Page 13 of Arm Candy Warrior

He glowers. “That school is a farce, and you know it.”

“Well, it’s my…farce,” I say, stumbling over what to say. “Plus, I’m eighteen, I can’t just not go to school. It’s like the law or something.”

“Actually, you can stop any time after sixteen here. You won’t need or want for anything, Kyla. You go to school to get a job, and you won’t need one of those.”

One of those?I scoff. It’s like the real world has no place in the Heights. “But I’ll want one,” I say, trying to drive the point home. “I can’t just sit here all day.”

A smile flits over his face. He shakes his head as it grows. “You are so unlike anyone I thought I would…” He breaks off after sighing. “I guess I just thought the girl I’d end up with would be happy just shopping, getting her nails and hair done, and whatever chicks like the Kardashians do.”

I glare at him. “I am so not a Kardashian, Johnny. I’m like their polar opposite.” For fuck’s sake. Ew.

“I like it,” he says, surprising me. His face practically glows. “And I get it, you’re bored as fuck. I wouldn’t want to stick around here all day either, but I don’t think it’s safe for you to go back to school yet. Just let me put some things in place, and I’ll let you go. In the meantime, what can I do?”

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Johnny is trying. Goddamnit. Can’t we just explode at each other, so I can flee from the house? I need a good excuse to get the fuck out of here. I run my hands through my hair. “For starters, I need to get out,” I say. “I’ll go bananas if I have to look at these walls for another day. Take me somewhere. Let me do something. I can help you,” I add, thinking that whatever gets me more ingratiated to Big Daddy K works in my favor. “Also, if your dad really meant what he said about me fighting, I need to start training.”

He peeks at my leg. “What about your shin? I thought it was still bothering you.”

“Every so often, but I’m icing it and letting it rest. I just won’t do full-on contact for another week or so, but I can punch shit. I can exercise so I don’t lose muscle strength.”

Johnny’s gaze drops to my calves. I’m literally wearing the longest shorts that were in the bags of clothes, and they’re still practically booty shorts. “You don’t have to worry about that,” he muses.

Flames lick my face. I try to avoid any sexual situations with Johnny because I’m still confused if I’m supposed to want him or not. Plus, it works in our favor because I’m pretty sure his father still has that rule in place about us not fucking until Johnny officially rises to second in command. It saves us both the trouble of thinking about it.

He drags his gaze up my body until it rests on my face. “Tell you what. I have to head to one of our businesses tonight to check things over. Why don’t you come with me? People have been asking for you. I think you have a fan club.” He strides forward. “Plus, it’ll work in favor of your fights, too.”

One thing I definitely enjoy about staying at Johnny’s place is that he conveniently doesn’t wear a shirt all the time, proving even devils can be sexy. He picks up my hand and brushes a kiss over my knuckles.

“I’d be honored to have you on my arm.”

Just what I need: to be arm candy. But if it’ll get me out of here and give my fights some exposure, I’m all for it. “I’ll come,” I tell him. “As long as you check into me returning to school.”

He pulls me in for a hug. “I’ll do it today.”

* * *

Fourteen long hours later,I’m finally inside the elevator leading down to the parking lot. Being in here reminds me of Big Daddy K telling the security guard to take Glo downstairs, and I make a mental note to ask what that means one day. Hopefully, I don’t find out when I’m the one who is being hauled downstairs.

Johnny leans over, pressing a kiss to the sensitive spot below my ear. “If I haven’t said it already, you look beautiful.”

He has said it. He said it when he zipped up this tight ass dress. He said it again right before we left his suite. This time, it’s whispered with a breathy moan that starts my heart racing. It’s becoming more difficult to deny my attraction to Johnny. Especially with the way he’s been acting lately, but maybe that’s because I haven’t been allowed out into the real world, and I’m starved for any type of interaction. And attention. Even Oscar hasn’t been able to come by and see me.

I squirm out of his grip with a demure smile. He sighs. “I know, I know.” He runs his hand through his hair, temporarily messing it up before he brushes his fingers through it again until it’s perfectly styled in that messy way.

“Why don’t you tell me where we’re going and why?”

“We’re headed to Candy’s.”

“And Candy’s is…?”

“A strip club.”

I snap my jaw shut as dread pools in my belly. It’s a reaction I quickly try to cover up, but it’s of no use, so I just go with it. “You’re taking me to a strip club.”

“It’s for business, Kyla,” Johnny says, threading his fingers through mine as we walk to the car. “It’s one of our up-and-coming ones, and we like to keep a close eye on it. Make sure everything is running smoothly. We check the books and watch surveillance from the tower, but it’s not the same as going there and feeling it out.”

I get in the backseat and stare straight ahead. I get what he’s saying, but if he turns this into some sort of freaky business trip, I’m not going to just sit back. I don’t care how pissed off he gets at me. I didn’t spend all fucking weekend in his suite just to be taken out to watch some girl grind against him. Or hell, even more. I know he’s not above that.

Beyond the divider, Magnum takes a seat behind the wheel. Another security guy occupies the passenger seat. I found out that the guy I told to leave the room when Glo got there was reprimanded, which I wasn’t happy about. I’m the one who told him to leave after all, but Johnny didn’t want to listen to me. He wants people to act for my safety, whether I give them an order to do the opposite or not.

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