I hang my head and rest my face in my palms, shaking my head back and forth. If Malakai doesn’t kill Lucas, I sure as hell will when I get my hands on his scrawny neck.
“I think we’re safe here. Go get some sleep and let me know what he says tomorrow,” Brax tells his grandpa as the couch dips next to me.
“Sonny, I’m not going to bed for hours. What do you think I am?”
“Old,” Brax says, but his voice is light.
I peer up as Brax winks at me.
“Idiot,” his grandpa mumbles. “You go to bed.”
“I plan on it,” Brax replies with a smile as his eyes lock on me.
“That’s my boy,” his grandpa says. “Someday you’ll be old like me, and your balls will hang to your knees and your dick won’t work. Use it before you lose it.”
My eyes widen, and I cover my mouth to stop the giggle that’s ready to break free. His grandfather is a hoot. I hope I am able to meet him someday and thank him for his help—if I’m able to get through this situation and remain breathing.
11
BRAX
I rollto my side and open my eyes. Iris is in my bed, staring at me. “Hi,” I whisper, hoping my breath doesn’t knock her out.
“Hi,” she whispers back.
I tuck my hand under my head, wishing I could stay in my warm bed all day, but I know it’ll never happen. “Can’t sleep?”
“I slept.”
“What time is it?” I ask her, not wanting to move.
“Noon.”
I’ve slept later. If she weren’t here, I’d probably go back to sleep, but I don’t think it’s in the cards for today. “Come here.”
She slides across the bed, turning on to her side so her back is to my front. She sags against me the moment I set my arm over her middle.
“You okay?”
“I think so,” she says.
“We’re still alive.” I state the obvious, but I think she needs the reminder that we’re okay now and will continue to be. I have full faith in my grandpa to fix things with Malakai on her behalf.
“For now.”
I tighten my arm around her. “For a long time, baby. Trust me.”
“I’m sorry Lucas has given me trust issues. You’ve done nothing except be good to me.”
Men like Lucas don’t deserve to breathe. They spend their entire lives messing up other people’s existences without thinking about how their actions will affect anyone except themselves. If I ever lay eyes on him, he may not be breathing for long.
“You’re fine,” I remind her because she apologized profusely last night, and I don’t want to go down that path again. “I’m not anything like Lucas, and you’ll realize that soon enough.”
Her fingers find the top of my hand, and she rakes her nails over the tender skin, sending goose bumps up my arm. “I already know you’re not anything like him. “
“Do you feel safe?” I ask against her ear.
“Yes,” she breathes, her body slack in my arms.
