I clap my hands together, bringing everyone’s eyes toward me as my mind runs a million miles a minute to come up with some sort of plan. They can’t stay in the house, not with Abel coming home – especially Atlas. Not only that, but I have no idea what Evie’s plan is now that Kortez is alive.
Or…well…now thatweknow he’s alive.
“Roman, go pack your shit.”
The man in question sputters, spilling more of my beer onto Evie’s hardwood floors. “What? Why?”
I grab a kitchen towel as I walk over, throwing it in Roman’s face just to watch it fall to the ground “Because. You’re all moving into my house – and God help my floors.”
Kortez gives a soft laugh at Roman’s confused expression before giving a pointed look at the puddle of alcohol on the stained wood. I leave Roman and Kortez in the kitchen and walk back into the living room, finding that Atlas hasn’t moved an inch since my announcement.
He doesn’t look up at me until I nudge him with my foot a few times, getting harder with each push. “What the hell is your problem?”
I laugh, shaking my head at the list of things I could give this man – things that somehow always lead back to him. “My problem is that you’ve finally found the woman you say you’ve been looking for and all you can do is mope on the couch.” I scoff. “Get the fuck up. You and the others are moving into my house next door.”
Atlas stands, straightening his shoulders as if trying to somehow grow the extra inch to match my height. “Says who?”
I give him a smile; the same smile I used to give my enemies right before I slit their throats. Of course, that was after active duty. “I said so. Evie told me to sort shit out while she goes to pick up her son – you were right here. Are you deaf as well as a dumbass?”
He looks down and shakes his head, chuckling to himself before looking back up at me and showing the darkness growing in his eyes.
There’s the man Evie knows.
He swings, but he gave me too much notice and I’m already ducking down. My own fist forms and shoots out, hitting him directly in the abdomen and making him double over right into my waiting knee. The crack of his nose sends precious shivers rolling through me and my body shakes as the rush of adrenaline fills myveins for the second time today.
I’ve gone too long without a proper fight.
I’m too caught up in the high to notice his leg shooting out and hitting my knees, sending me crashing into the ground just long enough for him to climb on top of me. Our bodies roll with reckless abandon; fists fly and fresh blood joins what’s already dried as our fight continues.
Neither one of us can get the upper hand for long. Every time it seems like I have the upper hand, he surprises me with his mafia brat training; and each time his face turns confident, I surprise him with my knowledge of fighting dirty.
At some point, his hands get wrapped around my neck, his eyes nearly black as he begins to squeeze. I reach up and hit him on his already broken nose, laughing maniacally at his pained groan with every hit I land.
Red hair comes into view as Roman begins to pull Atlas off of me and a hard grip under my shoulders lets me know Kortez is working on pulling me away as well.
Atlas is screaming now, unhinged, wordless screams that choke him as the blood from his nose begins to seep into his mouth. Kortez drops my shoulders and runs over, stripping his shirt off and wiping Atlas’s face as gently as he can as Roman tries to calm him down.
“Atlas, you’re here. You’re in Evie’s house. You’re with Kortez, and me, Roman. That was Wylder you were hitting on, Atlas. This isn’t that basement. You aren’t trapped there anymore.” Roman’s muttered reassurances continue as I pick myself up off the ground, lifting my shirt to wipe at the blood beginning to dry on my face.
I look up to see Atlas shaking from his spot on the floor, both Roman and Kortez sitting around him.
So not quite the man Evie knows. He’s broken now.
I leave them in the middle of the living room and go upstairs, stripping my clothes to change into somethingnotcovered in blood as well as grab some cleaning supplies. Deciding it’s going to take a little longer than I thought, I dial Evie’s number.
She picks up on the first ring, a smile in her voice that makes me automatically smile in return. “Hey, Wyld. Are things good for us to come home?”
“Why don’t you and Abel spend the day together? I’m sure he’s missed you after spending a few weeks in the woods.”
She gives me a low, knowing laugh. “Sure thing, hun. Please make sure they don’t kill each other. And clean up the…mess.”The blood.
I can’t help the smile that crosses my face as I make my way back down the stairs. “Yes, ma’am.”
“There’s my soldier boy.” Her voice is low and husky, as if she’s whispering to keep Abel from hearing in the back seat. It just makes her words sound even sexier. I love it when she’s in mom mode.
“I aim to please.” My foot hits the last step, and I look up to see three pairs of eyes shooting daggers into me.
Guess having phone sex with the woman they love right in front of them isn’t a good idea?
