Chapter 4
Kael
Caine sat at the head of the long oak table.
Raziel leaned against the wall near the window, arms crossed.
I stood by the bar cart, pouring myself a drink I had no intention of finishing.
They both watched me with raised eyebrows after I told them what happened with Bria.
She was back at my place, sleeping off her first brutal night.
“I caught a bullet helping Maya rescue her,” Caine said, staring directly at me. “Now you’d kidnap her? This is going to cause some kind of trouble. You and Malachai are two peas in the same fucking crazy pod.”
I remained silent, swirling the whiskey once before setting the glass down untouched.
Raziel let out a dry chuckle. “Maya’s been blowing up my phone asking about Bria. She thinks you’re going to kill her or some shit.”
I finally looked at them both. “She’s not dead. She’s detoxing.”
Caine leaned forward, jaw tight. “Her parents actually agreed to this madness?”
“They’re tired,” I said flatly. “They’ve watched her kill herself for years. They know she won’t get clean any other way.”
Raziel pushed off the wall. “And what happens when she comes out the other side? You think she’s just going to thank you for the kidnapping and spread her legs?
Maya said Bria’s been through hell with Darius.
She’s not some fragile little thing that’s going to fall in love with her captor just because you play nurse. ”
I met his eyes. “She’ll stay.”
Caine stared at me for a long moment.
“Why her?” he asked.
Raziel nodded. “That’s actually a good question.”
I looked toward the dark window overlooking the water. Images flashed through my head—Bria asleep in my passenger seat, Bria laughing at something stupid Maya said, Bria curled up sick on my bathroom floor, Bria trying so hard to pretend she wasn’t afraid.
She was always one bad decision away from a morgue.
“I know what happens if I let her go,” I said quietly. “She dies. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not next month. But eventually. And I can’t stand the thought of losing her.”
I paused, my gaze dropping to the whiskey.
“It didn’t make sense at first. I just kept looking for her. Kept checking where she was. Kept making excuses to see her. Somewhere along the way, I stopped making excuses… and started thinking about keeping her.”
Caine laughed, short and sharp. “Jesus Christ. You sound exactly like Malachai did when he first saw Indigo. Look how well that worked out for everyone involved. I’d hide the knives if I were you.”
“Bria is nothing like Indigo,” I said in her defense. “Indigo was a violent little brat.”
Raziel rubbed the back of his neck. “Look… we’re not saying let her go. Not if she’s really that far gone. But you need to be smart about this. Maya’s involved. You know how she gets about her friends.”
“Her parents agreed,” I replied. “I don’t see how this is Maya’s problem.”
Caine shook his head. “This family has enough heat right now. Between Malachai and Indigo’s chaos… we don’t need another war started over a girl. Especially one tied to her ex.”
I looked between them, my voice low and final.
“Fuck Darius. He’s a lowlife fresh out of prison with very little power. She’s already mine. The only question is how messy the transition is going to be.”
Caine stared at me for a long second, then leaned back in his chair with a tired sigh.
“Will you at least let Zia check on her?”
I nodded. “Fine.”
“Fuck it,” he muttered. “Just try not to get any of us killed over your little rabbit. We’ve already bled enough for one year.”
Raziel smirked faintly. “This is very… you, cousin.”
I didn’t smile back.
I just picked up the whiskey again and took a slow sip.
Bria was back at my house right now—shaking, crying, cursing my name. She was a mess, but I’d burn this entire city down before I let her go.