His jaw clenches, and I notice the way he averts his eyes. “I have a scholarship to go to a university, but I have some stuff on my record now, and I might lose it.”

Rafe leans forward, staring at the boy. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“Well, I didn’t think you’d care,” Mateo answers, still staring at his pizza.

I watch as Rafe’s demeanor changes from angry to concerned. He doesn’t say anything for a moment, but when the boy looks back up at him, I notice the subtle nod between him and Rafe. He’s earning his trust, asking the kid to put faith in him, and I watch how easily the boy gives it to him.

Chapter Sixteen

Rafe

Since there’s clearly no chance of me getting Shelby to stay home tonight, I walk into the gym with her on my arm. She’s in black tonight, a pair of leggings so tight I can make out the cute dimples in her ass and a black shirt with a low-cut neckline that hangs between her tits making me want to reach out and run my fingers down between her clavicles.

“Do you ever get nervous?” she asks.

“Yeah, but that’s kind of the point. You need the adrenaline rush. It keeps things from hurting too much.”

We’re watching a fight out back, and I keep Shelby close to my side. It’s not my place to tell her how to dress, but I know how my dick is reacting to her long body in all that tight black. I can only assume it’s having the same effect on the other guys.

“What’s the worst you’ve been hurt?”

“That night you found me,” I answer, looking down at her with a wince.

“Why do you do it?” she asks. The crowd around the current fight boos when a limp body smacks against the ground.

“Hell if I know.” The guys help the loser up, and I can see the dollar signs in Vic’s eyes as he surveys the damage. When the unconscious guy comes to, there’s pain on his face. That hurts like hell. “I guess I do it because as much as it hurts to lose, it feels fucking good as hell to win.”

“Nolan!” a voice calls from behind me. When I turn, I spot Vic standing across the crowd, waving me over.

This time, I take Shelby's hand in mine as I wade through the crowd to where Vic sits on the raised patio, his table of bookies behind him, who I make it a point to not look directly at. I really couldn't care less about illegal gambling. I guess I probably should.

"Well, look who you brought again?'' Vic's face lights up like a Christmas tree when his gaze falls on the woman on my arm. Vic is too fucking good-looking and charming for my comfort right now. He's the kind of guy who you never see with a woman, but you always see with a trail of them.