Chapter 195

I squirm in anger to be released but Jake only tightens his hold and gives me a look that tells me to leave it alone.

“You know as soon as you let her go, she’s going to give you a black eye for that right?” Jake throws back, with an edge to his tone, and follows Daniel to the waiting car. It’s the black four by four, usually driven by Jefferson but he’s nowhere to be seen.

“Looking forward to her trying.” Daniel prods Leila in the ass, looking mightily pissed. “Still with me, kitten? You’re awfully quiet up there now.” He shifts her weight on his shoulder for a better grip; almost as though he’s trying to shake a response from her.

“Screw you,” Leila mumbles from her hanging head, hair falling over so I can’t make out her features, her hands are up near her face and suddenly I realize she’s crying.

“Leila?” I reach out toward her with my free hand. My insides hurting for her.

“Daniel … Man … You’ve fucking got that girl sobbing,” Jake snaps. Daniel spins his head toward us then looks up at the little ass on his shoulder and gives her a jiggle.

“Leila? Leila?” When she doesn’t answer, he slides her down to the ground, smoothly and protectively and pulls her to face him, lifting her chin in an almost tender way, meeting her wrath in the blink of an eye. Through tears and sobs she flies into furious hell-cat mode, slapping at his arms and chest wildly; claws unleashed in full fury mode.

“I hate you! I fucking hate YOU! … You don’t give a shit who you hurt or who you use! You ever smack me like that again and I’ll tear your fucking head off!” Her tears flowing and anger searing as she fights hard, but Daniel effortlessly restrains her, batting away her attempts to claw him, and shakes her into submission with a hard jerk.

“Stop it … Stop it or I’m fucking done. I mean it, Leila, I won’t put up with your psycho shit the way Jake did earlier.” He grabs at her flailing hands, trying to restrain her once again, as she goes for another onslaught. I watch, holding my breath, while Jake tries to maneuver us around them; yet there are too many people trying to get past us with eyes on stalks to watch this little domestic unfold on the sidewalk.

“Done? Done?! We never fucking started. You’re an asshole, you just think sex and see ya with every girl stupid enough to come near you. You used me for sex then dropped me like trash.” She’s writhing free of his hands and attempting slaps once again.

“It’s never just sex with you! I fucking care about you, Leila, okay?! I just don’t know what the fuck to do about it,” Daniel snaps and shocks almost everyone standing here.

I don’t think I’ve seen him more shocked at himself.

It seems to do the trick though, Jake slides me down to my feet beside the car, and I can’t help but watch with glued eyes at the pair of them standing on the sidewalk looking at each other silently. She’s stopped her assault and seems to just be standing blinking at him with her wrists in his palms; there’s a moment of pause then Leila breaks the tension.

“I’m getting a cab, go away. I don’t need you to take me home and I don’t want your fucking help. I can handle my booze!” She yanks her wrists free and turns on her heels to attempt to storm away but Daniel only grabs her by the arm and hauls her back far too easily.

“You’re coming to Jake’s whether you like it or not. Try fighting me on this, sweetheart, and I will literally gag you and throw you in the trunk. Don’t try me, honey, we both know I’m enough of a cunt to do it.” Every time she turns from him, he hauls her back, meeting another bout of her slapping and rage.

Leila, did Daniel just tell you he cares and you’re still acting crazy?

Leila seems to visibly change from sheer fury to something else, her face crumbling.

“Why would you say that to me? Why tell me you care about me? When it doesn’t mean shit, Daniel! You know no matter what you’re still going to leave me alone and fucking broken, anytime I get close.” Her rage has turned to angry crying, make-up pouring down her cheeks at an alarming rate, yet despite it she still looks breathtakingly beautiful and I soar with sheer venom at the man who is causing her so much heart ache.

Jake is trying to get me into the car beside Sarah, but I resist, watching and waiting, wanting to see what happens next, ready to jump in and defend my friend, ready to gouge the shit out of the man upsetting her despite being Jake’s worse significant other. I don’t want to leave her alone to deal with him this way.

“I’m not doing this here.” Daniel lets her go and turns on his heel ready to walk off, but he catches Jake’s death glare, a look that says, don’t do it man.

“I’ll get a cab. Take her back with you and look after her. I need to think when she’s not screaming in my face. She needs to sober up before we can talk.”

“Danny?” Jake moves past me toward him but meets defensive palms and a look of utter emotional turmoil on Hunter’s face.

“If I stay, I’m just going to make this whole fucking thing worse. She’s too drunk and upset right now. I don’t even know what the hell is going on in my head to begin to try to make her understand.” He shrugs and shakes his head as he walks off toward the road and Leila is left gaping after him with tears pouring down her face.

“You’re a fucking coward, Daniel Hunter. You don’t deserve me!” She calls after him and he doesn’t respond he just keeps walking off into the busy street without a backward glance.

Jake pushes me into the car lifting my legs in gently, sliding my shoes into the space on the floor, not giving me anymore room to fight him on this.

“Slide over while I get her.” He glances over his shoulder toward Leila’s sobbing figure and I obediently move up.

Seconds later, with his arm around her shoulder, he guides her in beside me gently and I envelope her against me, letting her cry. Her petite frame is shaking with the effort of holding in so much heartache.

“I hate him so much … I don’t want to love him anymore, Emma. It hurts too goddamn much. He just makes it so painful.” She buries her face against me and let’s it all pour out in a muffled sob.

I guess I know how that feels right about now.

I glance up catching Jake’s eyes in the rear-view mirror as he slides his seatbelt on. A moment of pain run across his face, that moment of taking Leila’s words as mine, he looks away quickly, jaw tightening, and ears moving; his body stiffens.