Chapter 5
Levi
He was waiting for me when I walked through the door leading into the alley.
I thought he was T at first when I saw him in my periphery, but my relief as I took in his hulking frame as he leaned against the wall where T had fucked my mouth just a few hours earlier was short-lived as I realized what his presence meant.
Either he hadn’t believed my earlier words or he hadn’t cared.
The flare of hope that sparked deep inside my belly as Phoenix straightened and began walking towards me felt ugly and wrong. And I knew why.
Because I’d wanted him to be there waiting for me.
It was all I’d thought about as I’d worked to get dinner ready.
Darkness was just starting to fall so it was hard to make out Phoenix’s expression until he stepped into the light that was coming from just above the door. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected to see, but it certainly wasn’t the tense anger that lined his face.
Okay, so maybe he hadn’t stayed behind to talk more.
Maybe whatever I’d done to piss him off was about to come back and bite me in the ass.
I dropped my gaze to his hands which were fisted.
God, the damage he could do with them. The little flutter in my belly that hadn’t left in the three hours since I’d first interacted with him turned into a sharp pang of terror and I automatically stepped away from him until my back hit the door behind me.
I was surprised when he paused briefly and then relaxed his hands. The expression in his gaze eased too, but then he was moving again until he was practically in my space.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“No,” I automatically said. “That’s not necessary.”
“We’re not arguing about this, Levi,” he said gruffly and then his hand was closing around my arm. His gentle hold only served to anger me.
I yanked my arm free and bit out, “Weren’t you listening in there?” as I motioned over my shoulder. “I don’t want your help.”
“I don’t care what you want!” Phoenix shot back and then his body was crowding mine against the door. “You might be okay with putting yourself in danger, but I’m not.” His voice softened a little. “Just let me do this, Levi. Tomorrow you can go back to believing whatever the hell you want.”
It was a simple request, but he had no clue what he was asking me. But I also saw the determination in his eyes.
“I don’t have a car. I usually walk to work…it’s only about six blocks away. When I’m done, I take the bus home.”
“Fine, we’ll take my car.”
I wanted to tell him that I preferred to walk, but I knew he wouldn’t understand, so I merely nodded.
“It’s this way,” Phoenix said as he turned away from me. I followed him and wasn’t particularly surprised when he slowed so that I was walking next to him instead of behind him. The rain had stopped, but the air was cool around us.
“Where do you work?” Phoenix asked as we walked. I noticed the way he kept looking around us and I wondered if he was watching out for T or it was just his normal behavior.
“At a small grocery store. I clean and restock the shelves. Sometimes I help out with bagging groceries if they’re busy, but the store closes at nine so it’s usually just me after that.”
“Do you like it? ”
“What? My job?” I asked. “Yeah, I guess so. I like the routine. I’m good at routines.”
“I meant the alone part.”
I glanced at him in confusion. His dark eyes met mine and I felt a shimmer of electricity flare in my belly. That damn flutter was back.
“You said it’s usually just you after the store closes. Do you prefer it that way?”
I dropped my eyes. “Yeah, I guess. It’s quiet and I don’t have to make conversation.” I let out a dry laugh and said, “You’ve already seen that I’m not so good at the talking.”
Phoenix smiled. “I don’t think that’s true. Besides, I’m not exactly the easiest guy to talk to sometimes.”
“I think you’re underestimating yourself,” I murmured.
Sure, appearance-wise, he was as intimidating as hell.
But for all his brawn and brute strength, he’d shown moments of gentleness too.
Even when he’d grabbed me a few moments earlier and insisted on escorting me to work, his touch hadn’t hurt and his words had been firm and demanding, but not forceful.
He didn’t respond to my comment, but I could sense him glancing at me now and again.
“What happened back there in front of the stove, Levi?”
I swallowed hard. Between him having seen me blowing T and my mini-breakdown, I hadn’t been sure which topic he’d press me for more information on, but I’d figured he wouldn’t just let things lie. Didn’t make it any easier to deal with, though. So I did what I did best and kept my mouth shut.
“Your brother must have been a real piece of work.”
At his words, I stopped walking. “What?”
He turned to face me.
“What would make you say that?” I asked, my heart thudding in my chest.
“You were talking about him right before you…” His voice dropped off briefly. “His name is Ricky, right?”
I nodded absentmindedly. “Was. He’s dead.”
“I’m sor- ”
“Don’t,” I cut in before he could finish talking. “He doesn’t deserve your pity.”
I moved past him and started walking more quickly. The sooner I got away from this man, the better. He was far too perceptive.
“Levi, wait.”
“No!” I yelled as he once again grabbed my arm. I yanked free of his hold and he quickly put his hands up.
“This is my car,” he said carefully as he motioned to a large silver SUV.
Embarrassed by my over-the-top reaction, I nodded and tried to catch my breath. “We should go. I don’t want to be late for work.”
I wouldn’t be, of course, since I’d given myself enough of a cushion to make the walk to work, but I didn’t tell him that. I just wanted to get away from him because the roller coaster of emotions he was putting me through was just fucked up.
“No problem,” Phoenix said softly. I suspected he knew I was in no danger of being late. I started to approach the car, but stopped in shock when he went to the passenger side door and opened it for me.
I hurried past him and climbed into the car before I completely lost it.
As soon as he closed the door, I let the few tears that had been collecting in my eyes fall so I could quickly use my sleeve to wipe them away as Phoenix walked around the front of the SUV.
I turned my head to look out the window as he climbed in.
I just needed to keep it together for a few more minutes.
Since I’d be getting to work early, I’d at least have a few minutes to myself to try and get it together.
I was glad when Phoenix didn’t try to engage me in conversation as I directed him on which way to go. But as soon as he pulled the car over to the curb and I went for the door, his big hand closed over my wrist. “Levi.”
I flinched at the way he said my name. I knew I wasn’t going to like whatever came next.
“Please, don’t,” I murmured before he could speak again.
I kept my eyes downcast as I tried to ignore the warmth radiating out beneath my skin where he was holding on to me.
I chanced a glance at where we were connected and marveled at how much bigger his hand was then mine.
His fingers easily encircled my wrist. It would take next to nothing for him to snap it if he wanted to.
“Don’t what?”
“Just don’t,” I whispered, hoping it was enough.
To my shock and disappointment, it was. Phoenix released me. “Take care of yourself, Levi.”
I couldn’t even find the strength to respond, so I merely gave him a jerky nod and then nearly fell out of the car in my effort to escape the charged air inside of it. My insides hurt with every step I took away from the SUV and I felt another round of tears threaten to fall.
Goddamn fucking hope.
I was half expecting to find Phoenix waiting for me the next morning as I left work.
I tried to tell myself I was glad when I didn’t see him outside the employee entrance, but the fact that I actually went out of my way to walk around to the front of the store just to make sure the big man wasn’t waiting there either contradicted my relief.
It was still dark outside considering it was just a few minutes past five.
The fog was heavy, but it wasn’t raining.
Most days, I would have just walked home, but with my latest run-in with T on my mind, I decided to play it safe and catch the bus.
The man was likely passed out somewhere with one of his women, but I wasn’t going to risk it, especially not after the request he’d made the night before.
I’d been working at Carlisle’s Food Market for almost a year now, but for some reason, T had waited until last night to use my position there to benefit him.
He hadn’t ever confronted me at the grocery store before, so I supposed it was possible he hadn’t realized until recently that I worked there, but I couldn’t be sure.
It didn’t really matter because now that my employment with the small chain of stores was on his mind, he wasn’t going to let it go .
I’d met Betty Carlisle about two months after I’d gotten out of prison.
I’d been job hunting for nearly as long when I’d walked into the store to fill out an application after being turned down by the two dozen other places I’d tried.
I’d been half-tempted not to check the yes box for the question that had prevented me from even getting a call from all the previous jobs…
the one asking if I’d ever been convicted of a crime.
But as desperate as I’d been, I’d been more frightened about getting caught in a lie, though I wasn’t sure why, since it wasn’t like a lie could send me back to prison.