Page 132 of Dirty Like Jude
I heard Judefollow.
I strode right past Zane, Maggie and Elle, who were talking in the hallway, and I heard Jude thunder, “Why the fuck did you inviteLex?”
“Huh?” Zane said, and I paused to look back andlisten.
“You don’t even like him,” Judegrowled.
“I invited him,” Maggie said, looking from Jude to me. “What? It’sChristmas.”
I spun on my heel and kept going. I’d made my way into the front foyer by the time Jude caught up. It was kinda dark and no one seemed to be in the house but us. I could feel him, practically on top ofme.
“Roni.” He grabbed at my elbow but I yanked it away, turning to facehim.
“You had that guy watching me?Why?”
He sighed. “Because I wanted to make sure you wereokay.”
“Okay? Why? Why wouldn’t I beokay?”
He wassilent.
Iwaited.
“I didn’t trustTaze.”
I put my hands on my hips. “You mean you didn’t like him fuckingme.”
“Thattoo.”
I started to turn away but he stopped me, his hand gripping my arm. “I was worried aboutyou.”
“Why?”
“I told you. He’s a bad dude,V.”
I shook off his hand. “Ibroke upwithhim.”
“Iknow.”
I made an exasperated sound. “Is that Lex guy still watchingme?”
“No.” He ran his hand over his face, then sighed again. “There’s anotherguy.”
My jawdropped.
“His name’sBane.”
“Jude! You can’t have guys following me around. It’s fuckingcreepy.”
“It’s for yoursafety.”
“I’m not with Taze anymore. I haven’t even talked to him since the night I sent him that text, whenyoutold me to,” I jabbed him in the chest with my finger, “andwefucked.”
“Good.”
“So why do you still have someone watchingme?”
“It’s just for a while. Just a precaution. Until I know he’s not gonna tryanything.”
