Page 13 of Battle Scars

“Oh!” I do know the answer to that. I unbuckle my seatbelt and lean over the center console so I can reach the button on the visor over his head. I freeze, realizing I’m practically in his lap, and the way his hazel eyes bore into mine is positively indecent. My nipples are hard, and the air in my lungs begins to burn.

“Fresa, what the fuck are you doing?” he grinds out.

“This,” I whisper awkwardly as I hit the button to open the gate. As I twist to plop back down into my seat, I see Manny behind us laughing his ass off. I try to smile and wave, but I’m pretty sure all I manage to pull off is an uncomfortable grimace.

“This,” he practically growls, “is not fucking secure.”

I don’t say anything, just nod once as he pulls through the gate. The growl of my engine matches his suddenly black mood. In the side mirror, I watch the two black SUVs follow us through.

Gabe parks in the garage, while Manny and Eli pull their respective vehicles into the driveway and climb out. Eli tosses keys to Gabe as they stalk toward where we are in the garage.

“Need to get the lay of the land,” Gabe says to me, I guess.

“Okay.”

“Anything me and my boys should know about?”

Again, I’m rendered mute. What the hell is wrong with me? Also, what the hell am I supposed to know? I didn’t even know I had threats against me until an hour ago.

“Uh…” I try to formulate words but I’m off my game. Anyone else would understand, but not this jackass.

“Babe, you got any guns, dogs, or booby traps?” he clarifies.

Eli smiles widely, and Manny chuckles while looking pointedly at his shoes.

“Oh,” I whisper. Only crazy people have anything other than a dog, and I don’t currently have time for one of those so the answer is easier than I thought. “No?”

“Is that a yes, you do, or a no, you don’t know?”

“It’s a no. I don’t have any of those things.” Before thinking better of it, I ask, “Do I need those things?”

“Honey,” Eli calls quietly, drawing my attention to him.

He’s younger than Manny and Gabe by several years. His sandy hair is closely cropped to his head like he’s in the military, and he has the most beautiful blue eyes that would be girly on anyone but him.

“Yes?” I answer automatically.

“You live out here all alone and don’t even have a dog?” he asks.

“I’m not home much.” I shrug before explaining, “I did think about a cat once… or a goldfish, but even that didn’t feel right. I would be a terrible goldfish mom.”

“Yeah,” Manny agrees, picking up their torch. “But when you are here, you’re all alone.”

“Behind a big gate,” I blurt. “It looks like a castle gate.”

“With entry access in your car,” Gabe adds.

“Whoops,” I whisper.

He mutters, “Yeah, babe, whoops.”

Eli and Manny just smile at their boots.

“I think maybe we should go tour the property,” Manny suggests.

“I’m just going to go fix some dinner,” I say, not meeting anyone’s eyes. I’m embarrassed.

It’s silly really, but in this moment, I feel young and stupid and… small. I don’t want to feel like that for another minute, so I strategize my exit plan. “Are you guys… umm… staying?”