Savage Reign (Tiernan Crime Syndicate #3)

29. Mila

29

MILA

I lay in my bed, looking up at the ceiling.

Tonight was the club’s opening, and my closet was filled with clothes I could have worn to the event, but I was putting off picking a dress. I was feeling… unexpectedly nervous.

This opening would have all of their close associates, and I wasn’t sure I was charming enough to be on Silas’ arm, talking to strange men and women I didn’t know.

My hand pressed down on my stomach. “We’ll get through this together,” I said to my baby. It made it easier to feel like I was actually expecting while talking to the baby more.

It also helped that Silas brought me to the doctor’s this morning, and I was able to see my baby on the screen. All of my men had joined me. If the doctor thought it was weird that there were so many people in attendance, she didn’t say anything. She was pretty good at wearing that mask of professionalism.

I still didn’t know how they felt about the baby. They had been pretty silent on the way home, and I was still reeling over the image of a blob that was supposed to be my baby to really notice.

She estimated I was about a month along, which was further than I thought. And in eight months’ time, I would be welcoming home a baby that was half mine and half—well, I wasn’t actually sure which one of the brothers was the father. My guess was Silas, but only because we had slept together first. The brothers had left for the club to make sure things were running smoothly and to take care of any last-minute plans and security, but they would be home to pick me up in four hours.

That wasn’t a lot of time, but I didn’t feel like getting up.

I grabbed my phone. It had long turned dark, but once I woke it up, the screen with a line of numbers stared back at me.

She had the same number for years. The number had been imprinted on my mind, and I wondered if the reason I remembered it was because it was hers. I wanted to show her that everything about her mattered to me, that she mattered to me, and perhaps she might start to feel like I mattered to her as well.

Now I knew how silly that was.

My mom only cared about one person, and that was herself.

So why was I missing her now?

Was it because of the doctor’s visit? Because I was suddenly reminded that I was pregnant and was about to become a mom myself?

But I missed my mom.

I pressed the call button, feeling my heart drop along with the action, but it was too late. I held my breath as I brought the phone up to my ear, listening as it rang… and rang… and rang.

I got her voicemail.

Blood rushed to my ears, and I started talking after the beep before I could think better of it.

“Mom… hey. It’s me… Mila. I, uh, I got a new phone. I just thought I would let you know. Um, this isn’t really something I wished to tell you over voicemail, but, uh, I—I’m back in Chicago. I’m in a relationship. I’m happy. And I hope you’ll understand once I tell you who I’m in the relationship with, but uh, I just thought I would call you to see how you’re doing. I know we didn’t end our last conversation on a good note, but… yeah. Anyway, I have to go, the man I’m with, he’s, uh, in business and is opening a club tonight. I’m going with him. So yeah, just call me?—”

I stopped talking when the voicemail ended, and I quickly hung up, looking up at the ceiling and feeling heat rush to my face and regret settling heavily in my heart. I felt like I might have made a mistake calling her somehow, and I didn’t know why that was. Only that there was that feeling, and I didn’t know how to get rid of it.

I let out a small sigh and sat up on the bed, looking around at my bedroom.

The sun shone brightly through the window, reminding me that I was running out of time.

I supposed it was time to get ready.

I wiped my hand nervously down a dark blue dress covered in a thin layer of black lace. The straps hung off my shoulder, wrapping around my biceps. The neckline was low and showed off a good amount of cleavage while pinching at the waist and falling to my ankles. There was a small slit midway down, showing off my legs. Every time I walked, the anklet Killian gifted me would catch the light in a certain way, reminding me.

My hair was curled and held up in a half ponytail with a sparkling clip. The shine of it matched the small diamond stud earrings and matching necklace I wore. I paired the outfit with strappy black heels that would probably put me up to be as tall as Silas’ chin.

I wouldn’t look so off standing next to the brothers. I shook away the silly thoughts. As if our height difference was the thing that was really different about us and not their out-of-this-world beauty.

I paused when I got to the stairway. All three brothers stood around the foyer that connected to the landing of the stairs. They hadn’t noticed me yet. I took this moment to observe them. They were all in black suits. Maverick and Killian both paired theirs with a white button-up shirt. Maverick wore a black tie, while Killian wore a dark gray that did something amazing to his skin.

Silas was the only one who wore a dark blue shirt that almost matched my dress, as if he knew I would pick this, though I doubted it. He paired his outfit with a black tie. They all looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Killian said something to Silas, making him laugh, while Maverick stood nearby, a small smile teasing his lips, though he didn’t join in.

I knew they were close from everything they told me before—hell, they were even sharing me—but to see it was something else entirely.

For so long, they were all each other had. They were each other’s world. And now I was a part of this.

I felt a true sense of belonging that I had never felt until then.

A contentment of sorts that I didn’t think I would ever have for my own.

I took a step down the stairs, and all three brothers turned their heads toward me. My breath caught as they devoured me with their eyes and made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world.

It also felt like prom.

I never had the chance to go. Not with the way Dad had guarded me and with Sebastian’s jealousy. It didn’t matter if I went on a date or not.

This almost felt like it.

Like I was getting a chance to kind of relive some of those experiences I’d missed out on.

I stopped when I got to the last two steps. Silas stepped forward and held out his hand for me. “Angel?”

Slowly, I placed my hand in his and let him pull me all the way down. He wrapped his arm around my middle and kissed my cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“I do?” I asked. I blinked. I hadn’t meant to say that. I meant to say “thank you.”

He pulled back slightly and looked at me for a moment. Then he leaned down and kissed my lips before nodding. “Absolutely. But then, you have always been beautiful.”

I looked down at his tie. “Thank you,” I said softly.

He stepped back, and Killian took his place. I let out a small laugh when he growled, “Ravishing,” before playfully kissing my neck. My hand pressed up against his chest, feeling his hard muscles there and resisting the urge to move my hand all over him, feeling him up.

When he pulled away from me, Maverick was there, his arms circling around my waist.

“Hi,” I said, looking up into his blue eyes. They shone in the light.

“Hi, beautiful,” he responded, his voice mild. “Are you ready to let us show you off to the world?”

I hesitated.

“Don’t be nervous,” he said softly, reading me well.

“Kind of hard not to be.”

“We’ll be with you the entire time.”

“Promise?”

“Always.”

I nodded, feeling a little better. I took a deep breath.

“I think you have had enough time hogging my date. Now get your greedy palms off her,” Silas said from behind me.

Maverick rolled his eyes at his brother, making me smile. He tightened his arms around me, not letting go.

“You get to have her in your arms for the night. So for the car ride over, she stays with me,” Maverick said possessively.

Silas grumbled something under his breath I couldn’t hear.

“And since you bastards claimed this time with her, I am claiming her night,” Killian spoke up.

I looked to my side and into his eyes. They darkened. “You’re sleeping with me tonight, firecracker.”

I shivered from the note of desire in his voice, not knowing what to say.

Killian smirked. “Don’t worry. I will definitely make it worth your while.”

I had no doubt.

Silas clapped his hands together. “Let’s go.”

Together, we walked out with Killian in front, Maverick behind us, and Silas and me in the middle. Silas pressed up close to me as if to protect me from any danger. We were still on the Tiernan property, so I doubted there was any real danger around. Still, I said nothing, letting them lead me to the waiting car. Marcus and Liam were waiting for us.

I smiled and waved at Liam as we passed, and though his face didn’t really change, I thought he softened a bit with me. He also gave me a slight nod. I had a feeling Liam and his cousin would be assigned as my own guards from now on.

I didn’t think I minded that too much. My world had always been dangerous—more so now that I was with them. So I wasn’t going to complain about a little protection that would make me feel secure.

We got into the car, and it was as Maverick said. He set me on his lap.

Killian took one look at us and frowned. “Is that safe for her?”

Maverick didn’t say anything. He simply pulled the seatbelt over us and buckled me in. It was a tight fit but secure. I adjusted a bit, trying to get comfortable, especially with the dress I was wearing, before snuggling in close to his chest.

I glanced up and found his eyes were already on me, a soft look in them that I was slowly getting used to.

I grew up with cold, harsh looks that had never made me feel secure. So how was it that my three savages could make me feel like this?

I leaned up and kissed his jaw, and I heard his soft intake of breath. He tightened his arms around me.

I smiled and snuggled deeper into his chest. And then we were off. I had meant to ask them about the opening and about all the people attending, hoping to get as much information as possible, but now that we were in the car, I just wanted to bask in the silence. It didn’t help that my morning sickness had now migrated to afternoon sickness, and I had spent it throwing up.

I was starting to feel the pregnancy symptoms more and more now.

Maverick played with my hair on the way there, and I was almost lulled into a light nap when I felt the car coming to a full stop, and my heart dropped with sudden nervousness.

I sat up a little and looked around, noticing we were in the back of a brown building.

“Are we here?” I asked.

“Yes,” Maverick answered. “We’ll go through the back. Killian and Silas will get out of the car first, and I want you to stay here with me until either one of them comes for us.”

I nodded. Silas tugged on my hair playfully before he climbed out the door, followed by Killian, who looked like he wanted to kill someone, but that was most likely just his face, so I didn’t comment.

“You know you’ve nothing to be nervous about, don’t you?” Maverick asked when the door closed behind them.

“Don’t I? I don’t even know anyone there. And they’re going to take one look at me and know.”

Maverick frowned. “Know what, little monster?”

“That I don’t belong.”

His face relaxed. “You still don’t get it, do you? You think you don’t belong in this world? In my world? You’re probably right. You don’t belong. You’re too good for it.”

“I think you’re delusional if you think that.”

Maverick looked out the window of the car briefly before bringing his attention right back to me. “No, not delusional. I’m right. And perhaps you not seeing that works to my advantage. It means you will never think about leaving me.”

“Never,” I replied furiously.

He smiled a little. “I would never let you go. So don’t be nervous, sweetheart. All those people in there? They don’t matter. Not to me, and not to you. And when they realize just how powerful you are, just how much better you are than them, they’ll kiss the ground you walk on. And if they don’t, I have a very effective way of getting rid of them.”

My eyes widened before Maverick added, “I’ll have security remove them.”

I shook my head and laughed a little. He leaned down and kissed my lips briefly. “Feel better?”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

The car door opened then, and Silas popped his head in. “All clear.”

He held out his hand for me, and Maverick unbuckled the belt. I looked at Maverick for a quick second before taking Silas’ hand, letting him pull me out of the car, and tucking me under his arm. Maverick followed us as we walked to the back door, held open by a woman in professional black and white attire.

She was probably in her mid-thirties, and her brown hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She briefly looked at me, a strange look in her eyes, before quickly looking away. I didn’t have time to really dissect what that look was as we had already walked past her and entered a white, pristine kitchen, with staff running about, getting the food ready.

They paused briefly when they noticed us, and I saw several women looking at my men a little too long for my liking. I tried to push the little green monster down.

I shouldn’t be jealous, considering I was being shared by three men, and they seemed to have a better handle on their jealousy around each other regarding me than I thought was possible.

I would have thought they weren’t possessive if I hadn’t seen the hard look entering their eyes when they noticed other men staring at me for a beat too long. Like how Killian was right now, staring down a poor waiter.

I patted his arm briefly, and he looked away from the waiter. The murderous look in his eyes was gone, replaced with his usual seriousness.

“Behave,” I said quietly.

“I will when they will,” he said, not as quietly.

The lady who held the door open for us ordered, “Get back to work,” and it seemed to have its effect, considering everyone jumped at her command.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Tiernan,” she said, stepping up to us. I didn’t know which brother she was talking to.

Maverick was the one to answer her. “Just make sure everything runs smoothly, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth looked at Maverick, then quickly looked away, a small blush gracing her cheeks as she muttered, “Of course.”

She liked him, I realized.

I tried not to look at any of the brothers, not wanting to give away too much of my emotions. And moments later, when we finally left the kitchen and went out to what appeared to be the main area of the club, I didn’t care anymore.

There were people everywhere. People dressed in expensive clothes and even more expensive jewelry.

People who looked like they belonged. Who had all the confidence in the world and didn’t have to fake it, like how I felt I had been doing my entire life.

I moved in a little closer to Silas, ignoring the look he shot my way. I didn’t want to think I couldn’t do it. And there was a more superficial part of me that hated these people who had the power to get to me. To make me feel insecure.

“We need a drink,” Silas said, veering me off to the left and toward the bar top. A bartender saw us coming and dropped the drink he was making, moving over to us right away. I should say I was surprised, but I wasn’t. Silas just had this way about him that commanded the room, same as Maverick and Killian. But where Maverick commanded the room in a way that was pure, unadulterated power, and Killian in intimidation and fear, Silas was charming about it despite his hardness.

Or perhaps the hardness was a part of his charm.

It was certainly what drew me in.

“Sir,” the bartender addressed us. He looked at me, then quickly looked away. “Ma’am. What can I get for you?”

Silas looked at me. I could only stare back helplessly at him. I was pregnant and wasn’t planning on drinking. I doubt Silas would even let me touch alcohol. He and his brothers took my pregnancy even more seriously than I did.

And even if I wasn’t pregnant, and I could drink, I wouldn’t know what to order. I wasn’t a drinker. I saw too many of my father’s men let alcohol and drugs control them.

Silas turned to the bartender. “A scotch on the rocks for me and a cranberry juice for her.”

He nodded. “Right away.”

I didn’t watch the bartender make our drinks. My eyes were focused solely on Silas.

“Are you doing okay?” he asked.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

He looked down to where my fingers were twiddling with his jacket sleeve nervously. I quickly pulled away. “Just nerves,” I said.

His brows pulled together. “Why?”

There was no judgment in his voice. He sounded genuinely curious and confused.

“I guess I’m just not used to any kind of social situation.”

His face relaxed. “I suppose that makes sense. But you know you have nothing to worry about, right?”

I looked down. “I feel like I don’t belong.”

“You belong by my side. You belong to me. And that’s all that matters.”

I offered him a slight smile. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It is easy. Just you, me, Maverick, Killian, and our baby. Our family.”

He moved in closer and pressed his palm on my stomach. I looked around. If anyone looked closely enough, they would figure out that I was pregnant.

“Silas.”

He didn’t seem to care. “You’re mine. Fuck them all.”

I shook my head, my smile widening a little. The bartender came back to us and placed two glasses down in front. Silas held up the glass of juice to me, and I took it, taking a small sip.

“Don’t you have to go socialize?”

He shrugged. “Eh. That’s more of Maverick’s job.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Only Maverick could charm these fuckers. Killian’s too volatile, and he might say something to offend them. As for me…” He shot a playful smile my way. “Maverick said I play around too much.”

I bit my lip, shaking my head at him. Of course, that would be the case.

He grabbed his drink and pulled me in close. “Come on, baby. Let’s go find a dark corner somewhere, and let me corrupt my little angel.”

“Silas,” I admonished, pinching his side.

He let out a sigh. “Fine. But if you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”

“Like what?” I asked, surprised.

“Fuck, all seductive and shit. Like how you are now.”

“This is just my face,” I said.

“Like I said. Fucking seductive.”

I let out a small laugh as we made our way to the corner where Killian stood. His eyes tracked my movements, and I stopped when I was at least two feet away from him, out of grabbing distance. One of his eyebrows raised from the move, but I shook my head. I knew that look.

“I’m here as Silas’ date,” I said.

Silas laughed. “You heard my girl. She’s mine.”

Killian’s smile was sinister. “And you think that will stop me?”

I rolled my eyes at that and was about to say something when a couple walked up to us. Killian’s expression darkened, and though the man stuttered a bit in his steps, he forged on. I moved in closer to Silas, who wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his warm body.

The man was a little older, though it was hard to guess his age, considering his face still looked young, but his hair was nearly gray. He had bright green eyes that stood out against his dark complexion and a medium build.

His date was the exact opposite of him. She had pale skin, brown hair and brown eyes, cherry-red lips, and was thin and tall. Made even taller with red heels on that matched her red dress.

She also hadn’t looked away from Silas or Killian since the moment they came up to us. My grip tightened around my glass of cranberry juice.

“Killian. Silas.” He turned to me.

Silas spoke first. Killian looked like he would much rather use his fists to make the couple go away. “Peter. How are you, man? This is my… she is mine. Mila.”

Peter laughed, holding out his hand. I shook it daintily.

“This is my date,” Peter said, indicating to the woman. “Rebecca.”

Rebecca smiled widely at Killian and Silas. They barely showed any reaction to her. I hid my smile in my juice. I doubted they? would even remember her name by the end of the night.

After a brief moment of awkward silence, Peter steered the conversation away when he said, “I just want to congratulate you on the club’s opening. It’s going to be a success.”

Silas patted Peter on the back. “You should know.” He turned to me. “Peter is our accountant. Has been for a long time now.”

I briefly wondered if he was their accountant for all of their businesses.

I smiled and nodded, not knowing what to say to that.

“I’m sure it will be,” another man said, stepping up to us. Maverick was right behind him, and I brightened a bit.

I smiled at Maverick, and he winked at me, causing my heart to flutter and my cheeks to blush. I quickly looked away from him, and my eyes clashed with Rebecca’s.

She shot me a disgusted look.

I frowned at her.

Silas squeezed me, drawing my attention away from the brazen woman, and I looked up to see him indicating to the new man who had just joined our group.

I blinked. Why did he look familiar?

“Mila, allow me to introduce our associate, Gregory Perez.”

I nodded and held out my hand. He grabbed my hand, but instead of shaking it, he kissed the back of it.

All three men tensed.

“Gregory.” The warning in Silas’ voice was unmistakable.

Gregory didn’t seem all that fazed. He looked up and smiled at me. I couldn’t help but smile back, petting Silas’ chest. He should know there was nothing to be worried about. Gregory looked like he was old enough to be my father.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mila. And to see how much you’ve changed… for the better. You absolutely glow,” Gregory said.

I frowned. Again ? So I had seen him before, but where…

“You came to visit my father,” I said, the memory coming back.

Gregory nodded.

I looked around at my men. Did they not know Gregory used to work with my father? I didn’t know much about their partnership, but I knew it wasn’t the legal kind.

But the brothers didn’t seem concerned. Which meant they already knew.

He said I had changed…

I supposed I did, especially if you were comparing to how I had been living at the clubhouse under my father’s thumb.

“It’s nice to see you again too,” I said.

He nodded, his eyes lingering on me—not in a creepy way, and perhaps my gut was off, but I didn’t get any bad vibes from him either. He looked almost… sad.

Like he felt sorry for me.

I looked away from him. He probably did. If he worked with my father, then he probably knew more than he let on.

I finished off my drink and turned to Silas. “I have to use the bathroom. Will you show me?”

Silas nodded. “Of course, baby.”

“I have to use the bathroom too. Why don’t I show Mila?” Rebecca said. I worked hard not to make a face at the suggestion.

Thankfully, when Silas said he didn’t plan on leaving my side, he meant it. “No.”

He gave Peter his drink and grabbed my hand, pulling me out of there.

I resisted the urge to laugh out loud. “That was rude.”

“You know what’s rude? That woman has been making eyes at me all evening when it’s clear I’m yours. And she’s here with Peter.”

He shook his head. I turned and buried my face in his chest, feeling light. I knew I didn’t have to worry about anything with him. With any of them. And he just confirmed it.

Silas pulled me to the back of the club, which was quite a distance away. The club looked like it used to be an industrial building of some sort and was renovated to be a club. I liked it. It had a charm.

“This is more private,” Silas said, pushing the door to the office open for me. There was a connected bathroom at the end of the room. I was about to walk to it when Silas pulled me back, his lips pressing on the skin of my neck. A flush moved through me, and I rubbed my legs together.

“Silas,” I said, my voice breathy.

“Just real quick, baby. I have been going crazy thinking about you all night, especially when I saw you come down the stairs in that dress. Fuck me, but I need this.”

He pulled my dress up until it bunched around my waist and pushed my panties down. I felt the flimsy fabric around my ankles just as he cupped my pussy with his bare hand.

I let out a moan, leaning back and resting my head on his shoulder as he began to move his hand, working me over.

“Fuck,” he gritted out. “You’re so wet for me.”

“Silas,” I said, feeling my eyes drawing shut. He pulled his hand back and slapped my pussy. A sharp sting vibrated on my clit, driving me to a frenzy.

I hissed out a sharp breath of air. “Eyes on me. I want you to look at me as I make you come.”

I kept my eyes on him, biting my lip as his fingers dipped down between my folds and drove inside me.

His chest vibrated with a low growl, especially when I clenched around him.

“That’s it, angel. Let me feel how tight you are.”

He fucked me with his fingers, driving in and out of me lazily. I let out a frustrated groan and pushed up on my toes.

“Please, Silas. Please .” I didn’t care if this was what he had reduced me to. A begging, desperate mess. I just wanted him.

He pulled on my hair and turned my head to the side, biting my neck. The pain only worked me over harder. I arched my back, pushing in closer to him until he began to move faster.

“Yes, like that,” I said, rotating my hips to meet his rhythm. I cried out when he added on another finger, stretching me out and creating such a delicious burn.

“Come,” he said, pulling out and rubbing over my clit.

I moved my arms back to wrap around his neck, trying to keep my balance as I was pushed over the edge, my screams echoing in the small office.

I leaned my entire weight against him, letting him hold me up. It wasn’t until I came down from my orgasm that I realized he was still rubbing his fingers over my clit. Spasms of pleasure bounced inside from his touch.

I leaned back and kissed him.

He was receptive to my kiss like I knew he would be. I didn’t think I would ever have to worry about his rejection.

He told me once that all it took was one look at me, and he was obsessed. I might not believe in love at first sight, but I believed him.

When I pulled away, his skin was flushed, and his lips were swollen.

“I love you,” I said.

“And I will spend the rest of my life being deserving of that love,” he said gruffly. “Starting with loving you right.”

I nodded, shifting. I paused when I felt his hard-on pressed up against me. He bent down and helped me remove my panties around my ankles. I didn’t say anything when he shoved them in his pocket. I doubted he would give them back to me, even if I asked nicely.

His grin was pure wickedness.

I rolled my eyes, my face moving down to the tent in his pants. I reached for him, but he stopped me.

I frowned. “Go use the bathroom, sweetheart.”

“What about you?”

“You’re going to show me how grateful you are that I let you come when we get home,” he said, his tone and eyes dark.

I shivered. “And how would I do that?”

“You're smart, baby. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

He winked, and I smiled, suddenly impatient to get home. All the things I could do to him…

He turned me around and slapped my ass. “Go. You stay in here any longer, and Killian might get impatient. And I doubt you want to know what happens when he gets impatient.”

I was sorely tempted to just stay here and let Killian find me.

Silas shot me a knowing smile. “Nuh-uh, naughty girl. Go.”

I would have argued, but it seemed being pregnant really tested my bladder control.

I pouted, turned away from him, and headed toward the bathroom. Silas’ chuckle followed me there.

I quickly did my business and washed my hands. By the time I came out, Silas was leaning against the door, frowning down at his phone.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, walking over to him.

He wrapped his arms around me. “Yeah, Marcus just saw movement outside the club. It could be nothing, but I’m not risking it. Not when it comes to you.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’m taking you home. I already told Maverick and Killian.”

He made a move to pull me out of there, but I stopped him. “Wait, don’t you think you might be overreacting? You just said it could be nothing.”

“Or it could be something. Don’t argue with me, angel. I’m taking you home.”

He walked over to the desk set in the far back of the room and reached into the drawers, pulling out a set of car keys.

“Let’s go.”

He grabbed my hand and walked us out of there before I could even protest.

I watched Silas’ tensed shoulders as we took the back door out. I took in the cool evening air as we came out to what appeared to be an underground parking lot. Silas clicked the keys, and a car in the middle of a row of what seemed like expensive vintage cars beeped.

We were about to move toward it when Silas stopped. His phone must have vibrated because he pulled it out from his suit pocket.

“Hey, Maverick. We’re about to get in the car…”

Silas didn't say anything. Then I watched as his face thundered over from whatever Maverick had said. My heart raced as fear hit me. Something was wrong. I knew it.

Silas looked up at me, a shadow moving through his eyes. He opened his mouth, but he never got the chance to say what he wanted to say.

A loud boom came from the side of the building. It was far enough away from us that we weren’t impacted, but it was still loud, the ground shaking from the sound.

Was that…

Was that an explosion?

Silas grabbed me and ran.

“Wait!” I yelled, trying to stop him. He forged on. “What about Maverick and Killian?”

“They can take care of themselves. I’m getting you out of here.”

“But—”

I didn’t get the chance to finish my sentence. Something— someone —rammed into Silas from the side. He lost his balance and fell, somehow managing to get me to fall on top of him. He grunted as his back hit the concrete floor of the garage.

I pushed up and looked at him. “Are you okay?”

Silas wasn’t looking at me, but something to my left.

His eyes widened, and he pushed me off him, quickly helping me to my feet. He shoved something hard into my palm. “Get in the car and drive off. Now .”

I didn’t get to respond. He turned his back to me and faced off with four men I hadn’t noticed before. I swallowed. They were new. At least, new enough that I didn’t recognize them, but I recognized the symbols on their cuts. The image of a dead man hanging from a rope around his neck.

The Heartless Saints MC.

And they outnumbered Silas.

“Mila, get the fuck out of here,” Silas said harshly.

I hesitated. He looked down at my stomach. “Go.”

I shook my head. I was not leaving him. I was never leaving him. Frustration tinged his eyes as tears streamed down mine.

Silas took a punch to the face when he was distracted. I gasped, my hand moving to my mouth as blood spurted out from his nose. Silas got up pretty quickly and punched the man who hit him in the stomach. He kicked the other one, trying to sneak up from behind him, and managed to elbow the fourth.

He was able to hold them off pretty well, but he was still outnumbered, and he was getting tired.

I looked around for anything I could use to help him. Nothing. There was nothing around. What if I got Maverick and Killian? Did they even know where we were?

I was about to run back inside to get them when I felt something hard pressed to the back of my head.

“Enough,” a familiar voice said, loud enough for everyone to hear. Terror slithered its way around my insides, so much so that I could feel all the air being depleted from my lungs. I knew that voice.

The fighting stopped, and I stood frozen where I was. Sebastian leaned over and met my eyes. “Long time no see, you little whore.”

I let out a shaky breath, trying to control my fear. It had always been either Dad or Sebastian at the club who I feared the most. And for good reasons. It was Sebastian’s suggestion for Dad to whip me in front of his men at the club when I tried to run away.

And he had been front and center for the show, his eyes glinting in dark satisfaction that told me the only thing better than seeing me get whipped for my mistake was if he had been able to do it himself.

Luckily, Dad had been possessive with me and hadn’t allowed any of his men to touch me.

Sebastian leaned down until his hot breath touched my neck. I didn’t say or do anything.

One of the men Silas had been fighting now had him in his grip, holding Silas still.

“Let’s talk,” Silas said. “Why don’t you put the gun down, and I’ll cut you a deal?”

Sebastian laughed, bringing the barrel up to scratch an imaginary itch. He was taunting me. Showing me that even without the gun pointing directly at me, I still wouldn’t be able to escape. My grip tightened around the car keys still in my hand.

“Talk? You want to talk? There is nothing I need from you.” He wrapped his arms around my middle and pulled me until I was pressed up against him. I bit the inside of my cheek to hold in a cry.

Silas tried to pull out of the man’s grip. The other man punched him in the stomach.

“No!” I cried out, trying to get to him as Silas bowed over, coughing. “Don’t hurt him.”

“My, look how protective you are over the man who killed your father.”

I shook my head. “What do you want?”

His eyes hardened, the green of them dull, probably from all the months spent in hiding. “To get back what belongs to me. And once I marry you and take over Stocken Isle, I’ll partner up with other organizations around the country. Together, we’ll fucking destroy the Tiernan crime syndicate.”

I shook my head. He started pulling me away. “Now, as much as I would like to stick around and watch my men play with the Tiernan bastard, the other two aren’t accounted for. You’re coming with me.”

“No!” I screamed, struggling in his hold.

“Mila!” Silas tried to fight off the men, but even I knew he couldn’t do it.

A sob burst out of my lips as Sebastian managed to pull me away. The image of the four MC men pushing Silas to the ground and taking turns kicking and punching him would haunt me for the rest of my life.

“Stop!” I yelled, tears streaming down my face. “Stop hurting him. Stop.”

A helpless sob burst from my lips, and I didn’t know what to do.

“Stop fighting, you little bitch, or your time with me is going to be miserable,” Sebastian said, pulling me in close.

Any time spent with him was already going to be miserable.

I turned and used the key, pushing the blade through his neck. I didn’t have enough strength to actually poke a hole, but enough to make him bleed. He let go of me. I didn’t hesitate. I ran away, trying to get back into the building. If I could find Maverick or Killian, I might be able to help Silas.

Sebastian let out an angry roar and chased after me. I could hear his footsteps closing in. I wasn’t going to outrun him. I pushed harder.

I cried out when the bastard shot at something to my left. Plaster from the cement pillars chipped off, some of it hitting my shoulder as I ran.

He wasn’t trying to kill me, just scare me enough to slow me down. I chanced a look back.

I wished I hadn’t.

Sebastian was no more than three feet away from me, and he looked angry, blood dripping down the side of his neck, making him look more monster than man.

A loud bang rang out once more. I blinked. That wasn’t from Sebastian.

And he knew it too because he crouched low and jumped in between two cars, staying hidden.

I tried to locate where the shots were coming from. Gregory stood by the entrance of the garage. Never had I been so glad to see another person.

“Come here, Mila,” Gregory said. I rushed toward him. He pushed me behind him and moved back until I was between him and the wall.

He looked out, and he must have sensed movement because he fired another shot.

“Silas,” I said.

“Maverick, Killian, and Marcus are there. Don’t worry.”

Sure enough, when I looked to where Silas was, he was no longer on the ground. He was bleeding and looked badly hurt, but he was standing, anger marring his face. The four men who had fought with him were kneeling on the ground, surrendering.

“Do you see Sebastian?” I asked.

Gregory grunted. I’d take that as a no.

The sound of tires peeling out reverberated in the garage, and Gregory tried to hit the tires. He let out a frustrated noise when he missed, and Sebastian was gone, leaving his men behind. I leaned back against the wall, unsure if I would be able to hold myself up any longer, when Gregory suddenly moved out of the way, pity on his face, just as my men surrounded me.

Killian helped me stand up straight as Maverick checked my body for any injuries. Just a few scratches here and there. He frowned when he got to my neck.

“What happened here?” he asked.

It took me a moment to realize what he was seeing. Silas must have left a mark on my neck when he bit me in the office.

“It’s not…” I looked over to Silas, who was keeping his distance, and I didn’t know why. Was he okay?

Maverick must have understood what I meant because he nodded.

“Let’s get you home.”

“Your club…”

Maverick shook his head. “I have people already dealing with this mess. The police and fuck, maybe the FBI might stop by, but that’s a fucking problem for another day. I just need to make sure you’re safe.”

I nodded and turned to Silas.

He looked at me with tortured eyes. My bottom lip trembled, and I held out my hand for him. “Silas?”

What would I do if he rejected me?

It was a silly thought. I realized it almost immediately after I thought it because Silas grabbed my hand, pulled me into him, and buried his face in the crook of my neck.

“Fuck, baby. I’m so mad at you. Why didn’t you run when I told you to?”

“And leave you behind? Never.”

He pulled back until I could see his face. It was easy to make out the frustration there.

“Let’s just get out of here,” Killian said.

Silas nodded and pulled me along, stopping only to pat Gregory on the back. “We owe you one.”

The older man shook his head. “You owe me nothing.”

Silas didn’t say anything as he pulled me away. I looked back at Gregory, and there was a strange look in his eyes that I couldn’t explain.

As if saving me had less to do with his partnership with the Tiernan brothers and more to do with something personal.

Only, what?