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“You really think this is the right time for her to move out?” I asked. “There’s enough going down at the club without adding this into the mix.”

Yeah, I was pushing back. I doubted anyone would blame me if they knew the half of it.

Guilt climbed up to take a front-row seat in my throat.

Strike that.

Silas would absolutely blame me if he knew even a fraction. Just as he should. Which was why there would be no repeating past mistakes. I could swallow it down and take the pain.

But this? How much could a man take before he imploded?

Antsy, Silas roughed a hand through his brown hair. “Know it’s not the best time with that piece of shit who slipped through our fingers, but like Elena said, there’s never a good time with us. There is always going to be danger.”

Four months ago, our secret society had taken out an entire criminal organization.

Decimated the whole lot.

Except for one.

We found out their leader’s brother had escaped, and the scum had disappeared without a trace.

Past experience told us he would likely show up, looking for revenge.

Anxiety passed between the three of us before Silas blew out a sigh and looked me point-blank. “I can’t keep putting her off. She needs this, which is why I’m relying on you to keep her safe.”

“And when I have raids? We’re scheduled to hit Portland in just a few days.” We had a big mission coming up, and I didn’t want to neglect my duties to the Crimson Crows.

Or maybe I was only looking for an excuse.

“We’ll bring her back here to the compound whenever you can’t be with her and post a guard outside her apartment whenever you need to slip out for a bit.”

“Why don’t you have Phoenix assigned to the task?” I gestured with my chin at our brother. His hair was as black as his eyes. Bulky as fuck and his pale skin covered in dark tattoos. Knuckles of both hands stamped with Madman.

Dude was far more sadistic than me, and I was little less than a psychopath. I just looked a ton more genial when devolving into wickedness.

Phoenix grunted. “Did your balls shrink three sizes or what?”

“My balls are intact, thank you very much.”

I just didn’t want them to get chopped off and shoved up my ass when this thing went south.

Distance was best, but that distance was getting harder and harder to facilitate.

Silas basically fucking snorted. “I think it’s safe to say Elena is more comfortable with you.”

No fucking shit.

It was me who was going to be crawling out of my damned skin.

“Need you to do this for me,” Silas finally said. His words drove a hot blade of guilt into my conscience.

“I won’t be able to focus on the club and the jobs coming up if I’m worried about her well-being. I want her to experience life beyond the compound’s walls, but I also can’t stand the thought of any motherfuckers using her. She’s too good. Too innocent.” Rage shimmered around him. “And I won’t let her fall prey to that.”

Granite lined his words, and his hazel eyes flashed. “I expect you to cut down anyone who’s stupid enough to try.”

My teeth ground as I beat myself into submission.

Did I really want anyone else charged with her care? This was Elena we were talking about.