Page 21 of Broken Promises

“Your feelings are valid. You can yell at me in the car,” he said with an impatient sigh. The door suddenly opened, and he moved in front of me to shield me, his shoulders relaxing almost instantly. “Clean this shit up and call me when it’s done.”

“Yes, boss.”

I peeked around Ander to see who’d walked in, but the two men weren’t familiar to me in the slightest.

Ander started pulling me towards the door, and I dug my heels in. “I can’t go out like this.”

“There’s stairs that lead outside from this level. It’s away from the party, and my car’s parked on that side too.”

“I don’t want anyone to see me like this,” I whispered, his eyes softening.

“I won’t let them. Promise.”

My only option to get out of here undetected was to do as he said, so I nodded and let him lead me out into the hallway, the music downstairs booming loudly still. He turned right, seeming to know his way around as he found the right door that took us outside into the cool night air.

I shivered as the coldness swept over my legs, and I moved a little closer to him to block the slight breeze.

I paused when we approached a random car, the lights flashing as he unlocked it. “Where’s the Supra?”

“Away,” he said vaguely, reminding me again that he was hiding.

Once inside, he put the heaters on and pulled away from the curb, my voice sounding loud in the quiet car. “You have no idea how much shit has gone down since you took off. Some of it being your fault too.”

“Like how Zav got shot and you got hit by a car? Yeah, I know. I found out about it this week, which is why I came back. I’ll fix it, you just need to trust me,” he said firmly, making me snort.

“Trust you? I didn’t trust you before, so I’m sure as hell not trusting you now. You can’t fix it.”

“I can. I’m working on something and I really need?—”

“I don’t give a shit what you need, Ander. Hand yourself over to this Stefano prick and end it. I can’t believe you let Zavier take the fall for whatever bullshit you’re involved with,” I said bitterly, and if I wasn’t so damn exhausted, I’d probably cry again.

“It doesn’t work like that. He thinks Zavier knows about things that he shouldn’t. Right now, you’re a target because you’re one of the only people who could make Zavier come out of hiding if they use you as leverage.”

“Take me home.”

“It’s not safe.”

“Take me fucking home, Ander, or so help me, I’ll call Beckett to make you disappear,” I shouted, silencing him.

Thankfully, he didn’t argue this time.

He’d barely stopped the car in front of my house when I opened the door to get out, and he cursed as I slammed it shut behind me and started walking across the lawn. His door slammed next, and I didn’t have to glance back to know he was following me.

He couldn’t come into the house. I didn’t want him to see my father.

I walked faster, yanking the window open and scrambling inside, reaching back to slam it shut, but he was already grabbing the ledge to haul himself inside.

“Why are you using your window?” he demanded, frowning when he heard the drunk laughter down the hallway. “Who’s here? I know the guys aren’t.”

“You’ve been spying on me?”

“I’ve been keeping tabs on you guys since I found out Stefano was going after Lopez, yes. So, new housemates?” He moved towards the door to open it, and I grabbed his arm to yank him back, confusion on his face as he looked down at me. “Bluebird?—”

“Don’t fucking call me that.”

“I’ll call you whatever I want,” he chuckled, gently tugging a small handful of my blue hair, his shoulders tensing a fraction when there was a loud thud and more drunken laughter.

I was pretty sure someone just put a body-sized hole in the wall.

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