Page 69 of Huge Dynamite
“Seth? Are you okay?”
Raising his head, he looks me in the eyes. “I think—”
Suddenly, there’s a noise outside, and we both turn toward my front door.
“What the hell was that?” Seth’s voice is low and his breathing is shallow.
“I ordered us coffee and bagels. Maybe Roman left them at the door and a stray cat came by and knocked them over?”
Shaking his head, he puts up his arm in a protective move, keeping me blocked behind his body. “That was no cat.”
Reaching into the back of his jeans, he pulls a gun from his waistband.
“Seth? What is that?” I whisper.
Turning his head, he glances at me and puts a finger to his lips, telling me to be quiet. I nod my response.
“Stay here,” he mouths. “Away from the windows.” He walks me to the back of the room and hides me behind a wall.
Looking at my windows, I’m glad that so many of them are still boarded up. Holding my breath, I peek out from behind my wall and watch as Seth moves toward the door. The way he walks, he’s so strong and so powerful… I sigh. Flattening his back to the wall next to the door, he looks at me and shakes his head. I duck back farther behind my wall. Then, grabbing the door handle, he yanks the door open and jumps in front of it with his gun pulled.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I silently pray that it’s not Julius coming to help me or Roman delivering the bagels. I wouldn’t want either of them to be staring down the barrel of Seth’s gun.
Opening my eyes, I see there’s no one at the door. Moving like a cat, Seth sneaks out the front door.
“Shit!” I hear him curse from in here.
I have to know. “Seth?”
Running across the floor, I rush outside and see him staring at the front of my building. Joining him, I stand beside him and look—Damn. The word “bitch” is spray-painted across the entire front of my building.
“Who would do something like this?” Turning to Seth, I stare at him. My voice is weak, so I clear my throat.
“The Unchained Dogs,” he answers quietly. “To a Dog, calling a woman a ‘bitch’ means they’ve claimed her.”
“What? That’s—”
“Go inside, Holly.” He nods to the front door. “Now. If you’ve ever trusted me or ever believed in me—go inside now. Lock the doors. Make sure your cell is charged, stay hidden. I’m going to call Julius to keep an eye on you while I’m gone, and maybe…” Taking deep breaths, he lifts a hand and runs it up through his cropped hair. “Maybe you should call Robert and ask him to come wait with you.”
“No.” That’s where I draw the line. “No way. I do not want or need Robert.”
Nodding, Seth turns to me. “Go inside, Holly.”
“Where are you going? What are you going to do?”
“Go inside. I’ve already checked around—they’re gone. I saw the bikes taking off out of here, the bunch of assholes. This is what Dogs do—it’s their strategy. They mark and run. Now, I’m going to find them.”
Nodding, I turn away from him and hurry up my front steps. Stepping inside, I close my door and lock it. Glancing at him out of the front window, I watch as he shoves his gun into the back of his jeans and revs his bike. He takes off down the street.
“Shit.” Mumbling, I fall against my door. Is he going to hurt someone? Will he honestly choose to injure another human being? I just don’t believe that’s the man I know. Yes, I met him because he was injured in a fight—but this? Leaning my head back against my door, I sigh.
Knock, knock!
“Seth?” My heart races as I turn around to face the door. “Seth?” There’s no answer. Maybe it’s Roman, who’s left my delivery at the door, or maybe Julius has just seen my building. “Hello?”
“Dr. Holls? It’s Julius. C-can I come in?”
“Julius?” He sounds off. He must have seen the building. Shoot. “Yeah, come in. You shouldn't be out there right now.”
