Basement Level 5: Never Scared (6 page)

Now she tapped her foot against the floor and glared at him. “Kendrick, stop breathing all heavy. It’s okay.”

“
It’s not, Alexa. I’m not going to get killed because you refuse to take your safety seriously. That asshole shouldn’t be threatening you. And what is with that punk you’re dating—Erik? You’re with him but he can’t even defend you?”

She rolled her eyes. “Look, I don’t need Erik to defend me. I can defend myself.”

“
You shouldn’t have to, especially when you have a date.”

“
You’re worse than Lei and Dro. These are high school students, Kendrick, not hardened criminals out for revenge. You’re overreacting.”

He shook his head incredulously. “You’re serious? What part of ‘threat’ don’t you understand? You know there’s history between Steve’s father and Pop. That’s nothing to take lightly.”

“
I’m not taking it lightly. I can beat Steve in my sleep. He’s weak, all talk and no action.”

Kendrick pinched the bridge of his nose. “You realize the others are not going to see it that way, right?”

“
Yeah.” She shrugged. “So what?”

He ran his hand down his face and took a deep breath. She was really starting to get on his nerves. “You’re playing with serious fire, Lex. Why would you risk it?”

She studied him with amusement on her face then placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Steve is Erik’s best friend. I have to see him every day at school. It would be more dangerous for me to act like he’s a leper. You always told me to keep my enemies close, so that’s what I’m doing.”

She was right, Kendrick thought, but Dro was still going to kill her—
after he kills me for not keeping a better eye on her
. The Martinez family didn’t like to take chances, especially when Alexa was out in a social setting. They had many enemies, most of which stemmed from Dro’s father, Enrique, and his illegitimate businesses.

Kendrick wondered briefly why he’d volunteered to come with her to the high school homecoming dance in the first place. Lei had been all set to come, but Kendrick had volunteered at Alexa’s request.

Security was supposed to be a cinch because the dance was in a Martinez hotel, but he should’ve known better. “Cinch” and “Alexa” never went hand in hand. Normally, a threat from another student would be of no concern, but considering the source, it gave Kendrick cause for alarm. He was uncomfortable and didn’t like it.

When he’d called Dro to break the news, he had expected Dro to blow his ear drum out on the phone. Surprisingly, Dro remained composed during the whole conversation. He was so calm, Kendrick was forced to question his own reaction. However, once Kendrick had relayed all the details to him, Dro had finally blown his lid.

Steve had threatened to teach Alexa a lesson in “more ways than one.” Kendrick had had the overwhelming urge to hang up when Dro refused to stop yelling and cursing in his ear. Dro, who was pretty even-tempered most of the time, became a deranged lunatic when Alexa was involved. Kendrick remembered wanting to throw his phone into the pool as Dro ranted on the other end.

It got even worse once Dro found out Alexa had shrugged it off as nothing because she was too busy with her boy toy, Erik, to give a damn. She hadn’t even told Kendrick about the threat. He’d just happened to overhear a couple of students talking about it in the hotel lobby. Damn, was the woman daft?

Dro and Alexa had been sleeping together for a while, but they were keeping it light. According to Dro, that meant they could each see other people. It gave Dro the freedom to see whomever he wanted while he was away at school. But he apparently hadn’t realized it also meant Alexa could see whomever she wanted. And she wanted Erik.

Dro had a severe jealous streak when it came to her, so Kendrick had known “keeping it light” wouldn’t last long. He could personally vouch for that since he’d been on the receiving end of this jealousy once Dro found out he was the one who had given Alexa her infamous first kiss.

Alexa’s curse jolted Kendrick out of his thoughts. Looking up, he saw Dro burst into the hotel lobby, with Lei and Chase on his heels.

Dro marched up to Alexa, who didn’t even flinch. “Get your ass upstairs, Alexa. We need to talk.” Dro’s father reserved a suite especially for them when they were partying at the hotel. It was convenient, especially when they’d been drinking.

Alexa rolled her eyes. “Can you please not order me around like I’m your child?”

“
Do you even realize what happened?”

“
Yes. I heard about what he said.”

“
And you don’t give a damn?” Dro yelled.

“
That’s not what I said. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

He stepped closer to her, and they all knew how much she hated being crowded. “Well then what would possess you not take this threat seriously?”

She placed her hands against his chest and pushed him back. “Because I can handle Steve. I don’t need you to protect me.”

“
So, someone threatens to rape you, and you say you can handle yourself? I hate to break this to you, but that shit isn’t going to fly. And—”

She turned her back on him, interrupting him mid-tirade. Kendrick snorted and Dro glared at him.

“
Did you just turn your back on me?” he roared incredulously.

Instead of answering him, she walked away, back into the crowded party.

Dro growled and followed her into the ballroom. Kendrick and the others had no choice but to follow, too.

Kendrick glanced at Lei as they entered the ballroom. “Dro is going to blow. You get him and I’ll get her.” He knew it was best if he stayed away from Dro. The man would choke him if given half a chance. He still hadn’t gotten over the news of that first kiss.

Lei snorted. “That would be best.”

As they hurried after Dro and Alexa, Kendrick knew this was only the beginning. Alexa was one of the two people that could get under Dro’s skin. The only other person able to do that was Enrique, Dro’s father.

***

Alexa took a seat at the bar and waited. When Dro caught up to her, she ignored him. She was tired of everyone treating her like she couldn’t take care of herself.

“
Why did you walk away from me?” His voice was a low growl in her ear. “You know I hate that.”

She glared at him and spotted the others waiting quietly behind him.

“
Really, Dro? You brought backup. What are you going to do, drag me out of the party against my will?”

“
Why would I do that? You’re going to get up and walk out with me.”

“
In whose world? Yours?”

“
Exactly.”

She had expected his anger but not the gentle kiss he placed on her neck. She shivered. He was playing hardball. Bracing her hands on his shoulders, she shoved him away. “Stop that. I have a date.”

“
And I should care because...”

She held him at bay with her hand on his chest. “We said we weren’t going public, Dro. That’s what you said, right? You made up the rules.”

He swept a strand of her hair out of her face, ran a finger along her jaw. “Rules were made to be broken.”

“
You can’t have it both ways. I can see who I want, and you can’t act like I’m with you in public. I have a date with Erik. That’s who I’m going to be with tonight.”

“
Really?” He swept her hand out of his way, moved in, and brushed his lips against hers. “You’re with
him
tonight?”

She swallowed and tried to push him away again. He didn’t budge. “Dro, st—” The word “Stop” wedged in her throat when his tongue darted out to trace her lips.

“
Answer the question,” he whispered. “Are you with him tonight?”

She swooned as his warm breath breezed over her mouth. But she wasn’t about to let him off that easily. Using all her strength, she propelled him back a step. “Stop crowding me. I’ll see you later tonight—
after
the party.”

“
I don’t think so. Steve is volatile. He’s already threatened you once tonight. If you think I’m going to leave you here at this party by yourself without protection, you’re wrong.”

“
Kendrick can stay with me.” She knew he wouldn’t go for it since Kendrick was with her tonight when the incident happened, but she refused to give up.

He scowled at Kendrick then turned back to her. “Kendrick is not staying with you because you’re not staying here.”

“
You’re ruining my date, Dro. What if Erik sees you all over me like this. He’ll never come near me again.”

“
I don’t give a damn.”

“
Of course you don’t. You get to go back to college, and I’m going to be stuck here dateless because no one with any brains will go up against you.” She smacked him on the shoulder. “Jerk.”

He barked out a laugh, which infuriated her even more. “Listen, if you’re the player I think you are you can make anyone want to risk going up against me just to get a taste of you.”

The wheels started turning in her head. She scanned the crowd, looking for Erik.

“
And trust me,” he continued in a low tone. “If you can get someone to want you even after seeing you with me, nothing will stand in your way.” Slyly, his right hand slipped into her hair and he pressed a tentative kiss to her mouth, prompting a sharp intake of breath.

Alexa tried to fight her attraction to him, but she knew it was a no-win situation. Making the decision to roll with it, she cradled his head in her hands and pulled him into a quick, but intense kiss.

“
Okay,” she purred against his lips. “I’ll accept your challenge. But I’ll still see you later.”

***

Dro admired Alexa for her ability to turn things around in her favor, and he was looking forward to watching her get out of this situation. It was very likely her classmates had witnessed their little interaction. He was pretty sure Erik had already received the news that his date was flirting with someone else.

Dro dipped his head, ready to capture her lips with his.

“
Alexa?” a voice called out.

He knew it was her simpering date, Erik, but he refused to move. Alexa peeked around him.

“
Alexa, what are you doing?” Erik demanded. “Who the hell is this?”

Dro straightened to his full height and turned around then smirked at Erik’s mortified expression.

“
Dro—I—I didn’t know it was you.”

Dro cracked his knuckles. “What the hell is your problem? And who the hell do you think you’re talking to?”

“
Uh—I thought Alexa was—” Erik stammered. “I didn’t know it was you, but anyway, she’s with me.”

“
And that makes it okay for you to speak to her like that?” Dro crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s with you so you have the right to disrespect her? Sounds to me like you’re feeling yourself a little too much.”

A small crowd had gathered around them.

Erik sighed. “She’s my date. I thought—”

“
I don’t give a damn what you thought,” Dro snarled. “And I don’t care what you think you are to Alexa. You will never disrespect her like that again. Never talk to her like you’re crazy.”

“
Dro,” Alexa interjected.

He ignored her, keeping his eyes on Erik. “Do you understand?”

Erik bowed his head and nodded slightly.

Dro enjoyed making the punk squirm. “Good, because I don’t repeat myself, and I don’t make idle threats. If I ever hear that you disrespected her again in any way, I won’t warn or threaten you—I’ll just kill you.”

Erik dropped his head.

“
If you insist on staying here,” Dro said, turning back to Alexa. “I’m staying too. Don’t worry, I won’t crowd you.” He glanced back at Erik, who was standing with his hands shoved in his pockets. “Something tells me your date is over anyway unless you can work some of your magic,” he whispered and walked away.

***

How the hell had he ended up in this mess? Kendrick wondered as he watched Dro storm off. Alexa was probably mad as hell, and a pissed off Alexa didn’t bode well for him. For the life of him, he couldn’t understand why Dro had acted the way he did. And since Alexa was never one to shy away from a challenge, this was only going to get worse.

Kendrick sighed and approached Alexa at the bar. “I’m sorry about that, Erik,” he heard her tell the dummy.

“
What the hell was that about?” Erik demanded. “Are you with Dro?”

“
No, we were just talking.”

Kendrick snorted. Anyone with eyes could see they’d been doing more than just talking, but Erik was a fool. Alexa had once confided to Kendrick that Erik was different than her other suitors, so he knew she cared for the boy.
What would Dro think about that
?

She frowned at Kendrick. “Can you give me a minute?”

He nodded and stepped back far enough not to crowd them while remaining close enough to hear what they said.

“
If you believe that, Erik, you’re dumb,” Steve said, butting in.

“
Get the hell out of here, Steve,” Alexa growled. “This is none of your business.”