Page 46 of Zac

When I got home a couple hours later she was waiting. I was lectured on how she was not a child, she yelled, I laughed, and the night ended with a round of really hot sex on the living room floor.

We now have an understanding. She hates it, but again I am a determined man.

The fact that Grant has gone radio silent, I can feel the boulder running downhill, rushing us. I know he’s not going to walk away that easy. He isn’t the type to brush himself off and not look back. He’s not happy unless he’s the one that comes out on top, destroying those in his path.

In screwing with them he may as well be fucking with me, because they are my family. And you don’t fuck with my family.

I’d been here for a couple hours, watching and waiting. Last night Oliver said when he was here, there was a guy walking real slow up and down the sidewalk across the road. He assumed it was a homeless guy, but it didn’t sit well with me.

Scanning over the parking lot again and again, I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. A man, leaning against the corner of a building across the street, his arms crossed, the glow of a cigarette hanging from his lips. He wears a hat, pulled down over his eyes. An oversized sweatshirt, jeans, and heavy combat boots on his feet, he is attempting to remain hidden in the darkness, but fails.

Instead of being patient, watching and waiting, I move. Climbing out of my truck I walk across the parking lot slowly closing the distance between this man and me. I watch him, knowing already that it’s Grant. I can feel it in my gut. I may not know him, but I despise him. For everything he has put Presley through. All the tears, the sadness, and most of all the fear he made her feel.

I am practically on top of him when he finally notices me. Only turning his head to look over at me. Grant scans me from head to toe, his lips curled. “You are exactly as described,” I sneer. “A strung out dirty looking fuck.”

“Do I know you?”

I ignore his question; this isn’t an introduction. “I thought you were told to leave.” He arches a brow appearing confused. “Presley doesn’t want you here,” I add, giving him a fucking clue since he’s a bit slow.

“You’re not the same guy from the other night.” He chuckles. “Damn how many different guys is she fucking? Really turned into a whore didn't she. Maybe that’s how she can make me the money I need.”

I react, unable to control the anger coursing through me. Rushing him, I grab his shirt and shove him back hard against the building. His cigarette falls from his mouth, hitting my arm, but I don’t register the burn.

“There isn’t another guy, it’s only me.” I snarl, enjoying the surprise in his eyes the way they grow wide. “And this is me telling you to stay the fuck away from my family.”

“Your family,” he laughs again, “I think you’ve got that backwards."

“No, they are mine.” I step a little closer. “I want you to hear me. There’s nothing for you here, and I know you’re running from some fuck you owe money to but let me promise you something. Whatever you know he’s capable of doing, imagine worse. I will fucking end you in a second if I feel like you are a threat to those I love. Right now I feel you are a fucking threat. This is the last time I will tell you to stay the fuck away.”

I step back and grab the envelope out of my back pocket and shove it hard at his chest. Grant takes it, but never takes his eyes off me.

“That’s enough to pay your debt and to get real far away from here. But I can guarantee if you ever come near her or Gray again the only thing that will be waiting for you will be four really pissed off guys that won’t be willing to talk it through. One thing I can assure you is you won’t get the chance to walk away next time.”

He holds my stare, and I half expect him to say something arrogant or cocky. I expect him to make another comment about Presley and I’m already barely hanging on. I know it won’t take much for me to beat his fucking ass.

“Thanks, man,” he says, actually fucking smiling. All he cares about is the fucking money.

“Don’t fucking thank me.” I fist my hand. He really needs to get the hell out of here. “Get gone and fast, motherfucker. I’m rethinking my choices and they aren’t in your favor.”

With a quick nod, he looks over my shoulder and nods again. I don’t even have to look to know we aren’t alone.

ChapterThirty-Two

Presley

He may have been watching me, but I was watching him too. The very second he jumped out of his truck and started across the road, I knew it.

Heather took my tables, and I tossed my pad and pen down, rushing out the front door.

I never expected for it to unfold the way that it had.

“How much did you give him?”

I notice the way Zac’s shoulder sag in defeat. Almost like he expects me to start yelling at him in anger.

“Pres.” He turns around and lifts his hand to run it through his hair. “Baby, I had?—”

I close the distance and grip his shirt pulling him down closer. Our lips mesh, and I can feel him slowly relax as he wraps his arms around me.

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