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“I’m sure as hell not going back with you.”
“I understand you’re upset with me, but your home isn’t safe. Come back to the estate. At least for the night.” When I roll my eyes, he grudgingly adds, “I won’t come near you. I just want you safe.”
Yeah. Not buying that.
“Hang on,” Nick says. “He has a point. That creep still lives next door to you.”
“Yes,” Terrance adds, abandoning his own car to join our conversation. “You can’t go home.”
One look at Terrance’s face, and I know I won’t be living in my apartment anymore. I give it my best shot anyway. “Xavier is a perverted psychopath, and he’s got an obsession with me. But I’ll be fine. I’ve been dodging him for months already. He’s probably still feeling the effects of his encounter with Cecile, and I only need a day or two to pack my stuff and figure out a plan.”
Terrance’s jaw clenches. When his pupils start to dilate to all black again, Nick places a hand on his arm. “Easy, friend. We won’t let any harm come to your young one. The Agency has a few housing capabilities. We’ll figure something out for her.”
I’m as surprised by Nick’s serious-but-gentle tone as I am by his choice of words. He’s talking to Terrance as if Terrance has a claim over me. “What do you meanhisyoung one?”
“Nothing,” Terrance says quickly. His voice is gruff, and he rubs the back of his neck as if a flush is creeping up it. “It’s nothing. I’m sorry. Trolls have…very strong protective instincts. Sometimes those instincts take over.”
I let out a relieved breath. For a moment there, I thought he was going to go all crazy like Henry and try to claim I’m his mate or something. “Right.” I force a laugh. “I could have guessed that. Hey, it’s okay. I think it’s cool that I’m friends with The Hulk.”
Terrance’s nerves disappear, and he bursts out with a huge belly laugh. “The Hulk. It’s an apt comparison,” he says. “But I don’t like the idea of you going home to live next to that pervert. I have a couple spare rooms. You’re welcome to take your pick, if you’d consider bunking down at my place until you figure out where you want to go.”
Normally, I’d turn down the offer without hesitation. Stay at a single man’s place? No way in hell. But Terrance isn’t putting out any lusty vibes. He wants to protect me. It’s his troll instincts. I can’t deny I’d feel safer at his place than I would staying at home with Xavier close by. “Yeah, okay,” I say slowly, testing it out to make sure I’m really okay with it. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” Terrance grins. “It’s no trouble, Trouble.”
I roll my eyes, but my smile stretches wide. “All right. Sure. That would be nice. Thank you.”
“Awesome.” Nick claps again and starts up his motorcycle. “If that’s all taken care of, I’m out. I’ll see you around, Spitfire. Take care, and try to stay out of trouble.”
After he roars out of the parking lot, Terrance opens the passenger door of his red Caddy.
It fits him perfectly. “I like your ride, T-man. Very pimp.”
“Well, Iama nightclub owner.”
“I thought you were the bouncer.” I’m teasing. I’d already figured out he owned the place.
He gives me a terrifying grin. “That’s just a hobby.”
“And that’s why I like you.”
When he waves me forward, Henry hisses.
“Are you still here?” I snap. He’s seriously grating on my last nerve.
“You refuse my offer, but you’ll go home with him?”
“Oh. In a heartbeat. And I won’t lose a wink of sleep over it. Have a nice life, Henry.”
I flip him off and climb into Terrance’s car. Driving away from him seconds later is the most satisfying feeling in the world.
