Octavius leans in, his lips near her ear. I can’t hear him, but I want to put a bullet between his eyes.
Ryder catches my arm again before I realize I’ve started to rise. “Not yet.”
“He’s touching her,” I whisper-seethe.
“He’s breathing near her. Chill the fuck down. I’ve seen your bruises, Koby. She’s got this.”
I force myself to unclench, but lock right back up when the doors burst open, slapping the wall with an almightythud.
The room freezes. Chairs scrape as men reach for their guns, unsure what the fuck’s happening. I doubt most of them know who’s come in.
Anton looks... he looks likeme.
Like he hasn’t slept in days, running on rage, caffeine and the promise of blood.
“Where thefuckis she?!” He steps inside, his white shirt wrinkled, eyes furious, fingers wrapped around a gun pointing forward. “Octavius!”
Octavius turns, rising from his seat, expression flickering between annoyance and alarm.
Ryder’s already clutching his Glock, the other hand bruising my shoulder to keep me in place.
Three other men spill in behind Anton, covering his back, two guns each, scanning the crowd for threats the same way he’s searching for Leilani.
He finally spots her, and the sound that leaves him raises the hairs at the back of my neck.
A feral, broken growl tears from his chest.
“Anton,” Octavius starts. “What are you doing here? How did you—” He pauses when Anton barrels forward, gun squarely aimed between his eyes. “Put the gun down, brother.”
“You fucking liar! You promised you’d keep her safe!”
“Stop right there,” Octavius warns, snapping his fingers. A dozen guns rise, all trained on Anton’s chest.
That stops him advancing.
He’s ten feet from Leilani and I fucking reel at her reaction. Her spine’s rigid, hands trembling in her lap. Blaze is on his feet, gun aimed as he shifts subtly, moving half a step in front of my girl.
“You took her from me!” Anton booms. “You touched her. Youhurther!”
“No, I didn’t,” Octavius spits out. “We’re just having a little night out. No harm has come her way. You need to calm down.”
Leilani scrambles, the neckline of her dress slipping, revealing the love bites she’s concealed.
I know she’s showing them off on purpose, but the pulse at her throat jumps so fast it hurts to look at, even more when I see tears fill her eyes.
The room seems to shift, everyone bracing for what’s coming. In reality, only I’m on the verge of exploding.
An anguished, broken sound spills from Anton’s lips when he takes her in. The black dress. The makeup. The bruises. His perfect little doll.... ruined. Defiled.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, sweet thing. I’ll fix this. I promise,” he chokes out, a look of absolute horror curdling his face. “You—” he stalks closer, straight at his brother.
Octavius lifts a hand, stopping his men from opening fire. “He won’t shoot. Anton, listen to me. I don’t know how you found out we were here, but she’s playing you. She’s fine. She’s not what you think.”
Anton’s whole body vibrates. His aim wavers, doubt creeping in, and I’mthisclose to pulling the trigger myself.
As if she can hear me, Leilani jumps into action before I can fuck up the entire plan and start a war I’d have no hope of ending.
“Anton,” she yelps, trembling all over, her fingers twisting. “I’m scared.”
