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“Sit your ass back down, Charli,” Micky scolds, and I see the pleasure flashing in Xander’s eyes, realizing that Micky isn’t about to let me off the hook. Since I got here a few weeks ago, Micky has easily slipped into the father figure role that’s been so absent in my life. And as much as I love that, it only infuriates me that Xander likes it too. “You have three seconds to tell me what’s going on, girl, and why the hell do you have a red handprint across your face?”
After sending Xander a sharp glare, I focus my gaze back on Micky and let out a heavy sigh. “I had a visit from my stepmom and her boyfriend,” I tell him, watching the way his stare tightens. “They thought I had their pills and got pissed when I told them I’d flushed them. So naturally, they had a few things to say about that.”
“Fuck, Charli,” Micky scolds, his jaw clenching. “You’re not telling me everything.”
I cringe, not wanting to give him further details. I know it’s only going to make him worry, but apparently, Xander doesn’t quite give a shit. “They roughed her up. She’s got cuts and bruises on the back of her shoulders and arms. Also has a cut on the back of her head where he slammed her against a brick wall. Pretty sure she’s got a concussion. Had I not gotten there in time, I’m sure she’d be passed out in the trunk of his car right about now.”
“Fuck,” Micky roars, slamming his hands down on the bar before muttering to himself and marching up and down the length of the bar.
“With all due respect, sir, I don’t think Charli should be working tonight,” Xander suggests. Though I think we all know it’s not a suggestion and more of a demand.
Micky turns to me, and I notice his eyes quickly roaming over every inch of me, checking for any other wounds that Xander might have missed, but there’s no way. Xander checked over every inch of my body. “Get upstairs and get cleaned up. I’ll call Layla. She can cover your shift.”
“What?” I demand. “I’m fine to work.”
“You are not,” Micky challenges. “If anything, you’re lucky you’re not passed out in a fucking ditch somewhere. Now, get your ass upstairs.”
I let out a huff as I move away from the bar. How did I go from having nothing to having two overprotective, intimidating men in such a short time? This is ridiculous.
“Shit, kid. Thanks for bringing her home,” I hear Micky murmur to Xander as I practically bust down the side door that leads to my apartment. “You better go after her or she’s going to fume all night. Then we’ll both be in trouble.”
“BOTH YOU ASSHOLES ARE ALREADY IN TROUBLE,” I yell over my shoulder, stalking up the stairs as the internal door between my apartment and the bar swings closed behind me.
I don’t hear Xander’s reply, but the familiar sound of a stool moving out from under the bar tells me he’s making his move.
Nerves shoot through my body, as I unlock my apartment, hearing Xander on the stairs behind me. Hell, knowing we’re about to be closed in together suddenly has me forgetting why I’m so pissed at him.
Xander stands at my back as I finish unlocking the door, and as the nerves overwhelm me, he places his hands on my hips and the electricity flies. My breath picks up as I eventually get the door open, and he trails in behind me, his hands falling away.
The door closes with a soft thud, and I feel suddenly all too aware of how alone we are. I mean, I’ve been alone with him a few times now, but nothing quite like this. In an apartment . . . with a bed.
My head pounds from the bump, but I hardly register it. All that exists is Xander, and needing to put some space between us, I head for the kitchen, but he stops me with a hand at my elbow. Xander gently pulls me back to him until my hand lands on his strong chest, and I’m looking right up at his devilishly handsome face. His eyes search mine, and I’m drowning in a sea of darkness, completely mesmerized by everything that he is.
“Are you okay?” he murmurs, his soft tone wrapping around me.
“My head kind of hurts, but I’m fine,” I tell him.
He nods in understanding but continues. “I meant are you okay? After seeing them?”
“Oh, umm. I guess. Maybe. I don’t know,” I say with a shrug, not really having the chance yet to process everything that just went down. All I know is that the second Xander showed up, I felt like I could do anything. “You know, if you hadn’t been there, I never would have stood up to her.”
