Chapter 8
Katrina walked into the small drugstore at the edge of town. Finding the aisle she needed, she glanced around before heading toward what she was there to buy. She stopped in front of the products, then glanced around again before laughing under her breath at her own paranoia.
In truth, her paranoid state was Becky’s fault.
Getting a call from one of your closest friends, who was whispering so low that even with Katrina’s superb hearing she could hardly make out what was being said, tended to do that to a person.
After promising and swearing a few thousand times not to say a word to anyone, and to make damn sure she didn’t buy from anywhere local, Katrina now found herself in a drugstore on the edge of town acting like a criminal.
She swore if anyone was watching her on the cameras, they probably thought she was getting ready to rob the place, which was ridiculous. She wasn’t stealing. Nope, she was panic-shopping for Becky. Big difference.
A voice from her past sent chills racing up Katrina’s spine taking her by surprise. “Am I going to be an uncle?”
Katrina turned, her eyes narrowing the second her gaze landed on her brother.
For one split second, she wasn’t standing in a drugstore.
She was back in the Iron Drake’s clubhouse, on her knees, begging him to help their mother while he stood there and did nothing.
Hatred hit hard and fast, burning through the shock of seeing him.
“Have you been following me?” She stood her ground refusing to show any fear.
When Blaze told her he’d found her brother and let him live, it hadn’t really shocked her. What did shock her was seeing him here, standing this close, when she knew damn well Blaze had warned him to stay away from her.
“To talk to you,” he replied, the smile he’d been wearing disappearing.
Katrina’s jaw tightened. “I don’t have anything to say to you, Craig.”
“Then just listen...please.” His voice lowered, and for the first time, he didn’t look exactly like the brother she remembered. He looked older, harder. His hair was still reddish brown, shorter now, but still wild with unruly waves. “And I don’t go by that name anymore. I go by Asher.”
“You can change your name, but that will never change what you did or who you really are.” Katrina held his stare, refusing to let him see how badly just looking at him tore through her.
“You’re right,” he replied, his eyes shifting away from her.
For a second, Katrina thought she saw true regret there.
“Craig is the name that bastard gave me,” he said quietly. “Mom gave me my middle name, Asher, which is what I legally go by now.”
“The mom who would still be alive if you’d helped her when I begged you,” Katrina spat, then tried to move past him.
His hand closed around her arm.
Everything inside her went cold. “Let. Me. Go.”
He released her immediately, his face tightening. “You know I couldn’t have stopped him from doing what he did any more than you could have, Katrina. You weren’t the only one trying to survive that hell.”
Craig, Asher, whatever in the hell he wanted to call himself, stood there like those words should matter.
At the moment, they didn’t. She remembered the way her voice had broken as she begged him for help.
What replayed in her mind the most was looking at him through tears and seeing no emotion.
But what really turned her heart against her own brother was when there had been no move on his part to stop what was happening to save their mother.
“If Blaze finds out you approached me, he will kill you.” That was all Katrina said in response.
“I’m joining the Dark Guardians in Kentucky.
” He ignored her warning about Blaze. “The Iron Drakes are trying to start up again, Katrina. Talk is they’re coming after you and me.
I can’t join the Warriors because of your mate, but the Guardians accepted me.
They know everything about my past. I laid it all out. ”
“Why are you telling me this?” Katrina asked, rubbing the spot where his hand had been even though he hadn’t hurt her. “Why do you even think I would care?”
“I made sure you got away the last time our bastard of a father almost had you.” His eyes narrowed, but then he sighed, some of the fight leaving him. “Does that count for anything?”
“No, it doesn’t.” Katrina’s voice dropped, but the anger was still there. “You don’t get to throw that in my face like it erases what you didn’t do.”
“I know that.” His jaw tightened. “But they are coming for us, and joining the Guardians is the only way I have any chance of stopping them. There are still Iron Drakes out there loyal to Samuel Drake, and whether we like it or not, we are next in line. If they get to me, you’re next.”
For a moment, neither of them said anything, but Katrina knew he was right.
“They don’t want anyone with that bastard’s blood alive to come rip away what they’re trying to rebuild,” he continued. “You know how this goes, Katrina. Just because you walked away doesn’t mean you’re free from the Iron Drakes. Neither of us will ever be free.”
She refused to let the fear his words brought overtake her, but she knew what he said was true. She would never be truly free of that life. It was always there in the shadows like a nightmare waiting to happen.
“I just wanted to warn you,” he said, then glanced at his watch. “If you need me, let one of the Dark Guardians know.”
“I won’t,” Katrina replied, then saw a look cross his face that reminded her of the old Craig, the brother she used to run around with before their father turned him into someone who could stand there and watch their mother die without shedding a single tear.
“Dammit, Katrina.” His eyes narrowed. “At least tell your mate.”
“Don’t contact me again.” Katrina hissed, then started past him. He didn’t stop her this time. She could feel him staring at her retreating back, but she ignored it.
Then the old Katrina surfaced, the one who had loved her brother before everything went to hell.
She knew he was taking a deadly chance by seeking her out to warn her because Blaze would in fact kill him.
Slowing, she turned and looked at him over her shoulder.
Their eyes met and she saw, no she actually felt the regret radiating off him. Her hardened heart softened somewhat.
“Thanks for letting me know.” God, those words tasted bitter leaving her mouth, but she knew he could have done to her what he did to their mother....and that was to remain silent.
He gave her a single nod, then turned and disappeared.
Katrina’s hands shook as she paid for the purchase. Her eyes scanned the parking lot as she made her way to her car, every shadow, every parked vehicle, every person suddenly felt like a threat. She hurried into the driver’s seat, fumbling with the keys before finally getting the car started.
The second the doors were locked, the emotions hit hard.
The past invaded her mind, and she couldn’t stop it.
Fear and doom churned in her chest and stomach until she could barely breathe.
She had really thought she’d buried that life deep enough it couldn’t reach her anymore.
She’d been a fool. Seeing her brother brought it all back with such force it felt like yesterday.
With shaking hands, she searched her phone, hit Blaze’s name, and put it on speaker as her tear-filled eyes stayed locked on the parking lot.
“Hey, babe,” Blaze’s voice filled her small car.
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She swallowed hard and tried again, but all that escaped was a sob.
“Katrina?” Blaze’s voice turned hard. “Are you okay?”
She heard pounding and knew he was running.
“No,” she choked out as more sobs broke free.
“Fuck!” Blaze cursed just as a door slammed. “Where are you?”
“Riverside Pharmacy.” Katrina tried to control her breathing, but it was no use. Never would she be able to outrun her past, and that broke something inside her. Just seeing Craig had dragged her straight back to that hell as if no time had passed at all.
“Stay on the phone with me, Katrina.” Blaze’s voice calmed somewhat, and she knew he was trying like hell to stay calm for her. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” she whispered through the tears. “He was here.”
“Who was there?” Blaze couldn’t keep the growl out of his voice.
“My brother.” Katrina squeezed her eyes shut. “Why can’t my past just leave me alone?”
“I’m coming, babe,” Blaze assured her, and she heard horns blowing in the background.
“Blaze, be careful.” Katrina swiped at her eyes and took a shaky breath. “I’m okay. I’m not hurt. I just needed to hear your voice to keep me out of that dark place.”
“I’m pulling in now,” Blaze said, causing Katrina to turn and see him flying toward her.
Before she could blink, he was at her door, pulling it open and dragging her into his arms. She lost it. Her body shook so hard it hurt, tears pouring down her face as she held on to him with everything she had.
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed, having no clue if he understood her through the tears.
“Do not apologize.” He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Katrina nodded, clearing her throat. She watched as he looked up, searching the parking lot before looking back down at her.
“Get your stuff,” he said, turning her gently around. “I’ll come back later for your car. Lock it up.”
Katrina nodded and did just that. She didn’t trust herself to drive at the moment. “I have to go to Becky and Sloan’s,” she said as she grabbed the bag for Becky and her purse.
Blaze led her to the SUV after locking up her car, then helped her inside. “Lock the doors.” Blaze stepped away. “I’ll be back.”
She wanted to tell him to stay with her, but knew he wouldn’t.
She locked the doors and watched him walk toward the pharmacy.
He disappeared inside for only a few minutes, then came back out and looked her way, making sure she was okay.
He walked the parking lot, his eyes searching the area before finally turning back toward her.
Katrina unlocked the door for him and felt herself relax a little when he slid into the driver’s seat.
Starting the SUV, he put it in drive, then reached for her hand and held it tightly.
The drive was silent, and she knew Blaze was trying to get control of himself.
It wasn’t long before they were pulling up to Becky and Sloan’s.
He stopped before they reached the house, sent a text, then turned off the SUV and looked at her.
“What happened?” Blaze asked, his eyes searching hers. “Did he hurt you? I swear to God if he laid one fucking finger on you, I will kill him.”
Shaking her head, Katrina swallowed hard.
“It just shocked me, him standing there. He tried to act like what happened never happened...or something. I don’t know.
It just brought back too many memories, and I wasn’t expecting it.
He told me someone is trying to restart the Iron Drakes.
He wanted to warn me. Whoever it is will put a price on our heads because we’re blood to Samuel Drake, and there are still many loyal to him even though he’s dead that will want one of us to take over. ”
Blaze’s eyes narrowed, but he remained silent as he listened.
“He also said he no longer goes by Craig, but Asher, which is the middle name our mother gave him.” Katrina snorted at that.
“And that he’s joining the Dark Guardians in Kentucky.
He said because of you, he couldn’t join the Warriors.
If I need to contact him, I’m supposed to let one of the Guardians know.
” Katrina knew her words were coming out in a rush, but she couldn’t control it. It all came pouring out of her.
Blaze’s eyes narrowed even more, but he didn’t comment on that. “I don’t want you going anywhere alone until I know exactly what’s going on.”
Nodding, Katrina didn’t even argue. She knew more than anyone what would happen if the Iron Drakes formed again under someone else.
Her life would change in ways worse than when her father had been in control.
Not only will the ones who want to restart it be after her, but the ones still loyal to her bastard of a father would want to use one of them to keep control.
It was the way of that world, a brutal world she never asked to be a part of, but was a major player in it because she was the daughter of Samuel Drake.
“I won’t let anything happen to you.” Blaze cupped her chin, bringing her face to his. “Do you hear me? No one will touch you.”
“I know.” She leaned over and kissed him. “I love you.”
He deepened the kiss before pulling away. “I love you,” he replied, then let her go. “Okay, let’s get this done so I can get you home. What did you have to get her that couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
The question threw her a little. She didn’t want to lie to Blaze, but she had sworn she wouldn’t tell anyone. “She hasn’t been feeling well,” Katrina said as he turned the headlights back on and pulled up behind Sloan’s motorcycle. “It’s girl stuff.”
He only nodded in that uncomfortable way he always did whenever she mentioned girl stuff.
Katrina grabbed the bag and opened the door, then glanced back at him. “You don’t have to look so terrified.”
“I’m not terrified,” Blaze frowned, then looked toward the house. “I just know when I’m out of my depth.”
Despite everything, Katrina almost smiled. “Smart man.”
Blaze knocked on the door, then winked at her.
“Thank you for coming so quick, Blaze.” Katrina squeezed his hand, knowing how damn lucky she was to have a man like him. “I knew one day I would come face-to-face with my brother, but I didn’t expect it to hit me so hard. I thought I could handle it.”
“I’d walk through hell for you, Katrina.” Blaze squeezed her hand back. “You are my life.”
Katrina swallowed the sob that rose in her throat just as the door opened.
Sloan stepped back, letting them in. She tried to give him a smile, but he was already looking at her with a frown before his eyes moved to Blaze. Her face was probably blotchy, and eyes swollen from crying.
“Everything okay?” Sloan asked, watching them both closely.
“No,” Katrina replied honestly. “But I’ll let Blaze fill you in. Where’s Becky?”
“In the kitchen.” Sloan nodded that way as he closed the door.
Katrina gave him a small smile and nod, then headed that way.
If she had to repeat what happened again, she would probably lose it.
She honestly didn’t want to relive it. She was a Warrior now, and showing weakness, especially in front of Sloan, was something she definitely didn’t want to do. So instead, she left it to Blaze.
Because if anyone could carry that pain for her when she couldn’t, it was him.