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I release a growl of anger and frustration when she physically pries my arms from around her waist and pushes to her feet.

“Otherwise, I’ll have to disappear again, and you can stop glaring at me. Hate to break it to you, K, but I’ve endured far worse than mean mugging. I won’t be responsible for someone’s death. That’s why I stayed away, to protect you, and to protect him. The second my father realizes Viktor didn’t do what he was ordered to do, he won’t be the only one who’ll fall. You know damn fucking well my father will order the execution of Viktor’s entire family, and he’ll probably have them all killed right in front of Viktor before he kills him.”

Brix is glowering at Kato before turning pleading eyes to Everest.

“We’ll get him out,” he says before turning those hard eyes on the man who might be our brother from another mother, but is also our boss. If Kato really wanted, he could have both of us cut down right where we sit with nothing more than a word to one of his guards.

But he won’t, because he loves Everest as much as we do.

Fuck, I hope that’s the case. Because if this asshole decides to off one or both of us, there’s no way in hell Everest will ever forgive him.

“You think you’ll just walk out the door again?”

Fucking Kato and his big fucking mouth.

Everest tilts her head to the side and stares at Kato for a few heartbeats, and I swear I can physically feel her rage building in the room, stealing the oxygen until it’s fucking stifling and uncomfortable in here.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” she says, her voice low and deadly.

Holy shit. Why the hell is that so sexy? I should not be turned on by her anger, but I’m pretty sure there isn’t a damn thing she could do that wouldn’t make my dick hard.

Kato doesn’t speak, just continues glaring at her, his hands clasped in front of his mouth. Maybe he’s trying to keep shit in, to keep from blurting out more stupid bullshit.

Because that’s exactly what he did, said stupid shit, the kind of shit that could make my girl run again.

No way in hell will I allow that to happen. I’ll walk away from my brothers, from this life, if it means staying by her side.

And you know what? I don’t give a fuck if that makes me sound completely pussy whipped. I have never felt the way about another living soul the way I’ve felt for Everest since the moment I saw her as a girl instead of simply a friend.

I can honestly and confidently say I’ve been in love with Everest since I was thirteen. That’s a long fucking time to carry a torch for someone. I won’t let Kato or Dima Sidorov or any other cocksucker on this planet take her away from me again.

“You can try, and I’ll find you again and drag you right back here,” Kato says.

My mouth pops open the same time Brixton’s fist slams on the tabletop.

But neither of us have a chance to do shit, because Everest closes the few feet between her and Kato, raises a hand, and slaps him right across the face.

Not quite a nut shot, but the sound of skin against skin bounces against the walls and a red outline of her hand is already blooming on his cheek. I know that shit has to sting.

Kato’s head stays to the side a second as a muscle jumps in his jaw.

Then he lunges to his feet, the chair he was occupying slamming to the ground with his quick motion.

To Everest’s credit, she doesn’t budge, doesn’t cower, simply lifts her chin and widens her stance as though ready to take whatever Kato dishes out.

Brix and I are on her feet within a nanosecond of Kato standing, because no fucking way will I let anyone lay a finger on her. I don’t give a shit about my relationship to Kato. I don’t give a shit that he’s technically my boss or the closest thing I have to family aside from Brix and Everest.

No one will ever hurt my girl again.

But Kato doesn’t touch her. Doesn’t lunge for her. He simply stands there heaving deep breaths, his nostrils flaring with each exhale.

Oh, he’s pissed. There’s no mistaking that, and I can tell he’s fighting with his instincts to punish her.

Spanking her ass or fucking her pussy raw is one thing, but I won’t allow him to raise a hand to her in anger. It was hard enough watching him wrap his hand around her throat to keep her from speaking.

If he’d just kept his fucking head straight, we might have learned the truth that first night we found her, or even the first morning she woke here.

Everest’s hands are balled into fists. I’m not sure whether she’s preparing to defend herself or if she’s thinking aboutclocking Kato again. As long as I’m around, she’ll never have to defend herself again. I’ll rip the throat out of any motherfucker who even so much as thinks about hurting her.