She shoved at my shoulder. “Hey, Theo, a good way to never get back in my good graces is to continue telling me to shut up.”
I swallowed back a laugh. “Normally, I’d kiss you, but you told me we’re not kissing yet.”
“We’re not. And don’t say yet like I’m a foregone conclusion. I have a lot going on in my head right now. I can’t make any kind of decisions. You’re telling me all these things, and I want to believe them, but I don’t have it in me to trust pretty promises. So, now I’m thinking about going to work looking like I got hit by a bus wondering if I’ll have to get on stage again because Daniel stole the little cushion I had—”
“Whoa, whoa, back up. Daniel? What are you talking about?”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Remember I told you the company you keep says a lot about you? That asshole you call a friend snuck into my room while I was sleeping, felt me up, and stole my stash of cash I needed to pay Reno.”
Something came over me. A maelstrom of sizzling violence that made my skin feel ten times too small. Electricity charged through the air, sparking every time I took a breath.
Daniel. Touched. My. Girl.
“He’s dead.” I tore away from Helen, ripping her door open and storming for the exit. She was on my heels, calling my name, asking me to wait, but I’d waited long enough. She wouldn’t let me go after Reno, fine. Daniel was another story. If she truly thought I’d let this stand, she hadn’t been paying attention.
Lock was in the hall, poised to knock. “Helen?” he ground out.
“Stop him, Lock.” Helen grabbed the back of my shirt like she had a chance of doing more than slowing me down. “Or go with him. He’s going to kill him.”
I jabbed a finger at Lock. “If you attempt to stop me, we are not going to be cool. Helen just told me a guy I live with touched her and stole her money, which led to,” I waved at my battered girl, “this. I can’t let that go. I don’t have it in me.”
Lock’s hand came down on my shoulder. “I’m with you.” He pointed to Helen. “Go back inside. Lock the door. One of us will be back when we can.”
Helen grabbed for me, her eyes wide and shiny. “This isn’t worth risking your future over. If you get arrested, I’ll never forgive you.”
I took her jaw in my hand, throwing every ounce of control I still had in keeping it gentle. “You make it easy to light the match, Tiger. Now watch me make it burn.”