Chapter 27 #2
All I see is her blood, and nothing else will suffice. She’s shriveled up and burned my last goddamned nerve when it comes to her nasty self.
My knife sinks into her side, and she tries to kick me in the face as she falls back. The cuntcicle was pretending that she was this frail woman. I should have known honestly.
This was too easy.
“Harold, she stabbed me,” Emilia wails, and the giant man turns and runs for her. Swinging her into his arms, he races for the back of the alley and gets away as I shake my head.
What does she have on him that he’s helping her?
“Hollis,” Trevor grunts, limping over to help me stand. “Are you okay?”
“The bitch took my favorite knife,” I grumble. “Otherwise, yes, I’m fine.”
Reaching down, I pick up my bag and dig out my phone. Oh, I did call Cian. Look at that.
“Hi, Cian,” I sigh. “Did you hear all of that?” I ask.
“ Where the fuck is your guard? I swear to God, I’m going to kill him and use his ground up body as fertilizer for my garden,” he growls.
Looking sympathetically at Trevor, I sigh.
“My guard is right here. I have this odd feeling that the police officer who told Briar that she couldn’t park in front of my office was working for Emilia,” I explain.
“Emilia pulled me into an alley while I was walking to meet him. She had one of the thugs who curb stomped me into the pavement after the mixer.”
“Meatheads,” he says. “It’s time to clip her assistance. I have the emblem of their motorcycle club. I’m going to track them down and get some answers before I wipe them off the map.”
“Awww, that’s so sweet,” I tease him as he practically snorts with anger at me. He’s like a fire breathing dragon right now.
“Have Trevor and Briar take you to your date if you’re going, and then tell them to come see me. I want a debrief,” he says.
Wincing at Trevor, I nod. “Will do. I’m not hurt, Cian. Be gentle.”
“I’m going to yell at them, not fuck them,” he mutters, making me throw my head back and laugh.
“Well, if you can poke fun at me, then you’re obviously not hurt.
You have added several gray hairs to my ever graying hair.
Oh, I caught what you said about the auctions.
We need to reach out to Nico to see what the status is of the one he promised to dismantle.
Go on your date first, business later. The universe seems to enjoy fucking up your fun. Please don’t let it.”
“I certainly don’t plan to. Trevor, let’s get out of here, shall we?”
Moving toward the entrance of the alley, I allow my guard to poke his head out before we continue to walk together. Briar is outside of the car, appearing worried, and it doesn’t dissipate as she sees Trevor’s limp.
“I’ll see you this weekend, I suppose, Cian?” I ask.
“Yes,” he grunts. “ I’ll text you with a time so we can have a unified front, Hollis. I already spoke to your grandfather and he said that he would be there with your grandmother.”
“Cian, do you really think?—”
“She’s not a wilting flower, Hollis. Your grandmother will put your parents in their place if it’s needed. I’ll talk to you later,” he says, ending the call.
“What’s wrong with your leg?” I ask Trevor, opening my group chat with my pack. I can feel panic through the bond, and messages of worry are popping up in the chat.
Me
Emilia is a cunt. She blames me for having ROWS dismantled as of noon today. I’m fine. I’m ready for some fun, guys. I also want kisses and snuggles.
Brice
I hate to say it, but that woman needs to be buried alive in a dark hole.
Me
Awww, am I rubbing off on you, Daddy?
Smirking, I put my phone away and check my clothes to make sure I don’t have trash attached to them. Pulling out a perfume bottle, I sigh as I quickly spray myself for good measure.
“Harold kicked it and made it go numb. I’ll be fine. Nothing slows you down, does it?” Trevor asks in awe.
“Other than being curb stomped by that big fucker? No.”
“The fuck is wrong with people?” he grumbles, shaking his head. “I’m used to being around people who are obviously dangerous. Emilia looks like someone’s grandmother.”
“And that’s why people have let her get away with so much for so long,” I say, nodding as Briar opens the back door for me to slide into the car. “If you want to survive in this city, remember that very few people will show you what they’re capable of, Trevor.”
“Amen to that,” Briar mutters under her breath, closing the door behind my guard once he’s inside the car. A few minutes later, we’re back on the road, and I’m beginning to wind down from both the bloodlust and adrenaline dump.
The second I step out of the vehicle at the skating rink, I’m surrounded by my pack and sister. Caleb and Lars carefully watch for any signs of pain to injury before they relax.
“I’m fine,” I promise. “It’s nothing that a hot chocolate can’t fix.”
“Then that’s what you’ll get,” Malcolm rumbles, holding me tightly against him.
I notice that they’re all careful to stay close to me, but I don’t mind. Life is too short to keep people at bay. Nova skates next to me, offering sidelong glances.
“Yes?” I tease her, smiling as snow begins to fall on us. I don’t get to ice skate enough, and I really love this outside rink.
“I feel like trouble just tends to find us,” she grumbles.
Shaking my head, I link my arm in hers.
“When you stand as a safe place for people, it’s inevitable that there will be those who hate that,” I remind her.
“I think the idea is that if they remove you from the playing board they’ll leave less light in the world.
The reality is that everyone you’ve ever touched carries your light inside of them.
Killing us won’t change that. I’m pretty difficult to kill, and you’re purposely off the grid. ”
“I don’t love how nonchalant you are about that,” she says. “I do like the idea that we leave light behind in the people we help.”
“I have my moments,” I tease her. “If it helps, my life isn’t typically this exciting.”
Nova purses her lips that remind me so much of mine as I laugh. Unlinking my arm with hers, I push her toward Tyde.
“Catch!”
Her alpha grins as he wraps his arms around her, bringing her to a stop.
“Do I need to know anything else about Emilia?” Lars asks, skating up beside me, his eyes on my sister.
“Later,” I promise. “I have to go see my parents this weekend to tell them about Nova.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “Annabelle and Paul are a lot on a good day. Telling them about Nova isn’t going to be pretty.”
“Fuck them,” I say succinctly. “I’m serious. I’ve kept the peace long enough. They sucked as parents.”
“They did. Our father didn’t do much better. Alright, girlie. Later it is. Go skate. I’m going to steal Nova away from Tyde.”
Smirking, I skate over to Remy, loving the way he holds me close as he joins me.
“Thanks for coming back to us,” he murmurs.
“Always.”