Page 30 of Break Me Not

“Don't get involved in this.”

She tried to push me away, but I used my strength to keep the door open and lean in closer. I had yet to take the helmet off, but I pulled up my visor.

“Liz, I'm telling you that if you walk in there, I can't guarantee your safety. I need you to get back in your car and go back to your apartment.”

“You don't get to order me⁠—”

“Actually, as the person in charge of your security, I do get to order you around if it's in your best interest. And this is in your best interest, so please⁠—”

“You’re fucking fired then.”

I almost laughed at that. “Yeah, that’s not how this works.”

“What happened to my good girl back in the club? Don't you want to make Mommy happy?”

Fuck.

Her words threatened to pull me to my knees right then and there. Heat ran through me. I had to force myself to take a deep breath before I lost myself in her.

“That was back in the club. This is real life. Now get in your fucking car, Liz. I'm not letting you through.”

“I don’t want to let him do this to me. He can’t,” she growled. “It’s not… It’s not fair.”

My heart twisted for her. She had looked so strong pulling up here. So ready to burn down the world. But in that moment, when her voice cracked, I saw a glimpse of the Liz she was hiding underneath.

“He won’t forever,” I said in a low voice. “But you don’t have to do this at your own expense. Trust me, Liz. Let me protect you.”

Her brown eyes searched mine, and when she didn’t find what she was looking for, her face became pinched.

“Fine,” she whispered, defeated.

Liz got back in the car, looking at me once through the glass, and I nodded. With a shake of her head, she drove away.

Only when I watched her turn into another street was I able to breathe.

“So you must be the one fucking my wife.”

I turned around to see Liz’s ex standing there, and I was glad I hadn’t removed my helmet.

I hadn’t even heard him come up, and that was a problem. I’d been too focused on her.

From the corner of my eye, I saw my team was already getting out of the car they had parked across the street.

The man looked at me with a smile, as if he were the one in charge. His blond hair was greasy, and he looked like he hadn’t shaved in days. His clothes looked rumpled and unwashed.

How much time did Liz spend taking care of this man-child?

“I have to admit I'm surprised that she even showed up here. Even more surprised that you were here with her.”

I held up my hand as my team members moved to close it on us. Their eyes were trained on the man, ready to lunge forward and take him down at a moment’s notice.

“Oh, look at you. You got your little helpers.”

I could smell booze on him, even through the helmet. Disgusting.

I’d never met Claire's father, but after reading his file, I felt like I knew him inside and out. I knew what his type was, and seeing how both Claire and Liz were affected by him allowed me to fill in the blanks.

I was already angry at the whole situation, and him just standing there made the fire in my veins burn hotter. My body was shaking with the effort it took not to attack him.