Chapter 4
Like lightning, Jake dodged to the side. He blocked Julian's fist with a raised forearm. Faster than I might've thought possible, Jake dropped the suitcase and hit Julian with a wicked right hook that sent Julian sprawling backward.
Catching his balance, Julian lowered his head and charged again. Jake turned sideways and gave Julian an elbow to the neck, followed by kick to the stomach.
Julian flew backward and crashed into the opposite wall. His ass hit the floor, and he gave a low groan.
Maddie glared at him. "Julian, you pussy!" she screeched. "Get your ass up!"
"Fuck you," he groaned. "No amount of pussy's worth this."
Jake turned toward me. "Luna," he said. "If you're not in the car in exactly one minute, I'm carrying you." His voice hardened. "And leaving your crap."
"It's not crap," I lied.
"Move it," he said.
Grumbling, I grabbed my overnight case and started walking toward the stairway. Behind me, Maddie was still chewing out Julian, who could barely get a word in edgewise. And the words hedidget in? Well, those were mostly of the four-letter variety.
Carrying the case down the steps, I heard Jake following behind me. Hewasstill bringing my other suitcase, right?
I turned to look over my shoulder. When I did, the overnight case slipped from my grip. I whirled in time to see it tumble down the grubby stairway, bouncing end over end. Just before it reached the bottom, it flew open, leaving a scattered trail of socks, bras, panties and – as if it couldn't get any worse – my pink packet of birth control pills.
With a muttered curse, I plunged toward the mess, taking the stairs two at a time until I reached the path of destruction. Desperately, I started scooping up undergarments, wincing as I considered the grimy floor and what sort of unmentionable stuff might be sticking to my unmentionables.
I wanted to scream, but somewhere up the hall, Maddie and Julian were doing more than enough for everyone. When I glanced up to see if they were killing each other yet, all I saw was Jake, along with my giant suitcase, towering over me.
In his free hand, he held my packet of birth control pills, along with a black leather bra that dangled loose from his index finger. His gaze drifted to a pair of lacy red panties lying a few feet away.
I reached up and snatched the pills from his outstretched hand. I shoved them into my purse. "Now turn around," I said.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you looking at my underpants. That's why."
He held out the bra by that same outstretched finger. "Ihaveseen them before," he said.
Ignoring the bra, I dove for the red panties. "Not mine, you haven't. And, just so you know, that bra's not mine."
The bra hit the stairs a split-second later. I ignored it. I hadn't been kidding.
Frantically, I snatched up the red panties and reached out for the rest. With frantic scooping motions, I gathered up what remained, along with – as disgusting as it was – bits of random floor trash.
When my hands were overflowing, I looked down at the silky mess. Oh God. How many times would I have to wash this stuff before I'd ever considering wearing it again?
If only I had more money, I'd probably leave it all right here and be done with it. But I was dead-broke and now, apparently homeless. With a sigh, I dumped everything into my overnight case, slammed it shut, and stumbled to my feet.
Glancing up the staircase, I saw Maddie emerge from the hallway. With clenched fists, she started heading down the stairs toward us. Jake flicked his head toward the exit. "You first," he told me.
Hoisting my case upward, I bolted for the double-doors that led to the parking lot. With Jake behind me, I plunged outside and headed toward the place the sports car had been parked last night.
It was gone.
I whirled on Jake. "Where's your car?" I demanded.
"It'll be here," he said.
"Itwillbe here?" I said. "Please tell me you're joking."
