“Not until you stop acting like a drunken brat.”
I glare up at him. “I’m not drunk.”
“High then.”
“Still not your problem.”
His eyes narrow slightly. “You sure about that?”
I yank my arm free. “Yes.”
He tilts his head slightly. “Come on.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
His mouth curves faintly. “Wasn’t a question.”
His grip on my arm tightens like a steel cuff, and he starts moving again, dragging me toward the tunnel exit.
“Jax!” I twist, trying to slow him down, but it’s like arguing with gravity.
We pass Lou and Andy, who are still pressed against the wall like the rest of the world stopped existing.
Jax pauses long enough to say, “Taking her.”
Lou straightens up. Recognition is instant, and a slow, knowing grin spreads across his face. “About damn time.”
“Lou!” I shout, my voice cracking with betrayal.
He just waves a hand at me, his eyes on Jax. “She needs it,” he says, winking. “Go get ‘em, tiger. She’s been a nightmare.”
“Lou!” I scream again, but he turns his back on me, grabbing Andy and pulling him further down the tunnel like his work here is done.
“Have fun, babe!” his voice echoes back, dripping with smug satisfaction.
“What the hell is your problem?” I spit, trying to get my feet under me as Jax pulls me out of the tunnel.
“You are my problem. You’re my problem when you’re in my city, and you’re my problem when you’re not.”
“This needs to stop,” I snap the moment we’re a few steps away. “You and me. Right now. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’m serious,” I say, stumbling a little. “We’re not together. Next time you run into me in this stupid city, you walk the other way. Pretend you don’t know me.”
He finally stops and turns. “Finished?” he asks.
Something about his voice makes the heat already spreading through my blood grow.
“I hate you,” I say.
“Yeah,” he says calmly. “You’ve mentioned that.”
I shove him in the chest. “Stop acting like you get to control everything.”
“I don’t,” he says.
I shove him again and his hand snaps out. Suddenly I’m moving backward, my shoulders slamming into the cold brick wall beside the tunnel entrance. His hand catches the back of my head at the last second, stopping me from hitting the brick.
