His Revenge (Power Play #1)

Chapter 25

Dammit! Ethan swore silently, his fingers tightening on the wheel in an effort to stop himself from ripping the damn phone from Erin and tossing the thing out the window, the urge getting stronger as he listened to her side of the conversation and realized the bastard was actually asking her out.

Todd. Ethan pictured the dude in his mind, recalling the last time he’d seen Erin with him and how he’d had the same urge to punch his lights out then…much like he very much wanted to right now. He thought they’d already settled the issue of her dating anyone else? Was she doing this deliberately to annoy him? Somehow, he didn’t think so…from the breathless way she sounded on the phone, it appeared Erin really liked this guy.

That thought soured his temper even more.

“I’m gonna kill him.” He muttered under his breath, too low for Erin to make out the words, but she turned to look at him anyway, then returned her attention to the phone.

“I’d like that, but maybe not right away?” He heard Erin say in response to something Todd said. Ethan kept his attention on the road ahead, though every nerve strained to listen to the one-sided conversation going on right beside him. “I’m in the middle of something at the moment, but I will call you as soon as it clears up. Might take a while though.”

Like hell, he was going let that happen. He thought, grinding his teeth in frustration.

Then Erin giggled…shit…she actually giggled like a schoolgirl and he nearly lost it, gritting his teeth to keep himself from exploding. Ethan knew very well that of he opened his mouth right now, chances are he would say something he was going to sorely regret…knowing how stubborn Erin could get, and one wrong word from him and everything would blow up in his face. He’d acted like a jerk one too many times today and despite the insults Erin had hurled at him in return, Ethan knew he’d hurt her.

Erin ended the call, and silence reigned in the car for a few minutes. Ethan refused to say a word…not yet, not while his temper still burned hot, though he knew she was waiting for him to say something.

Ethan pulled into a quiet neighborhood lined with oak trees and identical single story buildings, one of the new modern ‘suburb estates’ that were springing up in the outskirts of Chicago. He drove past several buildings, the streets almost deserted save for a few kids playing at the end of the cul-de-sac, until he brought the car to a stop in front of a quaint white building at the end of the street and killed the engine.

The silence that had descended since the call from Todd seemed almost deafening to Erin and she cleared her throat, desperate to break the silence. Ethan didn’t acknowledge the effort, merely sat staring straight ahead at the house deep in thought.

“Is this the address Zoie gave you?” Erin asked, squinting through the windshield at the unremarkable looking building. Somehow, the place seemed at odds with the type of woman who would stalk and put up nasty pictures of her on the net. The house itself looked to be in excellent condition, with a neat lawn and well-kept hedges.

Ethan nodded, tapping a finger on the wheel, a clear indication that he was deep in thought. “It looks like no one’s home.” He observed quietly, the first words he’d spoken in a while. “Still, I think you should wait in the car…” He held up a hand to silence her protest. “At least while I knock and see if there’s anyone in there.”

That made some sense, so Erin merely nodded in agreement. “Fine.”

He gave her a quick glance, his gaze searching her face for signs that she intended to do as he asked.

Erin raised an eyebrow in silent challenge.

He sighed, and gave the house another once over. “We don’t know if this woman might turn hostile and try to cause some harm. Honestly, it would be much better if you remained here while I talk to her so if something goes wrong, at least I’ll know you’re safe.”