Chapter 23: : Chapter 23

I SHOVED the car into gear and surged out of the parking space, tearing past the goddamn bridal shop, and headed for home. She was going to meet with that fucking kid? Was she…

Christ, my pulse sounded like a goddamn hurricane, thrashing in my head. Focus…

But my gaze drifted to her pale, goddamn beautiful face and her dark, innocent eyes. Didn’t she know what punks like that…

wanted from her? God, if we hadn’t found the message…if she’d gone there…

In my head, I could see it. Her drunk, in that goddamn black dress that looked far too sexy to be legal, sitting on the end of some random asshole’s bed, a plastic cup filled with spiked punch in her hand and his fucking tongue down her goddamn throat.

His tongue down her throat and his thoughts up in her…

Tobias yelled behind me.

I jerked the wheel, swerving us across the street, the oncoming headlights blinding, and still all I could see was her.

Fuck, I’d never had it this bad…not even with…

Natalie. That’s right. Jesus, I’d been with her for over a fucking year and I’d just forgotten her name. In the blinding glare of Ryth, I’d forgotten everything. I swallowed as my cock hardened. “Tell me,” my voice was husky and raw. “Tell me what he means to you, Ryth.”

she screamed. “He means nothing!”

I could tell she was close to tears, her eyes wide, that mark on her cheek red and practically glowing.

“Do you like him more than a friend?” I had to know, had “No.” She turned her head away.

“Look at me,” I demanded dividing my focus between her and the road as I raced through the city streets.

She jerked her gaze back, and cold anger seethed in her eyes. I remembered the girl that had stumbled from the prison just yesterday. The one who’d basically fallen into my goddamn arms. The one who’d made me open myself up to her and tell her things I’d never told anyone—I glanced at Tobias sitting with her in his lap—not even my own blood. But she was different. She was…

The word echoed in my mind as I glanced at the street, then back at her again, and repeated the question, only this time my voice was cold…and dangerous. “Do you like that fucking punk more than a friend?”

“No.”

I glared at the road as my phone starting to ring and the stereo flashed with Caleb’s number. I stabbed the screen. “Yeah?”

“You might want to get here,” he slurred into the phone.

I flinched for a second…

“Where the fuck are you, and why the hell are you drunk? You barely fucking drink.”

“Never mind about that,” he snarled as something crashed in the background. “Just get here…Razers.”

My voice was careful. “You know you’re not allowed there.”

He gave a small bark of laughter. “Not allowed to want to fuck my goddamn stepsister either, but apparently I’m breaking all the fucking rules tonight.”

Ryth jerked her gaze to me. In the background, a man spoke, probably a bouncer. “Get the fuck out of here, Caleb. You know what Lazarus said last time. Don’t make me hurt you.”

“He didn’t mean it,” a woman’s cry came through. One of the dancers, I assumed.

she screamed as a grunt was wrenched from my brother.

I strangled the fucking wheel, scanned the traffic behind me, and spun the wheel. “Tell that motherfucker he lays a hand on you and I’ll feed him his own fucking teeth.

The tires squealed as I punched the Mustang, and Tobias said the one fucking name he shouldn’t, “Lazarus.”

I fought the wheel, slipping through the traffic. “You don’t know that.”

His savage glare blazed. “Don’t I?”

I jerked the wheel, spearing the car toward the exclusive bar downtown owned by the Rossis. The one place Caleb had sworn he’d stay away from…I glanced at Ryth again. Looked like we were all kinds of fucked up tonight.

Her goddamn messages were stuck in my head. I braked hard, then pulled into the alley. Darkness concealed the beast, the headlights splashing against the pitch-black building hidden in the back as I turned around. I scanned the parking lot as I crawled past, searching for familiar cars.

But there was no black Audi, which hopefully meant no Freddy. But if Caleb was inside, I’d bet my left fucking nut he wouldn’t be far away…and waiting for Lazarus’ command.

The very last thing I needed was my hothead fucking brother and Lazarus throwing goddamn hands…

The last time had resulted in goddamn threats that neither side wanted to have to uphold. I pulled the Mustang into the parking lot, shoved the car into park, and threw open the door. “Stay in the car, Tobias.”

“Brother.” The little shit was already climbing out as I flung the door closed, giving me a goddamn look as he muttered. “You and I know that’s not going to happen.”

But then Ryth was climbing out after him, her dress riding high as she struggled up from the heap he’d dumped her in. “I’m coming too.”

“

Both of us spun on her, making her flinch.

But that spark of defiance had ignited in her eyes. “You want me to stand out here all alone?” She threw open her arms, drawing my gaze to the tiny skintight dress that did things to me that weren’t fucking legal.

Tobias stared…just like I did.

“Stay by our side,” I warned. “Do not leave.”

She said nothing as I turned and headed for the back door of the goddamn club. Blood red neon lights with the club’s name flickered and glowed against the black building. I stared at the color and hoped to Christ it wasn’t a damn omen. The last thing I wanted for any of us tonight was to get shot. I stopped at the door, rapped my knuckles on the painted metal, and waited for it to open.

The door opened, and a mountain stood in the way. Grievous glared, looking from me to Tobias, then to Ryth. I clenched my jaw, knowing full well what he was thinking. “We’re not here to party,” I forced the words through gritted teeth. “She’s our goddamn sister.”

One brow rose on the big bastard before he stepped to the side. “He’s out the back.”

I shoved past. “Of course he is.”

It was fairly early, but here within the black painted walls and the sparkling lights of this upmarket stripclub, it was an endless fucking party. One we were no longer invited to. “Find him and let’s get the fuck out of here,” I ordered and headed toward the back of the club.

But Tobias was already scanning the filled tables and searching the bar, then he headed off toward the other side of the goddamn club.

I barked.

But he didn’t answer, just fucking strode away with that same cocky fucking gait that was gonna get us in trouble. I shot Ryth a look. “Stay with me.”

Her eyes were wide, taking in the plush midnight interior of the club, then the dancers illuminated and on full display as I strode forward. I knew what she saw, the tits and fucking pussy. Christ, I didn’t want her anywhere near this.

I glanced at her over my shoulder, at her wide eyes and her parted lips, before I forced my gaze forward. My fists clenched as I headed for the back area.

I wanted just one fucking untainted thing, was that too much to ask? Or did everything that touched our name have to be fucking ruined? A came from across the club. Heads of the men watching the dancers turned. I didn’t have to follow the movement to know who it was.

Tobias’ rage cut through the deep throb of the music.

“Goddammit!” I strode toward the door to the back, until I was stopped by the bouncer standing there. He lifted his hand and shook his head.

“Let me through, I’m here for Caleb Banks,” I demanded.

But the asshole didn’t move, didn’t lower his fucking hand. “Don’t care.”

I stepped closer. “You know who the fuck I am?”

He held my gaze. “Like I said, buddy.

A roar came from behind that door…

I jerked my gaze to the bouncer, catching a tiny twitch in the corner of his mouth. He knew…

I shook my head and turned, taking a step away, catching the smug fucking chuckle from the piece of shit in my way…

I dropped my shoulders, then drove upwards, swinging with a brutal jab to his sternum. The bouncer slammed backwards and crashing against the door, that smirk dying in an instant as he crumpled to the floor.

“Like I said,” I stepped closer, drawing in a hard breath as he choked and gasped, his face turning a shade of gray. “You’re in my fucking way.”

He tried to lift his hand as I reached over him and opened the door.

The sound of breaking furniture exploded in the room. I charged forward, to find Caleb in some bastard’s grip, his face bloody, his eyes wild as four of the motherfuckers surrounded him. One leaned in, driving brass fucking knuckles into my brother’s side.

He bowed, unleashing a howl of agony.

All I saw was red.

I threw myself forward and grabbed one around the throat as he cocked his fist back to swing at Caleb…he swung alright—

as I pivoted, cocked my hip, and slammed the gutless bastard to the floor.

My body came alive.

All I felt was the fight, my years of training kicking in. I went after them one by one as the of a gunshot rang out somewhere else in the club. Caleb and I stopped fighting, his eyes widening.

“Tobias?” Caleb cried as it hit me, and I scanned the empty room around me.