Page 84 of Scarred Souls
“No. Tomorrow. It’s probably Enrique coming to build the new dog cages. Let me up.” She wiggled beneath me, but I didn’t budge. Not yet.
“Does he still think I’m your cousin?”
“Of course. Everyone thinks you’re my cousin. It’s your cover story.”
No wonder assholes at Javi’s kept staring at Hope as if she were fair game. I didn’t like that.
I grunted. “You should tell people you’re with me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“So they stop bothering you.”
“No one bothers me. Not with a face like this.” She pointed to the bumpy flesh on her cheek. “Now move.”
Did she really think the men in this town didn’t want her? If they didn’t hit on her, it was because she intimidated them and they knew they weren’t worthy.
When the vehicle drew nearer, I rose from the sand, pulling Hope with me.
She dusted herself off and looked toward the front gate, shielding the sun from her eyes. “Yeah. That’s Enrique’s pickup. I told you, he’s just a friend. Don’t scare him with your territorial macho bullshit.”
“I want to talk to him.”
“No way.” She came closer and aimed an accusing finger at me. “If you think after everything Jorge put me through that I’m going to let you interfere with my relationships, you’re out of your mind.”
“Are you seriously comparing me to that asshole? I’m nothing like Ortega.”
She folded her arms. “Prove it.”
I mimicked her pose. “I shouldn’t need to prove it. I’m only looking out for you.”
“The only thing you’re doing is being a royal pain in my ass. Go inside while I talk to Enrique, or I’ll make you regret it.”
Regret it? What the hell did that mean?
“Last chance,” she warned.
I wasn’t one of her trained strays. She couldn’t tell me what to do.
A moment later, a truck carrying lumber on its roof drove around the side of the house and parked near the kennels. Enrique the douchebag hopped out and beamed a white-toothed grin at Hope. I muttered a bunch of curse words under my breath when she smiled just as brightly.
“Hola, Kiki.” Hope strode to him and gave him a hug.
A fucking hug!
Enrique seemed as surprised as me by her enthusiasm. Was she flirting with him to piss me off? She was going to get this guy murdered.
And then she’ll hate you as much as she hates Ortega.
Dammit. My hands were tied.
“Hermosa. ¿Cómo estás?” Enrique released Hope and then nodded toward me. “Hey, man.”
He was still touching her, so I couldn’t do anything except aim a death stare where his hand rested just above her ass.
Fuck. Why was my heart beating so fast? My jaw ached from how hard my teeth ground against each other.
This was stupid. How could I be losing my shit over a girl? Despite what had just happened, Hope wasn’t mine and never would be. My clenched fists and size-fourteen boots disagreed. They wanted to mess this kid up for breathing the same air as her. I lit a cigarette to calm me down.