Page 9 of Hot Receiver

Just as I reach him, tires squeal to a stop next to me. The horn of my blacked-out Ford Raptor blares out.

The passenger door swings open.

“Get in,” Anna yells at me.

I pull Zak away from the car, and the protesters and shove him toward the door.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” he grunts. “I don’t need you. And I’m not letting those ignorant assholes bully me. I won’t ever let anyone bully me again.”

He shrugs off my hand, his jaw set, dark eyes steely. Then, he pushes me to the side and stalks to the driver’s side door of his car. “Get the hell away from my car,” he growls.

“Or what, little rich bitch?” One of the guys snarls. He circles around the car, dressed in dirty, ripped jeans and a plaid shirt with the sleeves cut off. Tattoos cover his beefy arms and creep up the sides of his neck. I may outweigh him in muscle, but he definitely outweighs both of us in pure rage. “You think some has-been is gonna stop us? We won’t stop until you get the fuck out of the league.”

Zak, the fucking crazy ass idiot that he is, turns and inchestoward the menacing prick so they’re toe to toe. “I’m not going anywhere. The Crusaders belong to me. So, you can get used to it or find another team to support.”

“They only belong to you as long as you’re alive.” A click follows, the tip of a knife glinting in the light shining from the street lamp above. My breath hitches, but Zak still doesn’t stand down.

The guy raises the blade. Zak doesn’t even flinch.

He may have a death wish, but it won’t be granted on my watch.

I pull him backward by his arm, ignoring his murderous stare. “If you don’t get into the goddamn truck, it won’t just be your window that gets shattered,” I growl. “Get the fuck in now.”

He tries to get away from me again, but this time I’m not letting it happen. Someone else in the mob pushes through with a baseball bat. I don’t have time to think or react. I just shove him into the truck, pushing him up with my chest. I jump into the passenger seat once he’s inside and slam the door closed.

Police cars tear around the corner, surrounding Zak’s car and the angry mob. I watch them scatter like the fucking cockroaches they are.

“I told you I didn’t need your help,” Zak bellows.

“The guy had a knife, for fuck’s sake.” I turn, shaking my head at him. “Did you want to get stabbed to death?”

“Fuck those bullying assholes. You made me walk away. I wanted to fight!”

“You’re a goddamn idiot. What the hell were you trying to prove? That you’re the dumbest person to ever get an MBA from Wharton?”

Anna presses her foot on the gas. The truck lurches forwardbefore speeding down the street. “Sorry, it’s not easy to drive in these shoes.”

I give her arm a squeeze and look back at Zak. His eyes are glued to my hand, mouth twisted into a grimace.

“Where should I go?” Anna gives me a quick look and slows at a red traffic light.

“Drive to your place.” I nod my head toward Zak. “I’ll take care of this.”

Zak lets out a snort. “I don’t need a babysitter, Harrison. Let me out. I can get my own ride.”

“You know, you’re pretty confrontational for someone who just had their ass saved from a bunch of psychopaths out for blood,” Anna snaps.

I bite back a smile when I see Zak’s shocked expression. People always underestimate Anna. They think she’s a dumb blonde who does nothing but smile and nod and pose for pictures in her underwear. But she’s smart and tough as nails. She had it rough, too, and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. It’s another reason why I keep her around. Anna’s a reminder of the kind of person I wish I could be.

The one still cowering in the closet.

“It hasn’t even been announced, but somehow they all know,” Zak grumbles, slumping against the backseat. “The fucking haters always know.”

“Why didn’t you let the valets take your car? It’s like you were begging them to go after you.”

He lets out a breath. “I don’t need protection from them or anyone else. I’m not going to hide.”

“It was kind of stupid in this neighborhood.” Anna takes a left. “Why take the risk? Just to prove a point?”

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