Patience opened her mouth but before she could say anything a voice from behind me called out first.
“Did someone say my name?”
I turned to see Braxton walking out from the hallway where the offices were and into the lobby. My feet hesitated for a second but then I started walking toward him as he also approached me.
“Can we talk? I think I need your help.”
Braxton’s eyes narrowed and zeroed in on my face. But he didn’t get to answer before more bodies emerged from behind him, also taking in my appearance. I felt like a bug under a microscope, but it was one set of eyes in particular that made me twitchy.
“Who did this to you?” I tensed at the sound of Bodie’s deep voice.
I wasn’t sure I could do what I needed to do with him around or how he immediately knew someone had hurt me.
When I didn’t answer right away, a guttural growl erupted from him. And then a couple more followed from Gyth and Kace.
Well shit, I have a whole audience.
It sounded like a pack of rabid dogs and all of their faces were full of rage.
“Gemma,” Braxton started in a softer tone trying to defuse the tension vibrating off everyone in waves. “What happened?” He looked as mad as the others but he was reining it in for my benefit. “Is Bodie right? Did someone do this to you?”
My gaze scanned the group, then my eyes came back to Braxton. No words emerged and I nodded my head to confirm that, yes, someone had put the marks on me.
“I want to know who the fuck touched you?” Bodie snapped, sending a shiver down my spine. Not because I was scared of him, but because he was pissed on my behalf and his angry tone made it clear just how much.
But why?
“Let’s all calm down and let Gemma tell us what happened,” Braxton said, being the voice of reason even if his expression still told a different story.
The thought of talking to all of them at once sent a nervous energy racing through me. It was hard enough to get myself to come to them in the first place.
With my eyes solely on Braxton because I knew the others wouldn’t like what I had to say, I asked, “Maybe you and I could talk alone?”
Once again, Braxton didn’t get to answer first. A choir of disputes came from each of the others.
“Absolutely, not,” Bodie said.
“That's not a good idea, I should be there,” Kace chimed in.
“Not going to happen,” Gyth claimed.
My eyes bounced from one to another before landing back on Braxton.
“Sorry, girl.” Braxton shook his head. “You are like our little sister and I also think we all bring different aspects to the table when it comes to stuff like this, so we should all be there.”
I huffed out a breath. “Fine.”
“Let’s go to the conference room. We don’t have anything else going on for about an hour and Rowan and Lyric should be walking in the door any minute, so they can join us.”
“Them too?” I asked with raised brows. “The only one not here is Landon. Do you need to run to call him or is this army enough?”
I looked back at the reception desk and Patience gave me a sympathetic smile. Everything echoed in the fairly large area and it wasn’t like the men were quiet so it was obvious by her expression she’d heard the conversation.
Would she send out an SOS to the girl posse?
She was young and new to being around all of us, but if the ladies had taught her anything it would be to get the phone tree ringing. I couldn’t even be mad, they were my friends after all, and I would probably do the same thing.
Even with the situation going on, I chuckled inside. I would probably emerge from the meeting to find the whole clan waiting for me in the lobby.
