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"What?" I ask again. "You want me to—what?" I give him a bewildered look, not believing that this was his condition.
"Call me Ezra," he whispers. "Please. I don't want to be Kiwi to you." I blink a few times and glance around at the guys. Archer is watching us, not even pretending to listen to Maddox and Otis. Spencer has moved on to talking to Nessa and Arden in a low voice.
"Why?" I look back at him and his throat bobs.
"I'm Kiwi to everyone," he mutters, "and Ezra to no one." I bite my bottom lip as his words roll around in my head. They don't make sense. Kiwi is just his road name—he's the same person regardless of a name.
"Aright," I finally breathe. "Fine...Ezra." He goes completely still, his entire body freezing against mine. I don't think he's even breathing. "Ki—Ezra?" His breath hitches and he blinks a few times before his expression shifts into one I can't read. But there's something about it that makes me feel relieved. And a multitude of other things I don't want to think about.
He gives me a slight squeeze before he drops his arm and takes a small step back. Not far enough to be separated from me, but far enough away, so he's not on top of me anymore.
"You ready?" he asks Archer. Archer looks between us, then jerks his chin at Kiwi—Ezra. Fuck, it's going to be hard remembering to call him by his real name.
"In a sec," he says, taking a step toward me. They tower above me and I hold my breath, anticipating the worst. Then Archer reaches for me and Ezra clears his throat pointedly. A warning.
Archer's hand immediately falls away, and my brows lift. What the fuck? I glance at Ezra, but he stays glaring at Archer. How the fuck did he do that?
"What?" I ask when I look back at Archer.
"Is there something going on between you two?" Archer demands, not dropping his voice. The others in the room cut their conversations off to turn toward us.
"No," I say, then let out an irritated sigh as I step away from both men. "Are we really playing this game?" I look between them, my brows raised. "We're in our thirties. We're not in middle school. Come on, guys. Grow up."
"I can assure you I'm plenty grown, love," Ezra says. He folds his arms over his chest and steps his feet apart, looking ridiculously arrogant.
"You already know how grown I am, babe," Archer retorts just as smugly.
That was the wrong fucking thing to say. I barely move out of the way before Ezra's fist connects with Archer's face.
Kiwi
.
After all these years of wanting to escape this fucking world, of being alive and alone, I'm finally going to die and be with Elaine again. I can already see her long blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes.
Instead of sending me to the other side, he lets go and I fall to the floor, the dark bar shrouding me and dimming Elaine's memory. I rub my throat as I take ragged breaths and lean back against the wall. Still sitting on my ass, I look up at him and grin again.
"You ever worry you're gonna rip your dick off from how tight your grip is?" He blinks at me but keeps his face blank. "Your poor little willy." He takes a step forward, growling low in his chest. My teeth flash as his hands tighten into fists, then the door swings open, and Spencer storms out.
"Get up!" I must move too slowly because he doesn't give me a fucking chance before his hand wraps around my shirt and he yanks me to my feet. "Did I not just warn you I was gonna beat the shit out of you? I can't have you beating up my guys, Kiwi."
I shove at his chest, but he doesn't budge. "Fuck off, Spence. We both know that cocky fucker deserves way more."
"He's my Road Captain, same rank as you," he says as he shoves me against the wall. "I need you two to get along."
"Can't."
"Can't?" he repeats. "Just like that?"
"Yeah." He lets go of my shirt and I smooth my hand over it a few times. "He fucked Kens." Otis and Spencer glance at each other, then look at me.
"Seriously?" Spencer says, then shakes his head. "You know what—I don't care. Work this shit out right fucking now, because you two are riding out in five minutes."
"You're kidding," I scoff. "After that–"
"After that," he shouts as he points at the office door, "you're lucky you're still fucking breathing!" The fury in his eyes makes me swallow my tongue.
I might be crazy, but I'm not an idiot.
