“No.”
Titus smiled. “Good.”
Chapter23
Rae
By the time Titus pulled over, it was dark.
Rae eyed the nondescript building, the brick generic and giving no indication what could be inside. The windows were boarded up, a latticed grate covering the wooden planks.
“This would be a great place to kill someone,” she said around a mouthful of chocolate. “It’s quiet, secluded, and already screams death.”
Titus grunted. “My brother’s waiting.”
“The one with the scary face scar?” she asked, turning in her seat. Titus gripped the steering wheel, his profile highlighted from the dash. “Yeah, he doesn’t like me much.”
Titus smiled, just a slight curve of his upper lip. “Jax’s complicated, but he’s someone I’d have protect my back without question.”
“That must be nice, to have such loyalty.” She nibbled her bottom lip, remembering how Nathan had taken a knife to her throat.Prick.“I’ve never had that, not really. Atlas, Winter, and even the twins were cool, but they were in it for themselves, just like me. Fuck, I can’t even trust my own flesh and blood.”
A knock on the back of the van, her pulse jumping. She’d never felt so unsteady, not since she was a child at the hands of her father.
“Ready?” he asked, only pulling himself out of his seat once she’d nodded, and even the softening of his face pissed her off, as if he knew she was rattled.
Grabbing his rucksack, she pulled it onto her back, her hand dropping close to her hip, just above her gun.How times have changed,she mused to herself. Following the man who she’d tried to kill several times, because he was the only one who could help her.
Desperation was making her stupid.
“Neither of you are Jax,” Rae said when they met two guys at the back of the van, already opening the door to reveal Gerald.
The redhead raised a brow, looking to Titus before returning to her. “Kace. He’s Marshall.” He pointed to the large guy beside him, a cigarette hung between his lips. “Now what the fuck happened?”
“Looks like your boy’s been shot,” Marshall said, smirking at the bandage. “Pink suits you.”
Titus flipped him the finger. “Hudson okay with this?”
“The boss’s fine, as long as we clean up after and don’t let the kids know.” Marshall rubbed his hands together. “Plus he wanted you to take a look at his cyber security. Free of charge, of course.”
“Marsh is going to keep your man comfortable until you’re ready,” Kace said, pulling Gerald out by his feet, only for Marshall to haul him onto his shoulder, the witch groaning.
“Right… comfortable,” Marshall snorted. “He’ll be singing like a canary soon enough.”
Titus reached out for Rae, and rather than pulling away, she pressed into it.
Kace noticed the connection, his irises swirling silver, the same as Titus.
“So you’re the brother,” Rae said. “Can you all do the creepy eye thing?”
Kace didn’t comment, guiding them into the scary building. “Come on, we’ve set up a side room for you both. The kids aren’t due until tomorrow, and Hud’s keeping the others away until morning just in case.”
“In case what?” Rae asked, following through the large room. Benches had been stacked at the sides, leaving the area open apart from a metal cage. “I’m not going to hurt anyone.” What looked like a booth was at the back, partially obscured by a metal shutter.
“In case you’re still being tracked,” Titus answered. “Not many people mess with Hud, but we still can’t risk the kids that live here.”
Rae paused by the cage, the inside stained with blood. She’d heard of the cages, how people willingly entered into unsanctioned fights for the chance to win serious money.
“Through here,” Kace said, pointing to the door just beyond. “It’s not much, but it’ll do you for tonight. Riley’s organised a room at the Conservation from tomorrow.”
