Free All We Are (8th Sin Book 2) by Holly Hood

when he takes off back the way he came. Oh Shit.
    Before I can run for my car, the front door opens and Nash is standing there. But he doesn’t look happy to see me. “What the fuck?” He says low coming onto the porch. Moments later, the old guy comes out behind him and slams the door shut.
    “You want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
    “I sold the warehouse.” Nash flexes his jaw looking the man dead in the eye. He doesn’t waver, he just waits for whatever is going to happen next.
    “You sold the warehouse?” A slew of bad language flies out of his mouth.
    I feel horrible.
    Nash nods. “I was going to tell you. But after it was over with. Because I knew you would do this.”
    “Who told you to do that?!”
    He sighs, shaking his head in complete disbelief that I just ruined his entire day—or life even. “I was looking out for you. And I took care of everything. There’s nothing you have to worry about.”
    Most people would probably feel better and say thank you. My parents probably would have even offered me a hug. But this man hauls off and punches Nash right in the mouth.
    “You stay out of my business. Or the next time I’ll give you more than a busted lip, you son of a bitch,” he warns him.
    I watch Nash go down the steps frozen in place. I pray he doesn’t haul off and punch me next.
    “My apologies little lady but when a man is pissed off things can get out of hand,” he says. He starts to cough, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. “What’s your name? You look familiar.”
    I swallow, trying to form words. “Are you okay?”
    “According to my son I’m on death’s doorstep.” He hacks up a lung, holding onto the porch railing for support. I look at him a little closer.
    “I’m sorry to hear that,” I say offering my condolences.
    “What did you say your name was?”
    Nash comes back up the stairs. “Help me get him inside.” He looks at me to get the door. I turn the knob but it’s not budging.
    “You have to kick it,” he tells me. “Give it all you got.”
    I use the fear and adrenaline and the chaos all going on inside of my mind and kick the door clean open.
    “Tough little chick.” His dad says in passing.
    I don’t know if I should go back outside or stay where I am. There are guys on the couch staring at me. And that damn Rottweiler sniffing me.
    Nash closes the door, giving me no alternative. He helps his dad to a recliner and covers him with a blanket. “Now take it easy while I clean up this blood.”
    He shoots me a look. “I’d follow me if I were you. These assholes are no fun to talk to.”
    “Hey who you calling assholes?” The blonde one says glued to the television.
    Nash ignores him and points at each one. “Fuzz. Kaymen. And Billy.” They all nod their heads but offer little conversation.
    “Nice to meet you,” I tell them all and follow Nash down the hall to a bathroom. When he shuts the door, the first thing I do is apologize. “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything to anyone.”
    He opens the medicine cabinet. And I touch my hair, smoothing it down and making sure it’s in place while he looks for whatever he is looking for.
    He opens a bottle of Tylenol and pops two and puts them back.
    “Aren’t you going to fix that?” I point at his bloody lip. He turns on the water.
    “You’re going to fix this. Seeing if it wasn’t for you, my father wouldn’t have punch me in the face.” He takes a washcloth from the drawer and hands it over.
    I turn on the water and hold it under squeezing out the excess. My hands shake moving for his mouth, these lips were connected to mine the night before.
    He stays still, letting me clean him up. He stares straight ahead not taking his eyes off of the wall. It’s so quiet I can hear our breathing and it’s awkward.
    “Sorry about your dad.”
    “Part of life.” He sighs, and I can tell he thinks it’s bullshit as much as I do.
    I turn the water back on and squeeze out the cloth