Page 20 of Renegade Rift
“Everything about her is my business.”
My hand freezes, and I whip a hard-pressed glare at my would be savior—if I wanted to be saved, that is.
More importantly, what did he just say?
“Is that so?” Earl’s tone rises along with a brow. He turns his harsh gaze in my direction and gives me a sardonic once over. “You got a boyfriend we don’t know about, Etta?”
“He’s no one.” The words tumble out quickly and even I hear the lie in my instant reaction.
Earl slowly tips his head and looks Ford up and down the same way you’d look over a prized stallion. I can see his wheels turning. His eyes linger on the expensive watch latched around Ford’s wrist and again on the shoes that probably cost more than my rent. “Doesn’t seem like no one to me.”
Damn it.
Lifting my hand, I snap my fingers in front of his face, and once he returns his focus to me, I reiterate. “He’s not important.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Ford’s shoulders deflate. I shouldn’t have even looked for his reaction, but I needed to make sure he heard me too.
I don’t need him to save me.
Of course, he either doesn’t care or has a death wish—maybe both—because he takes another step forward and places a hand on Earl’s shoulder. “Etta may believe that. But I’m not going anywhere.”
After that, everything happens in slow motion.
Ford yanks Earl away from me, but given that the enforcer still has a hand around my bicep, I jerk forward with him.Earl saves himself and lets me fall face-first onto the concrete floor. Pain shoots through my cheek as I struggle to right myself. When I do, it’s just in time to see Ford’s fist connect with Earl’s jaw.
Fear spikes in my belly. Reason is telling me to get the hell out of there and into my apartment where it’s safe, but I can’t just leave Ford. I might not want him to fight my battles, but now that he is, I’m not about to leave him. Not that I can stop this. They are two grown ass men, and I’m half their size.
Earl stumbles, catching his balance just in time to avoid Ford’s second swing, and returns one of his own, striking the center of Ford’s stomach.
He doubles over and wheezes. Earl gives him just enough time to look up before clocking him in the mouth.
Ford’s knees hits the ground next to me, and I pray he stays there.Don’t get up. Don’t make this worse than it already is.
He doesn’t get the message. When he lifts his head, his eyes connect with mine. There’s still fire and rage in his midnight gaze.
Clearly the only one with common sense, I turn to Earl and plead, “Just go. Please. I’ll have your money when you come back.”
The enforcer shakes out his shoulders and wipes a dribble of blood from his lip. “Get your boy toy in check.” He practically purrs as he turns for the stairs. Looking over his shoulder, he winks. “I’ll see you in three days.”
On his feet, Ford opens his mouth to no doubt tell him he won’t, but I reach out and place a hand on his calf. He looks down, and I shake my head.
When we both look up again, Earl is gone.
Nostrils flaring, Ford offers me the hand he isn’t cradling against his chest and helps me up.
He’s angry.
Yeah, well, so am I.
Too bad there’s no way he’s going to allow me to explain this away as nothing to worry about.
My knees scream when I put my full weight on them. All I want to do is fall into bed and sleep until I forget about this whole ordeal.
Ford’s gaze is heavy as he watches me. I know he’s waiting for an explanation, but I have nothing that will satisfy him and keep him ignorant about just how deep of a hole I’m in.
By the time I unlock my apartment door and swing it open, he loses his patience.
“You’re really not going to tell me what the hell that was all about?”
