"It’s okay, I'm okay," I sob, trying to pull away from him, but he holds me tighter. I tip my head up to him. "Ice, I'm okay, really. I promised to give you guys answers."
He leans down and places a kiss on the top of my head. "I know, baby, and you will. But you're done for today, okay?" His grey-blue eyes are full of concern as they flick back and forth between mine.
"Ice—"
"Max," he interrupts.
"What?" I ask, pulling back a little to look at him.
"My name. It’s Max," he tells me, a vulnerable smile gracing his lips.
I smile back up at him. “Thank you for telling me," I say to him. I quickly glance around the room to see all of his brothers watching us but not saying anything. I turn back to face him.
"Max, I'm so grateful that you care. But I want to do this now, at least as much as I can. I don't want the stress of having the anticipation of going over things hanging over me. Please understand that," I say to him.
"I do, baby. But this is heavy shit, and you're exhausted. I can see it wearing you out." His tone is almost pleading.
"Ice is right, Nova," Wrath says. "You should probably take a break."
I look at him and then to Nitro and the others. They don't say anything, and I appreciate their silence. "The choice is still mine, isn't it?" I ask them all.
"Of course it is, sweetheart," Nitro tells me.
"Then I'd like to continue for a bit, please," I say, blowing out a breath. "Could I maybe have a hot drink though?”
"I'll get it," Tongue says before getting up and heading out the door.
I go to move back to my own seat, but Ice's grip tightens around me, holding me in place on his lap. And while I might feel a little embarrassed about it, especially in front of everyone else, being next to him makes me feel safe. Everything about him does.
The woody scent of his aftershave. The intensity of his eyes, the way they follow me everywhere I turn. The way it feels like they are seeing into my soul.
The way his large, tattooed arms hold me in place. The way my body sinks into him when he pulls me onto his lap.
I relax in his hold as we sit in silence, waiting for Tongue to get back with my drink. It feels awkward just sitting here. I want to make conversation, but I don't know these men very well. I don't really know what to say to just make conversation.
A few more minutes of silence pass, when Tongue finally steps back into the room. He places a hot cup of tea on the table in front of me and another bottle of water. He gives me a small smile before reclaiming his seat. "Mason asked if you were okay when I was out there," he states. "The kid is very protective of you. Told me that if we were being mean to you in here that he'd kick us all in the shins and then steal our kuttes."
The guys laugh, while I suck in a breath. "Oh god, I'm so sorry. He does get very protective, it's just been the two of us for so long, he'll be worried," I rush out, feeling guilty and somewhat mortified.
"Baby, don't worry," Ice tells me, his hand rubbing up and down my back.
"Don't worry, sweetheart, Mason is tough, and the fact that he'd stand up to anyone in here is impressive," Nitro muses, trying to hold back a smirk before his mood turns sombre and the atmosphere turns serious once again. "You ready to answer a couple more questions?" he asks, briefly glancing at Ice then back to me. I nod, leaning forward and grabbing the tea, wrapping my hands around the steaming mug, seeking a little more comfort.
I hold the cup close to my body and sink into Ice, letting him envelope me in his arms. I let my breathing even out, and the calm begins to fill me. I don't think he realises how much he calms me. Or how safe I feel with him.
"Nova," Nitro calls, getting my attention. "What do you know about the people your uncle is in business with?"
I let his question sit for a second as I think about what he wants to know. I take a sip of the tea, the heat surprising me, and it burns my throat as I swallow it down. I shake my head at him. "Nothing really. He always kept us away from the people he had dealings with. Except maybe one guy. This guy’s men were arrested and my uncle failed to get them out. So, he turned up at the house one night, demanding my uncle fix it."
"Do you know his name?" Nitro asks.
I glance around the room and nod. "Yes."
He raises his eyebrow at me, waiting for me to tell him. But telling them might be worse than them finding out my uncle was a cop. Ice gives my leg a small squeeze, reassuring me. I look over at him and nod. "Erm, his name is Arthur Black." I hear Ice suck in a breath and see Wrath’s eyes widen in surprise. Nitro is good at schooling his features, I have no idea what he’s thinking right now. Not wanting them to interrupt me, I keep going.
"The men that had been arrested were meant to deliver some drugs to someone in his rival’s side of town. He told my uncle that he had to do it, to compensate for the fact he had failed to get his men released. My uncle said he'd sort it. But what he meant was that he would make me do the drop off." I take another sip of hot tea, giving myself a second to remember the details.
"I refused to do the drop at first, but my uncle said if I didn't do it then he would make Mason do it. I couldn't allow him to do that, so I agreed. The drop was over in the West End, in the flats by the river. I won't lie, I was pretty scared, but it all happened without a hitch."
