Panic spikes because I’m doing this all wrong.
Then her pulse is there.
Faint.
But there, and that’s all I need.
When a woman appears on the line, asking me where my emergency is, I rattle off every landmark I can see, trying to give her as much information to find me as I can. She stays on the line with me until I hear people approaching us, and only then does she disconnect our call.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, my voice breaking as a group of men and women approach us. “Okay… okay…”
I lean closer to this poor girl, brushing a piece of hair away from her face as carefully as I can.
“Don’t worry,” I say softly, even though my whole body is trembling. “You’re okay. I promise… you’re okay.”
And I can only pray that I’m right.
BASH
Irecognize Riven Kozlov immediately.
Caiden didn’t send a photograph, but he didn’t need to. A man who murders his own father for the woman he loves carries a certain kind of energy with him. It’s the same festering violence I see in the mirror every morning. Besides, the girl with him is looking around in wonderment at the architecture, which is a dead giveaway.
The guy standing in front of me looks exactly how I expect someone from Castlebrook Falls to look. He’s controlled. The kind of calm that comes from knowing exactly how much damage you’re capable of doing if someone pushes you far enough.
The woman beside him stays close to his side. Lakynn, I think Caiden mentioned. I just know that she’s his wife.
Even the way he positions himself tells me everything I need to know. Half a step in front of her. Always between her and everyone else.
Good.
Men like Kozlov understand the rules. This way I won’t have to fuck him up for doing anything stupid around Livy. He’s herebecause he wants protection for his wife, and in exchange he’ll be on call if Kalen, Jeremy, or I need assistance.
A deep breath leaves my lungs before I step forward. I don’t feel like this shit today. Livy found that girl down by the water a few days ago, and I’ve been trying to find out who was responsible for that. St. Killian isn’t the type of place where people leave half-dead girls lying around for people to find. I don’t like that she’s blonde like Livy and of a similar height and weight. The fact that she was attacked so close to when Livy got that text message.
“You Kozlov?” I gotta get this intro over with, and by luck Kozlov looks like he’d rather be anywhere else as well.
His girl flinches slightly when I say the name. I notice the way his shoulders tense immediately, his attention snapping toward me.
Protective.
Possessive.
Again… good.
He turns fully now, and for a second we just study each other.
There’s no handshake. No introductions beyond what’s necessary. Caiden doesn’t connect men like us because he expects us to become friends. He does it because we’re useful to each other, and more importantly useful to Caiden.
I can see a glimmer of confusion cross Kozlov’s face, and I don’t have to ask him why. Caiden mentioned that Kozlov spent some time at Castlebrook playing hockey on the same team as my brother.
He probably wasn’t prepared for how much we look alike, or Caiden left that detail out because the motherfucker thinks he’s funny.
“Sebastian Vale,” I tell him dryly, because just like my meeting with Kalen, this little side quest could have absolutelybeen a text message. I’d even settle for a video call, but this in-person shit when it doesn’t involve my girl is horrendous.
Kozlov’s gaze sharpens slightly at my name, but he doesn’t comment on it.
Instead, he nods toward the girl beside him.
