Chapter Six
Kylie
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but since they never pulled the weapons, we likely won’t be able to keep them. Most of them will probably be out by the end of the day, if not earlier. Except the one that got shot in the foot, and the other one with the gun. Those two we can hold, but probably no more than overnight until they’re out on bail.”
She nodded her understanding. He was doing his best, but the law had its hands tied. Technically Corde had struck first, but to nobody’s surprise the downed gangsters didn’t want to press charges. The officer retreated to his car and drove off while she stood there and contemplated just what to do. The entire situation was screwed up.
Corde had gone and gotten himself involved in her battle, and now she wondered if this would be the last of it. Knowing Jose, she highly doubted it. He was persistent, and now he’d been embarrassed in front of his friends. Kylie knew that he would already be thinking of a way to prove to them that he still deserved to be boss. Whatever that plan was, it would involve her somehow, but it would also involve Corde.
Something told her the odd walking colossus wasn’t too concerned. After the way he’d dealt with the entire group in less than ten seconds, Kylie had to wonder if he should be. She was certain one of them had broken his hand while trying to punch him. The sequence had happened so fast to be sure, but she swore she had seen that. How was that even possible?
The entire scene left her feeling conflicted. She felt fear, because things had just escalated between her and a street gang. Although Jose’s group weren’t the worst ilk she’d ever had to deal with, they weren’t your normal internet gangsters either. They were the real deal. If he wanted to come after her, she would be in trouble.
Trouble which Corde seemed to have no problem being involved with. She’d seen the way he strained at the leash, wanting to fight them from the instant he’d thrown his garbage picker to gain everyone’s attention. His protective streak was clearly a mile long, and there was a very definite and tangible part of her that felt safe knowing he had extended it to her. His size, speed, and strength were breathtaking, and she knew that the thugs would think twice before attacking her if he was nearby.
But then there was the fact that he’d celebrated for not killing anyone. As if that were a momentous occasion for him. Was he a murderer? Nothing about him had ever really struck her that way, but could you ever really know these days? Maybe he was an assassin, able to blend in with the world around him until he was called upon to dispatch his enemies.
He’s not an assassin. Stop it. You’re starting to make stuff up.
But she was positive he’d killed before, and didn’t seem too remorseful about the fact either. How could she truly feel at ease with him around if that were the case? What if he got mad at her? Would he be able to contain his anger then? There were just so many questions surrounding him, and so little answers.
Yet another catcall from behind her grabbed her attention. When she was younger Kylie had matured quickly and endured more than her share of such attention from men who had no idea how young she was. Mostly older teenagers as they drove by, whistling and honking, as if that would be enough to make her want to go home with them.
As she’d aged and come fully into her curves however, the calls had died off. Now when she heard them, they weren’t usually meant for her, and today was no different. A car horn honked and she rolled her eyes as she saw the car full of women drive by Corde, everyone but the driver practically drooling.
A surge of jealousy surprised Kylie. She quickly suppressed it. Corde wasn’t hers; they could whistle all they wanted. She kind of agreed with them anyway. The sun had continued to rise as she dealt with the officers, and by now the concrete was baking, throwing off heat waves that were visible.
Without anyone to help him clean the off-ramp, Corde had gone into overdrive, working like a maniac to get it done. This had resulted in him drenching his shirt and removing it. Now he worked in nothing but his makeshift vest, exposing much of his back and upper body to the sun’s rays. His skin seemed to drink up the UV, and she could have sworn he’d become more defined and ripped as it baked him.
He stood up straight now, wiping his brow with a forearm and stretching his back. Kylie’s lower lip tucked up between her teeth as she watched, the skin on his stomach pulling taut across multiple rows of muscles that ran from just under his bulging pecs down his abdomen and disappeared into his jeans.
The weather outside was scorching, but she was pretty positive it wasn’t the sun that had just left her lightheaded. He was so hunky and dreamy to look at, the sweat glistening off the bunched cords of his biceps as he rolled his shoulders. A single droplet fell from one perfectly tanned nipple, and all at once Kylie realized she could feel warmth concentrating between her legs. She was getting turned on by watching him sweat.
This is not good. You can’t let yourself be seduced by him. Just because he’s a walking sex bomb does not give you permission to start fantasizing about him! Don’t do it!
For a brief moment Kylie let herself imagine that he was wrapping those strong hands of his around her waist and not a trash bag and grabber.
All at once her vision was drawn to the black plastic bag, and she smiled. The smelly bag full of nasty trash and other disgusting things. Envisioning that for a moment killed any further arousal.
Then Corde looked up and flashed his smile at her, white teeth glowing. He waved, the motion sending little ripples through his chest that undid all her previous efforts to focus on anything but him.
“Lunchtime!” she called, pulling a whistle up from under her shirt and giving it a blast to alert the others working down closer to the highway.
It was a little early for lunch, but she justified it to herself by saying that the sun meant they would all need extra hydration today. Including Corde, who was sweating profusely. It was definitely not an excuse to spend more time with him.
Not at all.
***
“All right Corde, you worked hard today. I’m going to grant your full allotment, and against my better judgment, I’m going to give you extra credit, to even you up with yesterday.”
The huge man nodded his head politely, but didn’t say anything. In fact, he hadn’t said anything since the end of the fight. He’d waved at her, and they’d caught each other looking several times, but no words, not even at lunchtime. He’d down by himself, slightly closed off.
Kylie was beginning to wonder if something was wrong. Wasn’t she supposed to be the one who was shaken out of sorts? Instead it was Corde who didn’t seem like his usual self. She thought about asking him what was going on, but decided against doing so in front of everyone else. Whatever was bothering him could wait until he was ready.
She handed him his form and then finished signing off on everyone else’s, trying to put him, his beautiful teeth, and steely gray eyes out of her mind. It worked for a bit, and ten minutes later she was done, sighing heavily in relief.
“Finally,” she muttered to herself. “Time to go home and just forget everything.”
All that was left was to pack up the pickers, vests, and the folding table she used to set them on. The garbage was already dumped in the bin the municipality provided, and everyone was gone. Peace would at last be hers.
Except it wasn’t. The table had been behind her as she signed off on the forms, and now as she moved to pack it up, she realized Corde had never left. Instead he’d packed everything up and was now carrying the table and a huge mass of pickers. All that was left was the pile of vests stuffed into an unused garbage bag.
“What are you doing?” she asked, phrasing it so he would have to answer.
“Staying close. Keeping you safe.” He looked past her. “They won’t just back down after this.”
Kylie rubbed her face in exasperation. “They’re in jail, Corde. I’ll be fine for today. I’m perfectly okay with having you around tomorrow,” I think. “But I’m okay. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m still going to carry these over to your car for you.” He spoke levelly, but she could tell he wasn’t backing down.
“Fine.” She snatched up the vests and all but stomped across the parking lot, trying to figure out why she was so bothered by his actions.
No, it wasn’t his actions, she decided. It was the fact that he was right. Jose and his crew weren’t going to just let this slide. She would have to watch her back until they were either arrested or they got tired of it. Great. That was just great. Now she was on a gang’s most-wanted list. What a way to end the day!
She approached her car, popped the trunk, and stuffed everything inside. “There, happy?”
There was no response. Glancing over her shoulder, Kylie frowned. He wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were focused elsewhere. Following his gaze, she walked to the side of her car.
Her tires were slashed.
“You have got to be kidding me!” She threw her arms up in the air.
Corde straightened and fixed her with a knowing look. “Are you still sure you’ll be okay?”