Page 25 of Love Above Law

Leyna is taken aback with my mention of her leaving Polson.

I don't regret a single fucking word.

"What the fuck is he talking about?" Gabriel's attention shifts to his sister. Leyna opens her mouth but is at a loss for words. Gabriel glares in my direction. "You are not wanted here—leave," he growls at me.

I'm sure he's used to people backing down, but I'm not that guy. I'm unfazed by his actions. I stand my ground. "I'm not going anywhere."

12

Leyna

I can't help noticing how Lex's body becomes rigid, and his stance seems to grow taller. It warms my heart that he feels the need to place himself between myself and Gabriel; like he wants to protect me. Only there is no need. Gabriel's bark is bigger than his bite; well when it comes to me anyway. My brother would never hurt me.

This is not how I wanted Gabriel to find out about Seattle, but I can't say I'm not relieved either. I can't be angry with Lex for spilling the beans.

"I suggest you lower your damn voice and calm your ass down," Lex squares off with Gabriel.

"Mierda," I curse under my breath. Lex has just gone toe to toe with my brother; the Enforcer for The Kings of Retribution. No way is my brother going to take orders from a FED. In a flash, Gabriel clears the distance between the two. "I think you forget who the hell you're talkin' to," he sneers a breath away from the man he loathes. Lex shows not one ounce of fear or intimidation. Alexander Taylor's size is nothing to balk at, my brother may be slightly taller, but when it comes to size, Lex is in a league all his own. From his rippling arms that strain against his black t-shirt to his powerful thighs that wear jeans in a way that will make any woman's knees buckle. Make no mistake; Agent Taylor can handle his own.

That's one of the things I like most about him. Lex wears his confidence like an armor. His refusing to back down to Gabriel shows what kind of man he is. The truth is, I'm a bit shocked by how protective Lex is acting right now. I'm especially shocked by the words he just said to my brother. Sure, we're friends, but this is the kind of behavior a man shows when he is more than just friends with a woman.

A part of me has often wondered if Lex will second guess our involvement with each other. I've been waiting for the day he wakes up and realizes I come with more baggage than he's prepared to take on. No matter what happens in the future, my brother and his club will forever be a part of my life; they will always be my family. Any person who chooses to be in my life will have to accept that fact.

Lex coming to Polson—fighting his way past my brother to be at my side while here in the hospital shows I mean something to him. He is not letting who my family is stand in the way of what we have.

Shaking my thoughts away, I decide I've had all the testosterone I can stomach at the moment. "Gabe," I croak, but it's no use. My brother can't hear me past his own rage.

Sensing the thin thread between them is about to snap, I muster all the strength I have in my body and shout. "Sufficient! enough!" The strain and pain in my voice cuts through the tension and the two arguing men in front of me abandon their standoff. I turn my attention to Gabriel. "I want Lex to stay—I want both of you to stay. But if the two of you can't put your egos or your differences on the back burner, I'm going to kick both your asses out of my room." I catch the look on my brother's face that says he's about to argue. When he opens his mouth, I hold up my hand, effectively cutting him off. "No." I stand firm. The look I give says my word is final.

"How long, Leyna? How long has this," Gabriel nods toward Lex, "been going on?" The betrayal I hear in my brother's voice is almost too much to bare. I knew this moment was coming. I chose to keep Lex in my life. Now I must suffer the consequences. "Since the beginning." I don't sugar coat the truth. "I'm sorry I kept my involvement with Lex from you, but I am not sorry he's my friend."

"He's not your friend, Leyna. The man is just using you; using you to get to the club. You're just too naïve to see it. Tell me, Leyna. How much information has he weaseled out of you?"

Just as Lex goes to take a step toward Gabriel, I reach out and grab hold of his arm. I know Lex wants to defend me; defend the truth of our friendship, but what he'll come to realize about me, is I don't need anyone to come to my defense. When my brother sees me slowly raise my tired, weak body from the hospital bed, he knows the tongue lashing that's coming his way.

"Leyna, you're going to hurt yourself," Lex protests. I give him a look, then turn my attention away from him toward my brother. "I love you, Hermano. I love you with everything I am, but don't you ever talk to me like that again. I am not stupid. If I at any time thought Lex was using me, I would have cut all ties. Contrary to what you think of me, I would never betray you in such a way, and for you to come in here after the hell I've endured and accuse me of betraying you—betraying the club—it's unacceptable. So, let me tell you how things are going to be. Lex is going to be in my life whether you like it or not, and yes, I am moving to Seattle."

"What, for him?" Gabriel spits.

"No!" I scream and pound my fist into the hospital bed beside me. "I'm going to Seattle for me, Gabriel. It's for me. I'm leaving Polson and moving because I can't breathe here. I'm drowning, Gabriel," I cry. "I want things out of life. I want to go back to school. I want to teach. I want to find my own way."

"You can go to school here, Leyna."

"I've already been accepted into Seattle University."

"What?" Gabriel asks.

"Lex has been helping me. I've been accepted, and I've received a grant that will cover the entire cost of my tuition."

Gabriel stands in front of me stunned and hurt by my news. I wait a beat for him to say something—anything, only he doesn't. With one last look between Lex and me, my brother turns his back and walks out of the hospital room. The soft click of the door shutting feels like a knife to my heart. Every ounce of strength I conjured up has left my body, and I crumple. Thankfully Lex is there to catch me before I fall.

I wake in my hospital bed some hours later. I'm not sure of the time, but I can see through the window in my room that it's dark outside. With the glow of the TV lighting the room, I notice Lex has fallen asleep in the chair beside the bed. I take a moment to study him. I look at his muscular, tattooed arms crossed over his broad chest. I notice how his usually hard, serious face has relaxed making him look younger. I trail my eyes down his jean covered legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles. I lay here, drinking in every inch of Alexander Taylor.

My eyes make their way from his booted feet back up his thighs. I stop and linger on the huge, very noticeable bulge of his crotch. Once I'm able to tear my attention away from his dick and back up to his handsome face, I freeze. Lex is awake, staring back at me with his heated hazel eyes.

I can't breathe.

I've been busted ogling his dick. I hear Lex chuckle.