Free ACHE (Naked, Book 5) by Kelly Favor Page A

five broken fingers.”
    “Elijah, please tell me you’re joking.”
    “I’m joking.”
    “Are you?”
    Elijah shook his head. “You told me to say I was joking, so I did.”
    “Listen, you can’t threaten people like that. Knox didn’t do anything wrong.”
    “He was getting touchy feely with you.”
    “He’s a physical therapist. That’s his job.”
    Elijah grinned. “It’s all good. We aired shit out and now everything’s clear as can be.”
    Caelyn sighed, putting her fingers to her temple and rubbing. She was getting a headache. “Promise me you won’t do anything like that again. You need to calm down.”
    “I can’t promise that. If some guy gets out of line with you, he’s going to answer to me.”
    She didn’t say anything else. Of course he was being totally crazy about Knox, but then again, the physical therapist had perhaps crossed a line, even if just barely. And Caelyn couldn’t help but feel protected with someone like Elijah watching over her.
    After what had happened with Jayson, she kind of liked Elijah’s overprotective attitude.
    They were just about to pull into their driveway when Elijah let out a whispered burst of anger. “What the fuck…”
    The truck slowed to a halt.
    Sitting in their driveway was a dark sedan with tinted windows.
    “Who’s that?” Caelyn asked nervously.
    “It’s my dad.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know.” He stared for a long moment.
    Just then, the sedan’s driver side door opened, and Elijah’s father got out of the car. He was wearing what looked like an Irish cap on his head, but still wore the same old leather jacket and cowboy boots. He nodded in their direction.
    “Fuck it,” Elijah said, and turned into the driveway.
    “Are we safe?” she asked.
    “I think so.”
    They parked the car and then Elijah got out first, approaching his dad and having words before Caelyn could even put one foot outside the truck.
    She tried to hurry because she wanted to know what was going on. She was afraid Elijah would lose his temper, or maybe Elijah’s father would lose his—either way, she didn’t like it one bit.
    Caelyn hobbled over to where the two men were standing.
    “I think we should talk inside,” Gabe was saying as she approached. Then he turned to Caelyn. “I’m glad to see you up and about.”
    “No thanks to you,” Elijah replied stiffly.
    His father’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his son once more. “I wasn’t the one who crashed your car.”
    “But you were the one who took the gun and the money out of the car instead of trying to help us.”
    “Inside,” Gabe replied, his chin jutting out as he looked around. “You’ve got neighbors on all sides. I don’t think they need to hear our private business.”
    “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
    “Maybe not, but I’ve got something to say and you will listen.”
    As angry as she’d seen Elijah get, Gabe had a dark, intense energy to him that seemed far more sinister and threatening. She wanted him to leave their house, but she knew that if Elijah refused to talk to him, things were only going to get worse.
    Before Elijah could refuse, Caelyn smiled. “Why don’t you come inside?” she said. “Have a cup of coffee or something.”
    “That would be lovely. Thank you.”
    Elijah glanced at her. “This is a bad idea,” he whispered.
    “It’s your dad. We have to.”
    He shook his head. “Whatever.” And then he led them up the walkway.
    “I just need to grab something from the car, I’ll be right in,” Gabe told them.
    Elijah shot him a look, rolled his eyes. “It’s okay. We’ve got nothing better to do than wait for you.”
    Gabe turned and went back to his car while Elijah helped Caelyn the rest of the way up the steps and into the house.
    Once inside, he peered out the front window. “What the hell is he getting from his car?”
    “You don’t think he’s getting a gun, do you?” Caelyn asked.
    “No, if he was planning on