Chapter 10 Gwen
“Get your fucking hands off my sister, asshole.”
I jolted at Ethan’s snarl and tried to move away from Cin, but he wasn’t having it. His head lifted, and he met my brother’s furious gaze. A muscle in his jaw pulsed.
“Careful,” Cin warned with a growl.
Ethan held a gun aimed at Cin’s head. “Saw you climb through Gwen’s window.” He pulled back the hammer and cocked the gun with his thumb. “Tell me why I shouldn’t shoot you right now.”
“Because I’m not an intruder,” Cin answered.
I stared between them, horrified that one of them was about to get hurt. The odds weren’t on Ethan’s side even if he did have a weapon. “Please don’t hurt each other.”
Cin’s upper lip lifted, and I swear he bared his teeth like the predator I always imagined him to be. “Point that barrel away from your sister before I make you.”
Ethan’s eyes strayed to my face. “Fuck.” He lowered the gun and returned the hammer to its relaxed position. “Sorry, G. Wasn’t pointing it at you. I’d never do that.”
“Oh, Ethan. I know.” I tried to leave Cin’s arms again, but he held me firmly in place.
“Not releasing you as long as he’s holding a weapon.”
“Cin, stop. He’s my brother. You’re being ridiculous,” I huffed.
“Seen too much gun violence and plenty of accidents, baby. Shit happens. You can’t unfire a bullet.”
He had a point, but Ethan would never risk hurting me after losing Becka. To prove it, he walked to my closet and placed the gun inside. “It’s on your shoe shelf.”
A shoe shelf. It was almost funny. “That’s probably a good place for it right now.”
“Yeah, it is,” Cin agreed before he kissed me, finally letting me free of his hold.
Ethan still looked agitated. He glared at Cin. “Who the fuck is this guy, G? You dating him or something?”
“You could say that,” I replied, moving closer to my brother. “We met a couple of weeks ago.”
He tilted his head. “We buried Becka two weeks ago.”
“I know.”
“You met him during the fucking funeral?” Ethan’s voice rose along with his anger. “What the fuck?”
Cin stepped in front of me. “Watch it, or I’ll be throwing you out of the apartment. Don’t fucking tempt me.”
Ethan flipped him off. “Fuck you.”
Cin bristled. “You don’t want me to get angry.”
“Why? You the fucking Hulk?” Ethan dismissed him and turned back to me. “We gotta talk, G. Now.”
“I know,” I sighed. I meant to mention Cin to Ethan, but I didn’t know how to bring him up in conversation.
“Alone.”
“Not gonna happen,” Cin growled.
I pressed my hand to Cin’s chest. “Hey, big guy. I know you’re being protective right now, and I appreciate it, but this is my brother. I’d like a few minutes alone with him.”
Cin rolled his shoulders back. “Fine. Gonna take a ride. Text if you need me.”
“I will.”
He slid an arm around my back and hauled me into his chest, kissing me in front of my brother in a way that marked ownership. It wasn’t because he felt threatened. I think he did it because he was agitated and we got interrupted. He really didn’t like Ethan pointing a gun at either of us.
“I want an apology when I get back,” he snarled at Ethan, picking up his shirt, cut, and boots on the way out.
My brother, not giving a shit, flipped him off again.
As soon as we were alone, I put on a pot of tea and popped a vanilla coffee in the Keurig.
Ethan watched me, sighing more than once. “Why did you keep this a secret?”
“I didn’t intend to,” I replied with honesty. “It just happened.”
He snorted at that. “And what? He accidentally shoved his tongue down your throat? Are you sleeping with him?”
“That’s none of your damn business,” I snapped, pointing to the Keurig. “Get your own coffee.”
“Christ, Gwen.” He approached me and lifted his hands. “I’m sorry. Okay? I saw some shady-looking dude climbing into your bedroom window. I thought you were in danger.”
I was. Of being shown a really good time.
“He would never hurt me.”
“How was I supposed to know that? Why doesn’t he use the door like a normal person? Climbing the fire escape is fucking nuts.”
It did look bad. “I know it seems that way.”
“You know he’s in a biker gang, right? He’s wearing one of those leather vests. The Grave Prowlers MC.”
Ugh. “You’re not really going to sit here and pass judgment, are you? Because that’s bullshit, and you know it.”
Ethan scrubbed his hand down his face and over the scruff on his jaw. “You barely know him, G.”
“Isn’t the whole point of dating someone to get to know them better?” I asked softly, resting a hand on his arm.
“He’s dangerous.”
“Not to me, Ethan. He’s protection.”
“Really? You telling me that you’re fucking him, so he’ll keep you safe? From what? Or who?” He suddenly looked spooked. “Has something happened?”
“Matt Marshall, remember?”
“I forgot all about him.” Ethan snatched his coffee and walked into the living room, drinking it without creamer. “Fuck, G. You think we’re next?”
“No. Cin said he’s looking into it.”
Ethan arched a brow. “The biker’s name is Sin?”
Nobody got it right the first time, including me. “Short for Cinerator.”
“Like an incinerator oven? Come on.”
“It’s a road name, I guess. Biker names aren’t real names.”
“Do you know his real name?”
I didn’t want to answer because I never learned it, not that Cin kept it from me, even if that was how it appeared.
“No. He never told you.” My brother shook his head. “That guy is nothing but walking red flags.”
“I think I love him,” I replied, folding my hands in my lap as I sat, my tea growing cold in the mug on the coffee table.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m serious.”
“Two fucking weeks, G. You’ve only known this guy for two weeks.”
“How long did it take you to know you were in love with Tiffany?” It was a bit of a low blow, since they never could sort their shit out.
“That’s fucked.” His cup slammed onto my coffee table, and the contents sloshed over the side. Ethan didn’t notice. “I’m disappointed in you, Gwen. After your last relationship and how that motherfucker put you in the hospital—”
“What the fuck did you just say?” Cin snarled.
Nice. My pissed-off biker was back.
Ethan swung his head in Cin’s direction. “Yeah. Bet she didn’t tell you that yet, huh? Her last boyfriend put his hands on her, and she ended up in the hospital. If I’m a little protective, you understand why. Nobody is going to hurt her like that again.”
Cin cracked his neck. “Give me his name.”
Oh, no. “Cin,” I began.
His snarl ended in a growl that nearly shook the room. “No, Gwen. Don’t rationalize it. I want his fucking name.”
“Why?” Ethan challenged. “You gonna kill him?”
“No.” Cin smiled, and I never saw anything so scary. “I’ll just make sure he wishes he was.”
“I’m in.” Ethan stood and walked toward the door. “The fucker got outta prison yesterday morning. I want to make sure he never comes looking for my sister.”
“Done. I need to make a phone call first.” Cin dialed a number, and someone must have answered because he started giving orders.
“Need you at my ol’ lady’s place. I’ll text the address...
Yeah, Gwen... You’ve got ten fucking minutes, prospect.
” He hung up and turned to me. “Sending protection. Don’t leave the apartment tonight. ”
My hands went straight to my hips. His Neanderthal ways were starting to irritate me. Probably because I was a bit on edge. Becka and Marshall were murdered. My ex was out of prison early, and no one notified me. Would the CPO I had even matter if Max came after me?
“Baby, listen to me. You’re not safe until I take care of this guy. If I can’t be here, I’m sending someone I trust. Feel me?”
“I’m trying.”
“Hey, what’s his name?” He tried again and gentled his voice.
“Max Roberts. I have a CPO. He’s not supposed to contact me.”
“That won’t stop someone like him, baby.”
I was afraid of that, but I didn’t think I had to worry about it since he wasn’t supposed to be released for another year.
“Hey.” Cin tilted my chin up until our eyes met. “Need you to breathe. You’re safe. Got a prospect who will watch your place all night. If you’re scared, wave at him from your bedroom window, and he’ll come up and stay in the living room while you sleep.”
“You’re not planning to come back tonight, are you?”
Cin shook his head. “No.”
“It’s going to get bloody, isn’t it?”
“He already earned his fate when he hit you.”
I didn’t feel sorry for Max. He deserved whatever punishment Ethan and Cin handed out. “Okay.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, you will. Wanna know why?” His head dipped lower.
“Because I’m a badass?”
“Because you’re my ol’ lady.”
Ol’ lady? “Is that a compliment?”
“In biker terms, you’re the equivalent of a wife. Respected. Cherished. Protected by the club.”
“Wow.”
“It’s a big deal. We’ll talk about it later. Yeah?”
“Okay.”
I heard a motorcycle pull onto the lot, and Cin dropped a kiss on my lips before peeking out the window.
“Prospect is here. I’m headin’ out.”
After another kiss, he left me, ordering me to lock up tight, which I did.
It was going to be a long night.
I DIDN’T HEAR FROM Cin or Ethan all night. After sending them several texts that went unanswered, I finally went to bed. When I woke, it was after eight, and the sun’s bright beams of light were pushing through the gaps in my blinds.
After a mug of hot peppermint tea and a shower, I sat down at my craft table to get a little work done.
It took a few hours to pack the orders and film my next video for my YouTube Channel.
Dreamweaver Crafts had a decent following, and I knew my customers were going to love the new designs I came up with.
By noon, I was bored—still no communication from the guys.
When my phone finally vibrated with an incoming text, I nearly dropped it in my excitement. It wasn’t Cin or Ethan.
Penny, from the women’s shelter, sent an invitation for coffee. I accepted.
Cin couldn’t get cranky because he said not to leave my apartment overnight. This was midday.
I grabbed my keys and purse and left the building, walking toward my truck when I spotted the young guy on his bike wearing a black leather vest. It had no patches. He shook his head at me. “Where are you going?”