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Chapter 15

Ryder

Who did that fucker think he was?

Barreling forward, red-faced, all I could see was his hand onmygirl’s shoulders. Twirling a piece of hair around his finger. Addie seemed oblivious, eyes wide in her beautiful, dewy face.

When Enzo disappeared down the hall, she remained staring after him, mouth agape.

“Kitten,” I moaned, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into a hug. Her body was limp, flaccid, against my own, shock coursing through her like electrical waves. “Are you okay?”

I was distantly aware of Fallon barking orders at Asher and Declan to follow Enzo. Ronan moved so he was behind her, hands resting gently on her shoulders.

“I’m fine. I just...what was he doing here?” she groused, peering up at me from beneath sooty lashes.

I had recognized the fuck waffle the second I had laid eyes on him.

Enzo Angelo. Son of Julius Angelo, a known gun provider on the black market.

We hadn’t investigated Julius in depth - our target being Addie and her parents - but we knew enough to be wary. To stay clear.

To have Enzo here…

It was only bad fucking news.

“We need to leave,” I sniped at Fallon, pulling my face away from the crook of Addie’s neck and resting my chin on her head. She remained huddled against me, tiny tremors reverberating through her body. Addie spoke before Fallon could.

“We can’t,” she said softly.

“What do you mean, Princess?” injected Ronan softly. His eyes emanated a certain warmth I had only ever seen when he was around our woman.

“If Enzo knows anything about my parents and what they’re after, he’ll tell them where we are, right?” Before we could agree, she plowed on. “I trust you guys to protect me. If we stay, we might be able to finally end this. Once and for all.” Her gaze captured each of our own, imploring us to see things the way she did.

In her mind, this was a chance to end things.

In ours, it was a chance for her to get injured or killed.

Nothing was more paramount than her safety. Nothing.

But Fallon’s face was drawn tight, a frown marring his gruff features. I recognized the look in his eyes...consideration.

Ronan read it at the same time I did and straightened, thick muscles bulging in an attempt to look more intimidating.

“You can’t possibly be thinking of staying?” my brother asked in disbelief.

“She has a point,” Fallon conceded. “If Enzo isn’t involved, then the worst that happened was meeting up with a pervy fuckboy. If Enzo is involved, then we might be able to stop this. Cut the monster’s head off. Confront them.”

Addie wiggled against me, and I reluctantly released her, kneading her ass once. She jumped, glaring at me over her shoulder, but I merely winked at her. The normality, the banter, was something I craved.

She moved to Tam and wound her thin arms around his waist. His cheeks turned bright red, but he hugged her to him as if afraid she would disappear in thin air. I wasn’t jealous or even upset that she left me for him. Obviously, she read something on his face that hinted he needed her more than I did at the moment.

“Fine,” I bit out. “But we’re all staying together the entire night. And at least two on guard at all fucking times.”

“Agreed.” Fallon nodded once.

Before I could place my next request, Declan and Asher reappeared on the edges of our makeshift huddle, faces red with anger.

“He’s gone,” Asher spat out, the normally cheerful smile replaced by a brooding scowl. His eyes were cold, glacial, in his face reminding me once more that behind the boy-next-door facade, Asher was a merciless killer.