Page 78 of One More Bad Boy

“No,” I argued, pointing at Santino. “Officer, that man touched me inappropriately! Bach was defending me.”

Santino's eyes flew wide. “Wait, wait, wait!”

With his thick jaw jutting forward, the cop threw Santino against the wall and handcuffed him. “You wanna press charges?” he asked me.

God, but I was tempted. But the last thing I wanted was another minute with Santino. “No,” I sighed. “He's just wasted.”

“Then we'll let him sit it out in the drunk tank.”

Santino struggled as he was led away. “I'll call my lawyer on you!I'm Santino Rice!”I didn't doubt everyone around knew who he was, especially now. I doubted it would help him the way he expected.

“Are you okay?” I asked Bach. He hadn't said a word since the cop arrived.

He pushed his lips together in a hard line, staring at me. Then he turned and began to leave.

“Hey!” I shouted, rounding on him, blocking his exit. “Where are you going? Aren't you even a little surprised to see me?”

His scowl grew massive; he tried to walk past me, but I got in his face. Finally, he looked at me—really looked at me. “Why are you here, Amina.”

“You were acting crazy on the phone! I had to come find you!”

“Except I didn'twantto be found,” he muttered. When he moved around me, he stumbled. I made a grab for his arm to help him; he yanked away, leaning on a nearby pillar to steady himself. “Don't touch me.”

That hurt me more than I was ready for. He saw it in my face, and his own pain was mirrored. “You're drunk.”

“Yup.”

“Why won't you tell me what's going on? This isn't like you.”

“This is exactly like me,” he laughed cruelly.

“No, you're better than this!”

“You don't know me.” He pushed off the pillar and strode towards the doors that exited to the Strip. “The people who do are smart enough to let me destroy myself before I drag them down with me.”

He made it through the doors before I gave chase. Breaking out into the warm evening air, I shielded my eyes from the blinding lights of the street traffic. “Bach!” I called, turning in a circle.There!He wasn't far, his pace was sluggish even with his long legs.

I yelled his name, but he never once looked back. I was sure he heard me. If he thought he could ignore me, he was dead wrong. “Bach!” I panted, standing in his path.

His stare was dispassionate. “Why are you wasting your time with me?” he asked.

I glared at him through the fringe of my lashes. “Because you're not the asshole you're trying to make me believe you are.”

“How do you know?”

“You told me yourself!” I inhaled, keeping my voice as calm as I could. People walked by us as we stood in the middle of the sidewalk. I didn't care that I was in their way—this was more important. “'I'll take care of you, provide for you, protect you.' Does that sound familiar?”

Clarity worked its way through the fog in his eyes.

I kept going, but my voice broke on every other word. “You said you'd never betray me because that would betray you! All that stuff about working to be a better man every day, that was from your lips! Yours, Bach.” Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. “Are you trying to make me believe you lied to me this whole time?”

All the strength left his muscles. “No.”

“Then talk to me!” I reached up to cup his jaw—he didn't pull away.

Closing his eyes, he spoke in a gritty whisper. “I don't want to see you fall apart.”

Ice crept up my spine. “What?”

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