37. Ignacio #4
I ignore him. At least, until he gets up in my face and shoves my shoulder.
Unfortunately, it’s the side that was grazed.
Obviously, taking a bullet for the asshole didn’t do shit.
Ajax gives a warning growl, and I’m tempted to let him take care of the issue, but fuck that.
This guy has been on my last nerve for a while now, and it looks like it just snapped.
Without thinking, I grab my knife, putting it right to Joel’s throat.
“Look, you asshole. I don’t give a shit what you think.
You will not get in my way. If you don’t trust your brother to make his own choices, that’s on you.
If you don’t like me, that's also on you. I don’t give a shit.
What does matter is that you’re in my way.
And that isn’t going to happen anymore.”
With that, I move quickly and slice his upper arm, giving him a matching mark to mine. It's a reminder that if it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t even be here to keep talking shit. He hisses at the pain, fury lighting his eyes before it dissipates quicker than I thought possible.
He throws his head back, a deep roar of laughter escaping. “Damn. It’s about time you actually grew a pair. Fine, if you want the dog, get the dog and let’s go. We don’t need to waste any more time here.”
I breathe deeply, unwilling to get into a further pissing contest with him. It’s bad enough that Jayden is already going to be on my ass about getting hurt. If I damage his brother further, I risk taking an even longer punishment. Though fuck if it isn’t tempting.
“Let’s go, Ajax. You’ll be better off with us. We’ve got other dogs you can play with, and plenty of people to love on you.”
I follow Joel to the SUV. The hard drive and files in a bag we grabbed from the kitchen are in one hand, and the leash is in another. Thankfully, Ajax doesn’t pull, so he must have had some training. That’ll hopefully make things easier.
When we get to the SUV, I consider fighting over who drives, considering we’re both still somewhat bleeding.
Although not heavily, since we took a moment to patch ourselves up as best as possible, not wanting to leave more forensics in the house.
As is, Leandro or Hollis are going to need to take care of the records from the police, because I couldn’t get the damn bullet out of the wall, and that’ll have my blood on it.
I decide it’s not worth fighting, and let Ajax into the back as I take the passenger seat again.
When we pull out, I tip my head back and close my eyes, ready for the day to end, and dreading Jayden’s response.
Pissed is an understatement. I’m just not sure how angry he’s going to be over the fact I hurt his brother.
“Are you pouting, Princess?” Joel breaks the silence as we get closer to the house, his tone only slightly mocking compared to what he has been.
I open one eye with a grunt. “More trying to determine how much trouble I’m going to be in with your brother for hurting you.”
“Not nearly as bad as I’ll be in with Tennant for letting you get a swipe in.”
Joel’s laugh is strained, and for a moment, it doesn’t click for me. When it does, my jaw drops and my insides freeze with horror.
Opening my other eye, I turn to stare at Joel. “Oh, we’re both fucked.”
I forgot Tennant is the trainer, and from what I hear, he’s now a Voice. Technically, that means training is now solely my job, which… oh shit. I start to laugh, unable to stop.
“Fuck. I just realized. I’m going to be the Head Trainer now for everyone. Your ass is mine. And I’ll be sure to see you on the mats—if Tennant leaves me anything to work with.”
Joel scowls, but keeps his mouth shut. Yeah, that’s right, asshole. You may be my Sir’s big brother, but on the mats, I’m in charge. I don’t voice it, but I must think it loud enough that he can tell from my expression, because his face darkens in frustration.
My joy lasts only until we pull up to the mansion and exit the SUV. Because before I can even enter the house, Jayden steps out, his arms crossed as he glares from me to his brother and back again.
Yeah. I’m fucked. This is just great… I stumble to a stop, trying to smile innocently, but Jayden’s expression hardens further, and suddenly, I worry if I’ll even survive long enough to put Joel on the mats, because fuck. That…does not look promising.
“Leandro let me know you’d been injured. Although he didn’t mention my brother was hurt too. Let’s get you both inside, and take you to see Doc. And then the two of you can explain—in detail—what the hell happened.”
I glance down at Ajax, whose tail wags, obviously not scared of Jayden at all. I wish I had that level of courage because I may be orphaning Ajax all over again… Joel and I don’t say anything as we meekly follow Jayden.
Doc is waiting outside the medical suite, and his icy look is enough to have me hesitating even further as he barks out, “That animal is not coming in here.”
Lio pops out from who the hell knows where, his eyes lighting up. “I’ll take him!”
I manage to convey some amount of information to Lio, although fuck if I know what it even is at this point. And then I hang my head, turning back toward Doc. Why the hell couldn’t Sarah be available? This is going to suck…
Door one, a pissed off Dom. Door two, an ornery Doc. And oh, it looks like I actually get door three…both of them at once. Fuck my life.