Page 37 of Who's Saving You
“Wait.”
Nik’s voice cuts through the air behind me, commanding me to stay where I am. I drop my arms to my side, and then his hand closes around my wrist. I pull away, but it's of no use, and I turn to face him.
“Don’t,” he says. “I talked to Dante. You can’t go home.”
I continue to tug my arm from him. “Watch me”
“Noelle.” He uses my first name, and it sounds different. “It’s not safe.”
“Oh, really? Because I wassosafe before I walked into this little backroom club full of secrets and crime, and what is this? Underground football mafia? Did you even see those guys in there? They’re bigger than your defensive line! And they’re on your side!”
His face is stone, unreadable. “I’m trying to protectyou.”
I snap. “Don't do me any favors.”
“I didn’t know it was Rhett who was looking for you.”
“Yeah? But you know whoyouare.” I don’t mean for my words to come out so harsh, but they do. Because he’s not a saint. Here, I don’t know what he is.
“I tried to tell you not to dig.”
I scoff. “Yeah, that’s like telling a chef not to cook. Come on, Nik. It’s a legacy piece, and you agreed to it, knowing the shit you did.” I narrow my eyes. “The shit youdo.” I can’t help the crazy laugh that escapes. “I don’t even know what I just saw! Security guards, that guy in the suit looks like a hitman, and what was that room next to the club?—”
“All you need to know is that you're in danger. You don’t understand what these people are like.”
I raise my chin. “I know a lot more than you think.”
His voice is low, steady. “I don't think you do. I know this life. I’m serious, Noelle. If Rhett had gotten to youbefore I did, he would’ve taken you. He would have waited until you left here; he wouldn’t have cared if your sister or friend got in the way. He would have sent a message.” His eyes darken. “He wouldn’t have let you walk away.”
“You’re one of them.” He flinches at my words, and my stomach turns. I don’t want to believe Nik is bad, but I saw the way that guy looked at me. Like I was nothing more than a name on a list of things he had to do. And the fact that Nik knows him personally means he’s not exactly who he says he is either. “How can you be one of them?”
He doesn’t answer me.
Something registers in my mind, and I gasp. “I really can’t go back to my house, can I?”
He shakes his head. “Not tonight. One of Dante’s guys will check your house, and then he’ll be assigned to you.” He swallows hard. “You’ll stay with me.”
“Assigned...” I say the word and press my fingers to my temple, ignoring the part about me staying with Nik. “This is insane.”
“I know.”
“You should’ve let me walk.”
“I couldn’t.”
I take a good look at him, seeing a man who’s not just a football star but something far more dangerous. He’s someone who keeps a whole other life locked behind steel walls and tells lies so easily with a steady voice and straight face.
“I don’t want your protection,” I say, even though a small part of me does. I’m standing in the middle of a town I no longer recognize, with nowhere to run.
“You’re getting it anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m a nice guy.”
I scoff. “Are you? From where I'm standing, I'm not sure you know who you are anymore.” I grit my teeth. “So what, I’m just supposed to follow you home like some frightened little?—”
“No, you come with me because I’m the only one who knows how to keep you alive right now.”
