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“I’m not the president of the United States.”
“No,” Niles quipped, “else the Secret Service would have been there with you.”
“Hm,” was all he commented. He had no doubt Niles had Jaz’s name and her address. Sometimes the man went too far, but he couldn’t blame him. “I ended up leaving a little later than I intended to.”
Torrian named a different location to being picked up with less chance of being spotted. He’d have to walk farther, but no matter.
“Perhaps I should pick you up where you are, Mr. Donnelly.”
“It’s dawn, Niles. I’m fine. I’ll see you soon.” He disconnected the call and pushed his phone into his pocket. He had intended to leave earlier, but somehow watching Jaz sleep with the first rays of sunlight touching her beautiful face intrigued him. He had been unable to look away. Maybe it was being alone for so long that drew him, or it could be the fact that he hadn’t met a genuine person in a long time. Open, bold, most of all happy, Jaz gave off an energy that made him desire to bask in it, to prolong it—hell, to keep her at his side.
Torrian turned a corner and groaned. He considered whether it was too late to retrace his steps. His cousin leaned against a wall with a friend, one knee bent and smoking a cigarette. “What the fuck are you doing over here at this time, Torrian?”
Kenny’s friend turned. “Torrian? Damn, it is him.”
The two of them approached Torrian, hostility radiating from each man. Torrian tensed, on his guard. “Kenny and, uh, Billy wasn’t it?”
Billy chucked without mirth and slapped Kenny’s chest with the back of his hand. “Too good to remember his old pals this one.”
Torrian flared his nostrils. “No one said I’m too good.”
Kenny approached him, eyes narrowed. “Heard you were sniffing around that charity nut girl. Kind of early for you to be out this way. What did you fuck her?”
Torrian growled and slammed his cousin against the wall. “Shut your mouth, Kenny.”
“Hey!” Billy grabbed his arm, but Torrian hardly felt the pull. He didn’t let go of the front of his cousin’s coat as they faced each other eye to eye.
“Let it go, Kenny,” he warned.
“Or what?” Kenny shook him off. “You made your choice.”
“Fuck off,” Torrian shot back. “Last time I checked, just because you move away doesn’t mean you can’t come back.”
“Oh ho, so that’s what you want? To come back?”
“You know what I mean.”
Kenny stabbed him in the chest with a finger. “You grabbed the money and left. How’s it feel? No family and real friends. Is that why you come here every year? Maybe you come to rub it in my face how you’re a success and I’m still just a regular guy.”
“Are you jealous?” Torrian couldn’t help taunting.
Kenny swung at his head. Torrian ducked, and slammed his cousin on the wall again. Billy started to jump into it, but Kenny waved him off.
Torrian held him in place a few moments and then backed up. “Yeah we both had nothing. My godfather gave me a chance. I took it. There’s nothing wrong with that, and when I started to do better, I offered to help you. You rejected me.”
Kenny spit at his feet. “I don’t need your handouts or your high and mighty attitude.”
Torrian dragged a hand over his face. He couldn't win with this idiot.
“I wonder what Jaz thinks of you.”
Torrian clenched his jaw, and Kenny’s eyes widened.
“Whoa, she doesn’t know. You’re over here fucking a local girl. What do they call it—slumming?”
Torrian grabbed his coat front. “You better keep your mouth shut!”
Kenny thrust clenched fists outward, breaking Torrian’s hold. He reared back and threw a punch. Torrian sidestepped it and threw one of his own. His fist connected with is cousin’s jaw and put him on the ground. Torrian crouched over him as Kenny, dazed, rubbed his jaw.
