Page 18

I nod. I can imagine what it’s like going through dangerous shit together. People get attached when they go through traumatic experiences with others. Kind of like the military. Gang members think of themselves as a brotherhood, and Cole has always had a big heart. “Okay. I hope whatever it is, that it works out.”
He gives me a smile, and I know he’s thankful I’m not prying him for more information, but that’s only because he doesn’t realize I’m about to unleash a myriad of questions about something else.
“About Finn—”
“Jesus Christ.” Cole jumps to his feet. “What the fuck is it with people I love losing their head over fighters, regardless of goddamn gender?”
“So he does fight?” I ask in wonder, a smile peeling my lips apart.
Cole shakes his head, mumbling something about hormones and scientific reactions to badassery. I don’t know. It sounds like a bunch of weird words strung together, but he has a full-on conversation about it. “Let’s go back to the fact that you apologized to me for going out without a guard. I need to be able to trust that you’ll be smart when I’m gone, Leenie. I won’t be able to protect you, and I wouldn’t even do it, if this other thing wasn’t just as important to me as you are.”
I press my lips together. “I apologized already. But you have to see things from my point of view.”
“I do,” he confesses, stopping his own trail over the tile by glancing at me. “But when I’m gone, if you want to stay here, if you want me to stay here, you’re going to need guards. You’re going to need to be observant and careful. I have to vet everyone, Leenie. Everyone.”
Just from the dark spark in his eyes, and the fact that he so quickly went back to pacing the floor alerts me that something else might be going on. “Did something happen? Something I should be worried about?”
He lifts his shoulders.
“Cole…”
“We got a vague threat,” he rasps. “It’s probably bullshit, but since I’m going to be out of town, I’m taking it seriously. Everyone wants to take the leader of a gang down, Leen. I’ve had a bullseye on my back since I fought for the leader position. Everyone close to me has targets, too. I wish I could send you someplace safe, but the selfish part of me wants my family back since it’s one of the reasons why I stepped up.”
“I can handle it.”
“The consequences—”
I stand, my hands turning to fists. “Cole, I can handle it. I told you already I didn’t mourn your ass for years just to give up.”
For a moment, his defenses slip. Every single piece of armor he’s built up over himself since leaving the Heights—actually, scratch that. Since joining the Crew—starts to fall away. I step closer, winding my arms around him for the second time since he got back. The first time was in shock, an expression of excitement. This time, I’m hugging my brother because I care about him no matter who he is.
He returns the favor, squeezing me. Kissing my temple right through my hair, he says, “You’ve gotten taller.”
I push away. “Fuck off.”
He chuckles. “Whatever, shortie.” Placing his hands on his hips, he takes a deep breath. “Dempsey’s my second, so he’s going to stay with you while I’m gone. I’m taking quite a few people with me, but there are a shitton of Dragons in the area also.”
“Your second? I thought he was your guard.”
“He’s both.”
“Sooo, can I fuck him?” A laugh bubbles to the surface, disrupting my attempt at a straight face. Dempsey’s cool and all, but not where my kitten compass is pointing.
“You’re a brat.” But my joke has the desired effect on Cole. He starts to smile. “He’ll take care of things when I’m gone. I’ll be keeping in touch with him.”
“What’s he taking care of?” I ask, using air quotes around the words because I’m actually just wondering if “taking care of” means leaving someone’s dead body in an alleyway or something.
“Gaining control over the Crew and its territory. Takeovers don’t just happen overnight. There are tons of shit to wade through, and we have to vet everyone who wants to switch from Crew to Dragons. It’s a big clusterfuck, actually. Some guys started getting tattoos before we even offered them a spot.”
An image of the tool I met downstairs pops into view, and I wonder if he’s one of the ones who was way too overzealous to put his life on the line. “So eager.”
He hums in annoyance.
Studying my brother now, he looks so much better than when I first walked in. This is the longest conversation we’ve had since he returned. Things are going well, so it’s too bad I’m about to shake shit up again. “Oh leader of the Dragons, I do have a bone to pick with you.”
He raises an eyebrow in my direction.
“You can’t go threatening people I’m interested in.”