“I’m a little pissed at you too, come to think of it,” he tells me.
“Why?”
“Because he didn’t even know who I was when I walked in,” Walker says. “That means that you didn’t warn him about the hellfire he’ll be walking into if he fucks with you.”
Walker’s eyes slide over me and land squarely on Holt.
Holt doesn’t budge. He doesn’t flinch. He squares his shoulders to my brother.
“That’s my sister,” Walker tells him. “She’s the only one I have. If you do anything stupid—even a little bit, I will take your body apart piece by piece. Got it?”
“Walker!” I say as Sienna shoves her elbow into his ribs.
He doesn’t flinch.
I look up at Holt to see his reaction. He takes a long, deep breath and blows it out slowly.
“I absolutely understand,” Holt says as if this mountain of a man didn’t just threaten to murder him. “My brothers and I say the same thing to the guys our little cousin, Riss, dates. Better to put them on notice early on. It might stop stupidity down the line.”
Walker nods. “You get it then.”
“Oh, yes. I get it. We’re on the same page.” Holt looks at Sienna, still cool as a cucumber. “Do you guys want to come in and sit down?”
Please say no. Please say no. Please say no.
“We’re actually heading to pick up some fabric from the fabric shop downtown,” Sienna says. “We just wanted to swing by and check on you, Blaire.”
“I’m fine.”
She smiles. “Okay. Well, Walker, let’s get out of here so Blaire and Holt can?—”
“All right. I got it,” he says before she can complete her line of thought.
It makes me laugh. “I love you, Walk.”
“Love ya, too.”
“And thanks for coming by, Sienna. And for … everything,” I say, pulling her into a quick hug.Because apparently, I’m a hugger now.
“You know it. That’s why I’m here.” She releases me. “Holt, it was good to see you.”
“Likewise, Sienna. Be safe, you guys.”
“Call me,” Walker says to me before firing one last warning glance at Holt.
They slip out the door, and Holt wastes no time locking it behind them. He spins around to face me.
“That was fun,” he deadpans.
“He will ease up. I’m his only sister.”
“I hope he never eases up.”
“Really? Why? Because he’s a little much.”
Holt grins. “Well, for one, he’s a very large man. I’m certain that no one will fuck with you if he’s around.”
My laugh is loud and free. It fills my apartment in a way my laughter never has in the four years I’ve lived in this building.
