’ve been through. But if you don’t pull up that fucking sleeve, so help me God…”
I reached for my sleeve and tugged it up my arm, and as five very distinctive reddish-purple welts came into view, Daire cursed and shot to his feet. I sucked in a sharp breath as he began to pace back and forth, muttering under his breath, and all I could think was thank God he couldn’t see my back. Hell, I couldn’t either, but I could feel the way it stung from my being thrown up against the bureau in Joey’s room.
“How long?” Daire bit out. His hands were fisted by his sides, his back to me as though he didn’t trust himself to look my way for the answer.
“Just this once,” I said quietly.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I swear I’m not. This was the first and last time.” It was the truth, and something that still shocked me hours later. Joey had always leaned more on the mentally controlling side, and he’d never physically hurt me before. That wasn’t something I would endure with anyone, and I’d ended it right then and there. His surprise and hesitation when I said we were over gave me the time I needed to get the hell out of there and not look back.
I’d blocked his number. His email. Taken away guest privileges here at the Towers. There was no way he could get to me, so here I was safe.
But the way Daire’s body vibrated with rage told me that Joey wasn’t.
I got to my feet, but he was already turning around and heading for the door, like his mind was made up about something and he had a singular focus.
“What are you doing?” I said, and even I could hear the panic in my voice.
Daire didn’t stop, and when I reached for him, his leather jacket slipped through my fingers.
“Daire, stop. You promised you wouldn’t do anything.”
“You’re too good for that piece of shit,” he muttered, coming to a stop to wait for the elevator doors to open.
“You’re right. I am. That’s why I broke up with him.” I stepped in between him and the elevator, and when he wouldn’t meet my eyes, I said, “Hey. Look at me.”
The stubborn set of his stubble-lined jaw made me think he wouldn’t, but then eyes so dark they were almost black looked down into mine.
“I told you this in confidence, which means this stays between us,” I said. “It’s been handled. I don’t need you doing anything on my behalf, D. You promised.”
He stared down at me and then cocked his head. “I know. I’m going up to the roof for a smoke.”
The elevator dinged behind me, and I stepped aside so Daire could go in. For a second, I wondered if I should join him, but he wasn’t the type of guy who wanted others around, and my presence might only piss him off more.
