Through the window, I watched Eric stalk toward the porch, his face twisted with the particular rage of a man unused to being denied.Jade trailed behind him, looking torn between following his lead and holding him back.“Fuck,” I muttered.“He’s coming back for round two.”
Mia set down the coffeepot, her knuckles white against the dark handle.“I can’t do this again and stay strong,” she whispered.
“Those words are all you needed to say,Kätzchen.I’ll take care of this.”I assured her, moving toward the door.“Stay inside.”
But before I could reach it, Eric’s fist hammered against the wood, the whole frame shuddering under the impact.“Mia!”he shouted, his voice carrying easily through the thin cabin walls.“Open the Goddamn door!We’re not finished!”
I glanced back at Mia, silently asking permission.She nodded once, her jaw set in grim determination.I opened the door, positioning my body to block his entry, filling the doorframe with my shoulders.“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” I said, keeping my voice level despite the anger simmering beneath my skin.
Eric’s eyes narrowed, his cologne hitting me in a cloying wave as he leaned forward.“Get the fuck out of my way.This is between me and her.”
“Nein,” I replied simply.
His face flushed darker.“You think I’m intimidated by you?By your little costume?”He gestured contemptuously at my cut.“I know exactly what you are.A fucking criminal playing dress-up.Mia’s slumming it with you to hurt me, but she’ll come to her senses.”
I remained still, not rising to the bait.“Perhaps.But for now, she wants to stay here.You need to leave, Eric.Now.”
“Like hell I will!”He stepped forward, trying to look past me into the cabin.“Mia!Stop hiding behind this thug and talk to me like an adult!”
Mia appeared at my shoulder, her presence warm against my arm.“I’ve said everything I needed to say,” she told him, her voice remarkably steady.“Please leave.”
“Not happening,” Eric snarled.His voice rose, echoing across the clearing between the cabins.“You think this is a good idea?Shacking up with some ex-con?What would your mother say if she could see you now?”
I felt Mia flinch at the mention of her mother, a low blow that made my fists clench at my sides.From the corner of my eye, I caught movement.Noose emerged from the trees to our left, Jag from the right.My brothers, drawn by the commotion, moved with the quiet purpose of men accustomed to trouble.
“Everything OK here?”Noose called, his voice deceptively casual as he approached.He even managed to give everyone a friendly smile.Unless you looked at his eyes.Tall and lean, with a watchful gaze, Noose had a way of appearing relaxed while being anything but.
Eric’s head snapped toward him, then back to me.“Jesus Christ, how many of them are you fucking, Mia?”
Jag’s voice came from the other side, deep and controlled.“Enough.”He’d positioned himself at the foot of the porch steps, arms crossed over his chest.Unlike Noose’s casual demeanor, Jag made no effort to hide the threat in his stance.
Eric took a half-step back, finally sensing the precariousness of his position.But whatever self-preservation instinct had momentarily flickered to life was quickly overwhelmed by his wounded pride.
“This is bullshit,” he spat, voice rising again.“Is this your idea of moving on, Mia?Trading up from one man to a whole gang?”
I felt a growl building in my chest, my patience thinning with each poisoned word from his mouth.Mia’s fingers pressed against my arm, whether to restrain me or steady herself, I couldn’t tell.
“What the bleedin’ Christ is this happy horse shit?”came a firm female voice from behind us.
I turned to see Hannah striding purposefully across the space between cabins, Violet and Ada flanking her.There was something in their collective presence that made even my brothers straighten slightly.I almost winced.The women were out for blood and while literal blood might not flow, words could cut just as deeply.And sometimes left the worst scars.
Ada reached us first, smoothly maneuvering past Noose with a brief touch to his shoulder.Hannah followed, her quiet grace belied by the steel in her eyes as she assessed the situation.Violet completed their triangle, her fiery hair catching the late afternoon sun as she positioned herself directly in Eric’s line of sight.
“Step back, gentlemen,” Ada said, the command in her tone unmistakable despite her pleasant smile.“Let’s give everyone some breathing room.”
Noose and Jag exchanged glances, then retreated a few paces, not leaving but creating some space.I remained at Mia’s side, unwilling to abandon my post.
“Oktober,” Ada said gently, “why don’t you get Mia some water?”
I hesitated, knowing the women were equipped to handle the little weasel but unwilling to leave Mia’s side.I looked to Mia, who gave me a small nod.
“I’ll be right inside,Kätzchen,” I told her softly, making it clear I wasn’t going far.As I reluctantly stepped back, Ada and Violet moved to Mia’s side, each woman placing a steadying hand on her shoulders.The simple gesture transformed Mia’s posture and had her spine straightening, her chin lifting slightly.
Hannah stepped forward, putting herself directly between Mia and Eric.Despite being a foot shorter than him, something in her stance made Eric take an instinctive step backward.“You need to leave,” Hannah said, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent that brooked no argument.“You’ve said what you came to say, and you’ve been given an answer.”
Eric’s lip curled.“And who the hell are you?”
“Someone who recognizes when a man doesn’t understand the word ‘no’,” Violet replied evenly from beside Mia.
