East End: The Hear No Evil Trilogy, Book 1

our seats at the dinner table, East made a point to sit right next to him. Denning was at one head of the table, and my father was at the other. Next to Denning were East and Hazel. For the most part, Hazel kept the conversation to innocuous topics, sports, vacations, things like that. Although during the sports discussion, my father and East got into a heated debate about the future of Manchester United. But about halfway through dinner, I started to relax. I felt Denning scowl, but it didn't bother me because East was my barrier.

He was my shield. He was keeping me safe.

But when Hazel turned her attention to East, eyeing him again, she smiled. "How long has this been going on? You two seem awfully cozy."

Amelia leaned forward, traitor that she was. "Yes, you do seem very cozy."

"I, um—”

East jumped in. "Well, it's new. Trying to convince this one to go out with me was shockingly difficult."

Denning muttered, "I'm sure you usually flash money. Makes it easier when the women are hookers."

I heard, Hazel heard, and of course East heard, but my father, Amelia, Kyle and Jacinda hadn't. Hazel turned a shocked expression on Denning and gave him a disapproving shake of her head. "What was that about?"

East grinned. "Well, as everyone here knows, Nyla is a tough cookie, smart, intuitive. Keeps me on my toes. That's why I like her."

My father, on the opposite end of the table, heard that particular comment. "And just how many relationships have you had, Mr. Hale?"

"East, please. Not many. That's what makes Nyla special."

Denning was an outright ass then. "Yeah, well, you don't call the ones that you shag and leave behind relationships, do you now?"

I hissed with an intake of breath. Hazel piped up then. "I am so sorry. I don't know what's gotten into him. Denning, that was rude. Apologize to our guest."

Denning frowned at her. "What? It’s Nyla who should apologize for bringing the likes of him in here." He glanced around the table. "Has everyone forgotten that not two weeks ago Nyla had a hard-on for the London Lords? She was convinced that they were up to their eyeballs in corruption."

I winced. "Well, clearly I was wrong. And now, I actually know them." East took my hand.

Hazel shook her head. "I'm so sorry. Denning, stop."

My father cleared his throat. "Denning, that’s enough."

Denning shook his head. "No. It's not enough. We're all going to sit here and pretend that two weeks ago Nyla didn't ask your permission to get taps on them?"

All I could do was shrink into my seat. But East took my hand and held it on top of the table for everyone to see. "Two weeks ago she didn't know me. Now that we've been getting to know each other, things are different."

My father didn't seem to like that very much, but he said nothing.

Denning stood. "No. I’m not accepting this."

Hazel stood. "What has gotten into you?"

I sighed and forced myself to sit up straight. "Is this a good time to mention that Denning broke into my flat a couple nights ago to tell me to stay away from East?"

I turned to my father. "I was going to file a report, but I didn't out of respect for you. If you want to deal with him yourself, feel free."

Denning sputtered. "What? That's a lie."

"Oh, really?" East challenged.

I sighed. "East, just let it go."

East shook his head. "If it's a lie, then if we check security cameras, we wouldn't see you in her hallway that night breaking in, right?"

Denning's face went red. "You'd have to get a warrant for that."

East grinned then, and there was a slightly evil edge to it. Part smirk, part maniacal smile. "I should probably mention that I own the building Nyla lives in."

I whipped my head around to him. "Seriously?"

He shrugged. "Well, you never asked."

My father went ashen. "Denning?"

Denning sputtered. "She's making a mistake."

Hazel started to cry then.

There wasn't much more to be said. "I think we'll be leaving now."

Amelia's eyes ping-ponged like a tennis match between all of us. East squeezed my hand and mouthed, Are you okay? I shook my head. No, I was not okay.

"Dad, I'll see you at work. We can talk about this tomorrow."

East still said his goodbyes. Unfailingly polite. Charming. He even managed to get Hazel to stop crying. Amelia leaned into me. "Um, I am so all about this new situation. Because he is sexy. And you deserve someone taking care of you."

"Yeah. Or did I just implode my life?"

"No. Denning's that asshole, remember?"

"Yeah. I remember."

I said goodbye to my coworkers, who were now gawking at me, and to my father. I apologized to Hazel for ruining her evening. She was gracious though and pointed out that it was Denning who was being the ass. East and I headed to the door, leaving before we'd even gotten to our dessert course.

Once outside the house, I breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh my God. I never want to do that again."

"You don't have to. I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "No, don't be. You didn't do anything wrong. Denning did. I don't know what the hell's wrong with him. Or why he even cares, honestly."

"You're serious?"

I frowned. "What?"

"Love, he's jealous."

"Well, of you."

"Yes, but he doesn't like that someone else is playing with his toys."

"Um, he has like a nineteen-year-old girlfriend."

"Hazel's not nineteen. She just looks young. And, he's doing that to get your attention. He's annoyed that you don't seem to care."

"Why is he annoyed? He dumped me. Took my job."

He shrugged. "It doesn't make sense. But the moment someone else is touching something he thinks is his, he doesn't like it."

"I'm not his."

"Yes, well, I know that because you're mine. I mean, you're your own person, and also you're mine."

I turned to smile at him. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yep. Absolutely sure. Now come on. Let's get you home."

"Oh. Someone's eager."

He pulled me into his body, and I felt warm and safe again. Happy.