Page 62 of Defiant
Dante let out an unsure sound. “Hmm. That sounds exactly like what an old person would say when he’s trying to pick up the prettiest high schooler in town.” To me, he added, “That’s you, by the way.” A smirk matched his words, and I could not believe what he was saying.
I actually wanted to laugh. Hadn’t done much of that this week, but this situation really brought it out of me.
“Jaz,” Jacob called out, “just get in the damned car. Hope you don’t mind if I run this fucker over on our way out?”
Okay, that was it. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
I laughed.
Both Dante and Jacob stared at me as if I’d grown a third eye, but I didn’t care. The annoyance seeping through the air, the animosity between them—I kind of loved it. The bickering was a nice distraction.
And…and it felt good to laugh again.
Jacob frowned, while Dante grinned at my laugh. Jacob spoke gruffly, “I don’t know what the fuck is so funny about any of this.” He shot daggers at Dante. “If you’d rather spend your time with the thug, that’s fine. I can leave you two alone—”
To Dante, I spoke, once my laughter died down, “You better go, before Mr. Grumps leaves.” I ran a hand through my hair. “He’s teaching me some self-defense.” As if I had to explain to Dante why I was spending time with Jacob. I didn’t, but…I just couldn’t lie to him.
“Fine,” Dante said, pushing off Jacob’s car. “He can teach you…” He stepped toward me, a bit too close, given my week, and murmured, “If you ever want to learn how to hold a knife, you better come to me.” His words were laced with danger, and even though I shouldn’t let him affect me, a shiver crept down my spine.
But I’d blame that on the wind.
He gave me a wink before stepping away, hopping on his bike and starting her up. I inched closer to Jacob’s car, watching as he drove off. I still didn’t know exactly why Dante was here, if he was sent by my father or someone else, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t grateful for his presence, especially this week. It was nice to have him and Vaughn on my side, even if I couldn’t trust them farther than I could throw them.
Which was, uh, not very far at all.
“Well?” Jacob’s voice cut into my wandering mind. “You getting in, or what?”
I nodded, hurrying to the passenger side and hopping in, giving him a smile. Just being around him made me feel better than I had all week. It was true, I wanted Jacob to teach me some of what he knew, but I also missed being in the same room as him, talking to him. Firing him had basically meant that he was no longer in my life, and I just couldn’t have that.
Jacob hit the button to roll up his window before driving off, and I watched him all the while, forgetting to put my seatbelt on. At this point, I didn’t give a shit who saw me get into his car. Everyone else at this school could suck a dick for all I cared.
As he turned us onto the road, he glanced at me, scowling. “What?”
“I missed you,” I murmured, leaning on the center console, resisting my urge to touch his arm. Touching him should be the last thing on my mind, as I hadn’t even thought of anything like that since before the incident on Monday…but it was hard to be near Jacob and not want to touch him. He put my hormones into overdrive, probably because I knew I could trust him, not like Vaughn or Dante.
And I refused to think about that other one right now. Fucking Archer and his stupid girlfriend.
Jacob let out an earth-shattering sigh, his expression softening somewhat. “You…what am I going to do with you?”
“Teach me some moves, hopefully,” I said. “Like how to take someone down who’s bigger than me. Where to hit them where it hurts—obviously the nuts, but beyond that, I don’t know.” Of course, he could also do a few other things with me, but it was probably best to put a hold on those things. For now, at least.
His hands were tight on the steering wheel as he drove us to his place. No radio filled the silence of the car, and he was quiet for a long time until he questioned, “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
Did I want to tell Jacob the reason why I called him in a panic on Monday after school? Not particularly. I didn’t want to tell him the truth of what happened, because…because why? Because I thought he’d judge me? Because I was afraid of what he’d say? That was stupid. If I trusted this man like I claimed to, I shouldn’t be nervous or anxious at what he’d tell me when he knew the truth.
“When we get to your place, I’ll tell you,” I muttered, wrestling with myself all throughout the drive. It’s not like it was something I was proud of—and the only reason I’d gotten away from it was because of Archer.
He didn’t prod me further, not until we were safe in his apartment, half a dozen locks blocking out the outside world. I dropped my bag on the coffee table, shedding my hoodie, aware that he watched me with a frown on his face.
Such a handsome frown, too. No one could wear a frown or a scowl better than Jacob Hall.
“Well?” he asked, six feet away from me, standing near the kitchen while I stood in the living area. “What happened?”
“A group of guys cornered me in the locker room after school let out,” I spoke, slowly turning to face him, meeting those hazel eyes and finding that he was not shocked. Did he already suspect? “They were going to…” God, why was it so hard to say the word? Women faced that reality every day of their lives. It was much easier to think than say aloud, that’s for sure. Eventually, I found my tongue, finishing, “They were going to rape me. They said they didn’t get to have any fun at the party, so…”
I jerked when Jacob slammed a hand on the counter beside him, the loud sound echoing in the otherwise silent apartment. “Those fuckers,” he muttered. He looked like, if given the chance, he’d tear them limb from limb—kind of like how Vaughn and Dante had reacted.
For some reason, these guys were awfully protective of me, weren’t they? I didn’t know if I should be freaked out or flattered by the almost instant devotion. Though, I reminded myself, with Jacob, things had always been more complicated.
