Chapter 8
Kai
I’m leaning against the brick wall with my arms crossed, across from the bathroom. My jaw is clenched so tight it might crack.
I told myself I’d give Mikey five minutes. It’s just enough time to calm her down and avoid me barging in and making things worse.
That was three minutes ago…
I don’t hear any words at first, but I do hear a broken sob. My spine goes stiff… Something’s wrong.
I push off the wall and move closer to the door. The music from the bar fades behind me as I hear Mikey’s low, soothing voice.
“... Princess, look at me.”
My stomach twists because he only uses that voice when he’s in deep.
“You’re safe… With me, you’re always safe.” His voice is protective and final.
Then I hear Julia’s voice. It’s barely there, but I can pick it out.
“You can’t say that. You don't know where I come from.”
I freeze. Not “I have a shitty ex” or “I’m scared of commitment.”
No. This shit is deeper than that.
His voice continues, “That’s the thing, Princess. I don’t care. I don’t care if your dad is the pope or a cartel leader, you’re not going to scare me away.”
Cartel. The fucking Cartel?
My hands curl into fists at my side.
I fucking knew it. I knew something about her didn’t add up. What the fuck are we going to do? Get involved with a girl from the Cartel? That’s a suicide mission at its fucking finest.
Julia’s voice cracks again, and I turn my attention back to the conversation in the bathroom. “Everyone I get close to gets hurt.”
I take a slow breath through my nose. My rage fills my bones. This isn’t just some girl my brother hooked up with… she’s trouble and fucking dangerous.
She’s trauma wrapped up in soft skin and golden brown eyes. Causing a fucking vortex of whatever the fuck this connection is.
And Mikey… he’s already drowning.
Then I hear the sound that seals my fate in this fucking mess.
“I don’t want to lose you either.” Her voice is small and broken.
Well fuck…
My vision starts to tunnel. I can hear the truth in her words. Hear the way she clings to him, and can hear the way she feels safe with him… something she probably hasn't had in a long damn time.
And what could be worse?
I hear myself wanting it too…
The jealousy hits me like a puck to the ribs. I hear fabric shift, and her breath hitch, and my chest fucking burns.
I shouldn’t be listening, shouldn’t want what he has, and sure as hell shouldn't feel the pull towards a girl who might get us both killed.
But yet here I stand… like gravity pulling me towards the door, and the bathroom goes quiet. The only sound I can hear is their breathing, and I finally take a step back. I need to walk away before I do something stupid, like rip the door off its fucking hinges.
When the door finally opens, Mikey steps out first, one hand resting on her back, like he is protecting her from the world.
All I can do is stand there and stare at her. She is clinging to my brother like he’s the only oxygen left in the room.
Mikey notices me and narrows his eyes.
“Don’t,” he warns.
I lift my hands in surrender, even though my blood is boiling. “Relax. I’m not here to steal your girl.”
His nostrils flare.
Julia looks between us, confused.
“Are you okay?” I ask her gently.
She nods, but I can tell it’s a lie. I can see her fingers are still trembling.
“Let’s get out of this hallway,” Mikey says as he guides her past me.
But as she walks by, I lean in just enough for her to hear me, “Whatever you’re scared of… we can handle it.”
She freezes in her tracks, and her eyes snap up to mine.
She stares at me for a split second, I hear her breath stop, and I can see in her eyes that she believes me.
Kai Monroe–The fuck up, fighter, smart ass twin– just made her breath stop.
Mikey notices and glares at me. “This isn’t a fucking competition,” He grits out.
“It never was,” I say quietly. “But she’s not just yours.”
His jaw tightens, and his hands ball into fists. He is ready to hit me.
Julia steps between us and looks from me to Mikey. “Please…” She whispers. “Not here.”
We both shut up instantly. Neither of us can say no to her, and honestly, that should scare the shit out of us.
She turns and walks ahead of us toward the bar, and for once, Mikey and I are both silent.
But I know he can feel the shift in the air, and the truth hanging between us.
We are both in this now, we’re both hers now.
And whoever she’s running from? They’re not taking her from either of us.
The second we step back into the main part of the bar, the noise hits me. The music is thumping, glasses clinking, and guys yelling over a pool table. The rest of the team is crowded around two high-top tables pushed together, already halfway through their drinks.
The moment they see Julia between us, everyone goes dead quiet for a half a second, then the chirping starts.
Luca whistles low. “Damn, she didn’t run away from you two? Miracles do happen.”
Cross elbows Sinclair in the ribs, and smiles. “Look at them. Twin guard dogs.”
Sinclair nods like he is analyzing a fucking crime scene. “If one more person even looks at her wrong, Kai’s gonna break a chair over someone’s spine.”
He’s not wrong.
Mikey guides Julia to the table and pulls out her chair. He claims the seat to the right of her, so I take the seat on the left side, trapping her between us.
Her eyes flick between the two of us like she’s not sure if she wants to scream, faint, or kiss us both.
Probably all three.
I can tell she is still rattled. Her hands are trembling as she reaches for her water. Mikey also notices and rubs his knee against hers under the table. Mine does the same a second later. I feel her stop trembling for a moment.
Cross leans forward with wide eyes. “So, Julia, is this like… a Snow White thing? But instead of the dwarfs, you get the Monroe twins?”
Mikey looks at him and shakes his head. “Cross, shut the fuck up.”
Luca laughs. “Bro, relax. She likes you. You’re glowing.”
“I’m not glowing,” Mikey snaps.
“Yeah, you are,” I say, sipping my beer. “You look like you got laid for the first time in your life.”
The table erupts in laughter and cheers.
Mikey rolls his eyes at me. “Fuck off.”
Julia blushes, but there is also a little spark in her eyes; embarrassed but amused. Good. Anything that isn’t fear is good.
Mel returns with shots, and I roll my eyes. Of course she does. She hands two to Julia.
“For courage,” she says with a wink.
Julia downs both shots like she’s trying to drown the entire last hour.
Mikey leans closer to her, “You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to.”
She looks up at him with mischief gleaming in her eyes. “Oh, I want to.”
I swear to god the growl that leaves my throat is involuntary.
Sinclair raises a brow at me. “Damn. Kai’s down bad.”
“I’m not down bad,” I mutter.
“Yes, you are,” Mikey fires back instantly.
The whole team turns and watches us like they’re witnessing a car crash they can’t look away from.
Julia drags her teeth across her bottom lip, a nervous habit maybe, but it sends a shock through both of us. Mikey’s fingers tap on the table, and my jaw clenches.
When she notices, her cheeks flush, the tension ratchets up until even Luca looks uncomfortable.
He whistles and stands. “Alright, boys, I’m gonna go… talk to someone who won’t end up as a homicide headline.”
The team disperses slowly, leaving only the three of us in our bubble of heated silence.
Julia is the first to break the silence. “Are you guys okay?”
“No,” Mikey says honestly, as her eyes lock on her.
“Not even close,” I add.
She swallows hard, and her fingers twist in the hem of her hoodie.
“I didn’t mean to make things weird.”
“You didn’t,” Mikey says, turning towards her. “This is on us.”
“And I don't regret a fucking second of it,” I add, leaning in also.
She’s panned between us, her cheeks flushed, and her breathing is fast. For the first time since she left the bathroom, she looks overwhelmed, but in a good way.
The front door opens with a loud bang, and a gust of cold air sweeps in.
Three men in suits walk in. They are clearly not normal clientele here.
I feel Julia go rigid beside us, as she stares at the men like she’s seen a ghost.
Mikey stiffens, “Princess… who are they?”
The tallest one scans the room, with that trained eye you see Mafia men have in movies, and my veins ice over.
They are security, but not her security, from how scared she looks.
Julia whispers so low, you can barely hear her. “I need to leave. Now.”
Mikey and I stand instantly, and every protective instinct I’ve ever had is screaming.
Whoever these fucking men are, they’re not taking her.
Not from us, not tonight, not ever.