The Concrete Dog

{You are just a Janitor}

Lauren heard his approaching footsteps on the hardwood floors and turned around with a smile on her lips. As he approached, the tall, muscled former gang member's eyes never left hers. A strange sensation flowed through her blood as Trace came closer. He had come to her rescue yet again.

Trace liked how her body swayed as she walked away from him. He liked it even more when she turned around and smiled at him. Trace stopped in front of her with a puzzled expression. He thought she would be frightened because of Jason, but she was stronger than he thought.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I got my car back today."

"Oh,"

Lauren continued. "The mechanic said this happened because I know someone."

Trace nodded. "Well, I am glad you don't have to walk home if you need more time to finish your work."

"So, why would he do this? Because you asked him."

He gave her a confused look. "Why would I do something like that?"

Lauren sighed but still smiled. "Everyone else I know knew about my car. I told you about it yesterday, and now I have it back."

"Yeah, but that could mean a lot of things."

Lauren shook her head, still smiling. "You said I was off-limits."

"You are," he answered, his voice becoming softer and deeper as he answered her. He watched her confidence buckle, and she quickly looked away from him. 

"Freiza does not expect payment from me because you said I am off-limits."

Trace was silent until her dark eyes returned to his. "That is possible,"

Lauren sighed and smiled again. Her confidence returned as she stared at him. "Yes, it's possible that you did this. I want to know why?"

She noticed the change in his eyes, and his body moved closer to hers. "You want to know why. Because I said, you were off-limits." 

Lauren's smile faded, and she could not turn away from his gaze as he continued talking. "I did not say anything to Freiza. However, a friend of mine knows the owner, and he expressed my concern about your car. We have had run-ins with his troubled son in the past."

"What did you do to him?" Lauren asked.

"We educated him about the road he wanted to travel. Our lessons forced him to get his shit together and move away from us. He's a multi-millionaire now. His father is grateful to us."

"Oh,"

Trace let his eyes move over the pink material covering her shapely body. "You fed me yesterday, and I wanted to return the favor."

Lauren nodded when his blue eyes returned to hers. "Thank you for helping me."

"No problem,"

Jason watched them talking. He did not like Lauren feeling comfortable talking to this dangerous stranger alone. But, of course, everyone knew this janitor was a racist ex-con who ran with the Demons gang. Trace still had ties to the group of thugs. Jason could not understand why Lauren would reject him but smile at this bastard.

Jason shook his right hand, trying to relieve the stinging pain in his wrist."Motherfucker," Jason massaged his wrist as he watched Lauren talking to the janitor. He could not let this man think he could do what he wanted at Parker Industries. The Konstra Brothers Company did not control what went on in this building. Mr. Wolf figured he could use his muscle to get what he wanted. However, he needed to be corrected.