Page 13 of Nash

With one whiff of his cologne—leather and vanilla. With one look, my body wants him while my mind suffers so much guilt about it.He’s my best friend’s dad.I’d never betray Alena, though I ache for something I’ve never had.

Is it a father figure? Or is it more? I don’t know, but he’s the only man I’ve ever felt safe with.

Until now.

For minutes, I can’t speak. I’m sweating. I’m scared. I’m going to throw up again. I fight tears, and Idon’tcry. Iwon’tcry. Still, emotion floods my voice.

“Please, Mr. Allen, slow down,” I quietly beg. “My mom died in a car crash.”

Instantly, the engine stops revving high. He slows down. I feel him grab my hand, his warm touch brushing over my thigh again while he commands, “Vale, look at me.”

I open my eyes. I obey. But when I turn to him…

What the…

I’m not looking at “Mr. Allen,” the irritating man who practically raised me. The caring man who’d ask about my exams. The controlling man who thinks he’s the boss of me. The uptight man who has to do almost everything three times. Or the cold man who ignores me now.

No. He’s taken off his nerdy glasses. He’s unbuttoned his collar. All the way.

Oh, my inked God, his tan pecs are covered in black designs.His light brown eyes are suddenly heated, foreign, and menacing while he swears, “I’ll never hurt you, Vale, and I’ll kill anyone who does.”

I’m in awe.

In shock.

In love?

The Mercedes taps our bumper, and I scream, stunned out of my stupor, as he drops my hand and accelerates. Popping open his low center console, he pulls out a gun.

“Now,” he orders, “for once in your life, Vale Monroe, don’t give me hell. Do exactly as I say. Do you understand?”

It stammers over my lips, “Yes, sir.”

“Good girl.”

CHAPTER FOUR

NASH

Fuck,I thought I dropped this tail before I drove home. Fuck, they want blood. And fuck, now everything’s burned. Locations. Cars. Businesses.

My daughter.

And the only other girl, I meanwoman, I’ve cared about. Now, she’s in danger, too.

Vale gapes, staring wide-eyed at me like she’s seen a monster, and I am. She has no idea what I’ve done for my family and what I’ve done for her.

My Beretta rests in my lap while I use the Bluetooth in my van to start maneuvers. “Call Seven,” I command.

“Yeah,” a burly growl answers. There’s no name on the screen. We use numbers.

“You’re on speakerphone,” I snarl. He’ll understand. “We’re burned. Secure her.Now.”

“Copy.” He hangs up.

“Call One,” I command my technology. It rings, and Axel picks up. He doesn’t speak. I do.

“You’re on speakerphone, we’re burned, and being followed.”

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