4
Knox
After tellingher I’d think about it, I went and dropped Cash and Kane off, then came back. I’ve been watching her serve food, bus tables, and sweep the floor all night. When she finally exits, I slump in my seat, hoping she won’t see me when she walks by.
Within minutes, the bus pulls up, and she hops on. I follow it through downtown, watching every person who exits at every stop until it comes up to its final stop by a nice, well-kept residential neighborhood. For someone begging for protection, I never expected her to live in such a nice place.
I creep behind her slowly, making sure my lights are off, and I don’t hit the gas too hard and make the engine roar. I don’t want her to see me. Not yet, anyway. After walking a couple of blocks, she turns off the sidewalk and starts up the steps of a basic two-story home.
As soon as she makes it to the door, her body language changes. It’s so drastic that even I can see it from across the street. Her head dips low, her shoulders slump, and she moves slower. There is no pep in her step like before at the restaurant, and it makes me wonder just what’s waiting behind her doors and who gave her the wicked bruise on her arm.
Maybe a boyfriend? Because a girl like her is bound to have a boyfriend. I mean, why wouldn’t she? She’s beautiful and seems like the type of woman normal men would like.
I try to keep my eyes on her as she steps inside and closes the door behind her, but dark curtains shield the windows and give me no sight inside. Normally, at this point, I would say fuck it and leave, but something inside me won’t let me put my car into drive and go.
I pull my phone from my pocket, keeping my eyes glued to her place even though I can’t see, and dial Ace’s number. He’s my eldest brother and now head of the family. If anyone can dig up dirt on someone, it’s him. And something about this girl isn’t sitting right with me.
I’m not sure if it’s how she had zero care in the world when walking up to us or the way her eyes shone with curiosity. It’s dumb to think she doesn’t know us because everyone knows who we are, but that—along with the bruises on her pale skin—makes me think maybe she’s dealing with an even bigger monster than me. Usually, I wouldn’t bother even entertaining the idea of helping someone like her, but if she had the balls to ask someone like me—someone who isn’t the slightest bit approachable—then it must be bad. Maybe I’m feeling a bit soft because I’m actually considering giving her what she asked for.
The phone rings three times before Ace’s voice booms through the receiver. “Knox.” It’s the only greeting I get.
“I need something.”
I hear muffled sounds as though he’s moving around before he speaks again. “What is it?”
“There is this girl. All I have is her name, address, and work address. Something isn’t right, and I want to check her out before I agree to something.” I try to make the last statement nonchalantly, but I know better. Ace isn’t the head of the family now because he lets shit slide.
“Agree to what?” He sounds almost angry, like why would I do something without keeping him in the loop.
“Protection. She needs protection.”
He chuckles. “Protection or a hit man? You’re only good at one thing and one thing only, and we all know it isn’t knitting.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. Are you going to help me or not?”
There is a beat of silence from him. “Fine. What's her name?”
“Aria.” Her name rolls off my tongue with ease.
“Address?”
“Four thirty-two Terrace Way.”
“Terrace Way?” I can hear the confusion in his voice.
“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”
“Huh. Just odd that someone living in one of the nicer parts of town would need protection. You think we’ll need a racket?”
My blood starts to simmer in my veins. I’ll be damned if my brothers weasel their way into this. “There is no we. I will handle this if everything checks out.”
“Easy, killer. I’d start to think maybe you like this girl.” He laughs.
I know it must seem fucking hilarious to him because I only keep women around long enough to fuck them and nothing else. Feelings are a foreign concept to me. Something I’ve never worried about developing.
I ignore his statement. “Just let me know what you find.”
“Give me till morning.”