I fumble with my seatbelt, and then Mikey’s hands are suddenly there, fastening the seatbelt for me. His fingers brush my hip, and I can feel the tremble in them.
Kai pulls out of the parking lot, tires squealing.
When the bar disappears behind us, I finally let out a broken and shaky exhale.
Mikey takes my hand and squeezes it hard. “Hey. You’re okay. We’ve got you.”
But he doesn’t understand.
I’m not okay, not even close.
We continue down the road, and the truck gets warm, almost too warm. I'm not sure if it's the adrenaline or the twins. It might just be both.
Mikey hasn’t let go of my hand. He’s holding it like it's the only thing keeping him sane.
Kai’s jaw is clenched, and his knuckles are white, holding the steering wheel. He hasn’t said a single word since we left the bar, and the silence is suffocating.
The city lights blur past the window, streaks of neon and orange, as the panic races through me.
Finally, Mikey breaks the silence.
“Jules…” His voice is soft; you can hear the hurt in it. “ Who were they?”
My throat closes as I stare down at our joined hands. His thumb is brushing slow circles over my skin.
I swallow.
“I used to know them,” I whisper. “From... before.”
Kai’s voice cuts through the cab; it’s lethal. “From your father.” It’s not a question, but a statement so direct it could cut someone.
I nod, barely, and Mikey’s grip tightens like he wishes he could strangle the entire past out of existence.
“You tell me right now,” Kai growls, “are you in danger?”
The question detonates something inside of me.
“I don’t know,” I breathe. “Everything was fine for months. Then tonight… seeing them…” My voice cracks. “It felt like being twelve again.”
Mikey curses under his breath as Kai says nothing. And for a terrifying second, I think he’s angry with me.
Mikey suddenly snaps his gaze towards me. “Where the fuck is your security detail?
I blink at him, startled by the venom in his tone.
“What?”
“You had five men with you at the club,” His voice tight, “You had protection. Eyes everywhere. Why the hell were you at the game tonight with no one?”
“That’s…” My throat feels tight again. “That’s different.”
“Different how?” Kai demands. “Because it sure looked like you needed them tonight.”
My stomach twists, and shame burns under my ribs.
“I don’t want to live like that anymore,” I say quietly. “Always watched and controlled. I wanted a night without shadows following me.”
Mikey exhales shakily. “Julia… That’s slaughter waiting to happen.”
