Blade crouches, his whole body tense. “Who the fuck is that?”
“Saxon.”
“Get out of my sister’s room. How long have you been here?”
“Longer than you. We’ve kept a close watch on this place since you went missing. You rock up here just now and your sister would have been alone, unprotected for hours. Not doing a great job of protecting your family from the trouble you caused.”
“I’m going to kill you, man. Get the fuck out of my house,” Blade hisses.
“Your aunt’s house. You’re endangering her too. You’ve dragged us all into your fucked-up mess, Blade. Now…how are you gonna fix it?” Saxon’s voice is calm.
“By ripping you to shreds…” Blade starts towards the shadowy figure in the corner. There’s a glint of metal as Saxon switches on the light on the table. He’s holding a gun.
I draw back against the pillows, my heart racing.
“Don’t worry, angel. I brought this along in case we ran into the cartel. Those boys don’t mess with fistfights. But you know that, Blade. Because part of you wants to get yourself killed and you don’t care who goes down with you.” Saxon’s voice is icy.
I wrap my arms around my body. I should be afraid he’ll hurt my brother, or angry that he’s broken into the house and watched me sleep, but I’m not. Weirdly, I trust him to do the right thing, even though my brother thinks this big, scary-looking guy is the worst of the worst.
Maybe I’m deluded, but now I can see Saxon’s face, I’m not afraid. He won’t hurt me, or Blade, I’m sure of it.
Blade’s expression is furious. He sits back from his crouch, casting a quick glance in my direction to check I’m okay.
Saxon’s voice is steady. “This is what’s going to happen. You’re both coming back to the club. A couple of the brothers will watch this place, make sure your aunt is safe.”
Blade grunts. “You’re not getting anything out of me.”
“We’ll see.”
My throat is dry and I swallow a couple of times. “I’ll be fine here.”
Saxon’s tone is gruff. “No, you won’t.”
“So, I don’t have a choice?”
Saxon smirks. “Angel, it’s not a good idea to argue with a guy holding a gun. Even in Star Trek, the guys with the phasers are the ones in control.”
I shrug. “That depends on whether they’re set to stun or not.”
Blade’s voice is incredulous. “What the fuck are you both talking about?”
The door opens and a big biker with bushy eyebrows and a jacket covered in patches comes inside. He stands in the doorframe, chewing gum and trying to stare Blade out.
“How many of you are there?” I ask, looking around.
“Just the two of us inside. The rest of them are lead-footed. On your feet, Blade,” Saxon growls.
Joker hauls Blade to his feet, mutters something in his ear, and drags him out of the room.
I look up. “He won’t hurt him?”
Saxon gazes steadily at me. “Would that upset you?”
“Of course. He’s my brother.”
“He’s put you in a dangerous place, angel. That cartel doesn't care who they kill, as long as they have their money and drugs. They might just torture you both for the fun of itbeforethey kill you.”
That does make me shiver. Saxon sits down next to me on the bed. His leather and wood scent is comforting and dangerous, all at once.
