Page 7

Heat envelops me like a rushing inferno. He stands, running his hand back down my arm to tangle his fingers in mine. A short tug helps me to my feet, and he leads me back down the metal stairs. Before I lose sight of her, I turn to catch Jaz beaming and wiggling her fingers at me. All I can muster is an excited smirk.
Once again, Finn places a sure hand on my back as he leads me into the area surrounding the cage. A couple of guys nod his way. I recognize a few of them from fighting earlier. He greets them with fist bumps, but he never once takes his attention off me. Grasping my hand more solidly, he raises it above my head and makes me twirl before pulling me close, sliding a muscular thigh between my legs. It doesn’t matter that he’s still wearing joggers like he just ended a workout, he’s undeniably fine and the thin material makes for less of a barrier. Win-win.
I loop my hands around his neck, then drop one to his chest. My fingers skirt over the block lettering on his shirt: Elite Boxing. I lean forward to talk into his ear so he can hear me over the music. “Is this your gym?” I ask, pressing against his chest.
“Mm-hmm,” he hums, reaching down to grip my hip.
I can feel his pectoral muscles under his shirt. Even through his joggers, his corded muscles are prominent as he sways our hips together to the beat of the sultry music.
I’m so caught up in him I don’t immediately recognize the sudden influx of Dragon tattoos moving in around us, dancing in the empty pockets, some with girls, some grabbing girls to dance with. Finn stiffens, and that’s when I come out of my lust haze to take in my surroundings. “Maybe we should go back upstairs?” I hedge, feeling like we’re surrounded. I don’t recognize any of them yet, but that doesn’t mean they won’t recognize me.
I internally curse. The minute this guy gets wind of who I am, he’s going to run far, far away.
I pull away before he can, taking his hand, and leading him back toward the metal staircase in the corner. He quickly adjusts, placing his hand at the small of my back, but I can’t even enjoy it this time when I recognize someone walking in.
Motherfuck.
Turning to face Finn again, I stop us right there in the middle of the dance floor, trying to come up with another way to hide other than just giving the newcomer my back. I briefly think about just wrapping my arms and legs around Finn, hiding in a kiss. I mean, I’m forward, but I’m not that forward.
Instead, I have a front row seat for when Finn’s attention drifts away. He glares over my shoulder, jaw twitching. Leaning down, he whispers, “Why don’t you head upstairs? I have to take care of something.”
My body thrums. Why do I think we’re both pointedly upset about the same thing? Of course he’s heard of the Dragons, and by extension, my brother.
Best case scenario? Cole isn’t here. I can hide upstairs and wait for his guard to leave, and then we’ll be fine. Maybe he has the day off and came here to let off some steam like I did? Hell, maybe Finn and I can leave completely and hole up in my apartment for the rest of the night.
Before I can suggest anything, a familiar, hard voice sounds behind me. “Colleen.”
I close my eyes, the life draining out of me. I briefly look up at Finn in apology before turning around to meet the eyes of my brother: leader of the Dragons.
But maybe most importantly, major cockblocker.
4
Since Cole’s been gone, he’s perfected the stare down. I’m pretty sure if he looked at any of his lackeys with his cold, hard glare, they’d be shaking in their boots right now, but...I’m his sister, and that makes me immune.
For a moment, I think back to the Cole who left the Heights. My fun big brother. The one who was so boisterous and happy. The man in front of me is hard around the edges. When I peer into his eyes, I hardly recognize the brother I knew for the first part of my life. Not even just physically, but that unknown internal presence, too.
Outwardly, there’s the Dragon tattoo that tells the world who he is. His close-cropped hair shows off the different earrings in his ears, some studs, some hoops. He screams danger. If he was walking toward me on the sidewalk, I’d probably cross the street.
Finn must think so too because he steps in front of me. I frown at his back, but he’s so tall, he’s completely hidden my brother from view. I can only imagine the complete stare down Cole’s having with the man who dares hide his sister from him. “Cole,” Finn’s clipped words rumble from his chest.
I don’t know where my fun, happy guy went, but he’s certainly not here anymore. His bunched shoulders are poised to strike. I guess it was just wishful thinking that I’d be able to find someone who didn’t know my brother.
Guilt slices through me at that thought. I’ve cried myself to sleep countless times worried sick over what happened to Cole, and sometimes, I fear for how truly self-centered I really am when I get mad he’s back.
“Come out, Colleen,” Cole orders, not even bothering to return Finn’s greeting.
I step out, letting my displeasure show all over my face. I know it’s better to keep it to myself for now though. Cole can’t look like anything but the badass gangster he is in public. “Hey,” I mutter in a voice that he probably can’t hear over the music.
If possible, his eyes get even angrier as if he can’t believe the only thing I can muster is ahey.
I peer up at the second floor, hoping Jaz is witnessing this and might come down to act as a buffer. I shuffle my feet, more guilt clawing at me because Jesus, I’d already promised her I wouldn’t get her and Jared into the middle of this, and here I am looking for a scapegoat again.
“Cole, this is Finn,” I say instead.
“I know who Finn is,” my brother states simply, eyeing the man beside me.
Finn’s gaze settles on the side of my face. I swallow. I have to give him credit. One of these other guys probably would’ve backed away slowly by now, leaving me with my brother’s ire.