Page 28 of Avenging Azalea (California Made Men #2)

Chapter

Twenty

FAWN

My stomach had been tied up in knots since calling Titus. He’d sounded worried, but there was also a furious undertone. The last thing that I wanted was for Titus to be angry at us when this wasn’t our fault.

Steph was still knocked out, but she came to every so often saying the craziest stuff before passing out again. I wanted to take her to the hospital as soon as Titus arrived. Grabbing my phone, I looked at the time. It had been fifteen minutes. He would be here any second.

“You okay,” Oliver asked, and I nodded. “You don’t seem okay.”

“It’s just….”

Before I could get the words out, the office door slammed open like it had been blown off its hinges. Oliver jumped as high as I did when Titus marched in, looking like he was going to rip someone’s head off.

“Sir, you can’t come in here,” Oliver said.

Titus glared at the bouncer. “Like hell, I can’t.”

“I’m getting the manager.”

“Good, I want to speak to him,” Titus said, his voice cool and sharp like a blade’s edge.

His face was so dark and contorted with rage that it took every ounce of willpower in my body not to back away from him.

My stomach rolled as he walked toward me like a mountain bearing down on an ant.

I sucked in a ragged breath and held it, waiting for him to explode.

The pool had been one thing, but this…we’d talked about spiked drinks so many times.

A flash of my stepfather and the rages he got in while drinking filled my eyes, and I had to blink away the image and push down the fear that was trying to break free.

Titus didn’t yell at me. Instead, he looked me over like he expected a limb to be hanging off before cupping my face.

“Are you okay?”

That was by far the most popular question of the night.

I shuddered as he ran his thumbs over my cheeks. His voice was as kind as it always was, even with the hard edge. Just like that, the old fear wiped away, replaced with a wave of comfort.

“Yeah, I knew they were trouble. I was careful. Good thing because they almost assaulted Steph.”

Titus looked down at the couch and shook his head as his hands slowly dropped from my face. I wanted to grab them and force him to keep touching me.

“Do I want to know how you two got into a twenty-one and over club?”

In a blink, I’d gone from a confident, concerned friend and badass to a troublesome nineteen-year-old.

A thread of annoyance nibbled at me even though, technically, I was in the wrong.

It was the look in his eyes that had shifted, and I hated it.

I wanted to smack him and…I didn’t know what else, but something.

“Steph got us fake IDs, but I never drink alcohol if that’s what you’re thinking. We like to go to the older clubs because usually the atmosphere is better than the all-ages.”

He cocked a brow, but whatever he was about to say was cut off as a man walked into the office.

“What the hell is the meaning of this?”

Titus snarled like one of his dogs as he marched across the room and grabbed the guy by the front of his shirt. I stifled a gasp as Titus slammed the manager up against the wall. Oliver moved to intervene but stopped when Titus turned his icy stare in his direction.

“If you touch me, you’ll be the one leaving in a body bag.” Titus turned his attention back to the man he had pinned to the wall. “Do you know who I am?”

The man nodded, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Yes, you’re a Mikhailov.”

“I’m not just any Mikhailov. I’m Titus Mikhailov.

I want you to remember my name because here is what’s going to happen.

You’re going to give me all your security footage from tonight.

” Titus held up a finger when the manager opened his mouth.

“Don’t fucking tell me you can’t. I’ll get it one way or another, and if I have to crush you, your business, and your entire family, I will. Understand?”

My mouth dropped open. I’d never, not once, to anyone, for anything, heard Titus talk like this. He was on a whole other level of scary, one that I didn’t know he could achieve.

“Next, we’re going to discuss why no one noticed six guys corralling a stumbling female into the men’s washroom.

Even if it was too crowded for the bouncers to see, that is why you have cameras.

So, either the person manning the screens wasn’t paying attention, or you were paid to look the other way. ”

Titus’s fist tightened, and in a feat of strength that seemed fake online, he picked the man up with one arm.

The manager swatted at Titus, and I thought Oliver would try to jump in, but he stood looking as dumbfounded as I felt.

The terrified expression on the man’s face made me feel like I should step in or say something.

But I was frozen to the spot. Part of me even conceded that this was hot in a wildly inappropriate way.

“If I find out that you’re taking money from punks to look the other way so that they can take advantage of the women in this club, then the barrel of my gun will be the last thing you see.

Do you understand?” The manager’s mouth moved, but no words came out.

“I said, do you fucking understand,” Titus growled, and a shiver raced down my spine.

“Yes…yes, I understand.”

Titus let go, and the manager dropped to the ground but kept himself pressed against the wall all on his own. He reminded me of the videos I’d seen of the huntsman spiders in Australia. They would act like they were hidden in the middle of a white wall.

“Get me the footage, now. And if your people have tampered with it for even a minute….” Titus didn’t finish the sentence, but it wasn’t necessary.

The manager scurried out of the room like his ass was on fire.

Titus turned his attention to Oliver. The bouncer stood his ground, and I had to give him credit.

“If you know anything, son, this would be a really good time to tell me. Anyone associated with purposely harming women in this club will not breathe another day.”

Oliver shook his head. “I don’t know anything about that, and if I did, I’d tell you. Shit like that disgusts me, the guys who did this tonight….” He nodded toward Steph, whose eyes had fluttered open slightly. “They make me sick, and I’d happily hand them over on a silver platter.”

“Good to know.” Titus rubbed his chin with his thumb. “You military?”

“Was. But I never made it out of boot camp. Blew out my knee, needed surgery, and here I am. How did you know?”

“The way you stand. It’s a dead giveaway, no matter how long you serve. Can I see your cell?”

“I have nothing to hide,” Oliver said, pulling the phone out of his pocket. He unlocked it and handed it over.

Titus typed away on the phone and then handed it back.

“If you ever want to get out of this shithole, give me a call. I’m always on the lookout for good security.”

“Seriously?”

“Did you help Fawn?”

“Well…yeah, but all I really did was kick in a door. Fawn had pretty much taken down everyone else.”

Titus looked my way, and a glimmer of pride danced in his amber eyes.

“Is that so?”

“It is. I’m still happy to interview. I just wanted you to know the truth of what happened.”

“No need to interview. Any man who isn’t afraid to tell the truth or have a woman show him up is a man worth hiring. You have the job if you want it. You can start Monday.”

My whole body jerked as Steph grabbed my hand and scared the shit out of me. I’d almost forgotten that she was so close.

“Psst….”

I sat on the couch and held her hand as Titus and Oliver talked.

“Thaat wasss hottt,” she said.

“Which part?”

She waved her other arm toward the wall where Titus had held the manager.

“Allll of ittt.” Her head lolled to the side and then back at me before she pointed. “Whooo bee da hottieee,” she asked loud enough that Oliver looked over. Steph put her finger to her lips. “Shhhh yer bein too loud, theyyy hear youuu.”

“I think we should go get you checked out now,” I said.

She rolled her eyes, then passed out once more.

“What the heck am I going to do with you,” I whispered to Steph, but really, the question was for her and Titus.

Neither of them was going to answer, and I was at a loss where both were concerned.

TITUS

I hadn’t entered a hospital since I was a child, and in the last week, I’d been here for Savannah and now Steph.

Fawn was with her, and even though it hadn’t been Fawn who was drugged, the racing of my heart refused to slow.

It could’ve been her. The fear that had gripped me when she called choked me all the way to the club.

One side of me wanted Fawn to fly away, to get as far away as possible, and the other…the other was far more toxic, and it had almost broken free tonight. I’d almost killed that manager simply to release the pressure building inside me.

I couldn’t sit here anymore. Glancing at the examination room where Steph and Fawn were, I decided to make better use of my time and go see Nathaniel.

Standing and wandering along the brightly lit hallway, my mind chose to torture me further as it continued the internal battle that didn’t want to end.

The guard outside Savannah’s door nodded before allowing me to poke my head inside. Nathaniel was sound asleep on the bed. Savannah, on the other hand, was awake and reading a book. She looked up and waved me inside.

“It wasn’t anything important, just coming to say hi,” I said.

“At one in the morning,” Savannah asked, lifting her eyebrow at me. “You make it a habit to wander the halls of a hospital all hours of the night?”

“Shit…I didn’t even know it was that late. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I need the distraction. I’m not exactly a great patient. I’ve already worn Nathaniel out,” Savannah whispered, making me smile.

I sat down and didn’t have a clue what to say. My eyes bounced around the room, taking in the plain walls, random pictures that were supposed to be comforting, and the equipment that was in stark contrast to the abstract flowers.

“What’s bothering you?”

I shook my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know.”

“Sure you do. You just don’t want to say it out loud.”

“Have I told you that even ex-FBI agents sound like they are interrogating you?”

“I don’t need to be FBI to know that something is bothering you, Titus. You’re one of the most lighthearted and easy-going people I’ve ever met, and right now…you look like the world is sitting on your shoulders.”

“I look that bad?”

She smiled and shrugged, making me chuckle.

“I’m afraid to say the words out loud.”

“Is this about your father?”

“In a way. This arranged marriage to Vera, I…I don’t think I can go through with it, but I have no other options. Dimitri has gotten the whole family into hot water with very dangerous people, and marrying Vera helps eliminate the threat.”

“You agreed to marry her just before Nathaniel found me, right?” I nodded. “Why did you agree in the first place?”

“Because Ronan and Nathaniel wouldn’t. Not that I’m upset about you and Nathaniel. I did it to keep everyone from shooting each other.”

“And why don’t you want to?”

“My heart belongs to another,” I said and instantly read the sadness in Savannah’s eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. The marriage is only half the issue. The other half…I’m no good for her.”

Savannah snorted. “Okay, well, that’s bullshit.”

“No, it’s not. Look at you…you were shot because of this family. I don’t want anyone I care about put in a situation like that. I just…I want her to be happy, and now that there is this marriage contract…I can’t change my mind anyway.”

“I’m not sure what to say. This is quite the problem, but you should know that I wouldn’t change meeting Nathaniel. Yes, I was shot. Yes, we butt heads. Yes, it’s not easy, and there are always guards and dangerous situations, but…I lived that as an agent, and look what I gained.”

Savannah ran her fingers through Nathaniel’s hair. I hadn’t seen him so relaxed and not on edge since we were children.

“I could never regret a single moment shared, our children, or joining this crazy family. You, Helena, Kaylani, and Goran are our family, not just Dimitri. However, I would regret not hanging on to this love now that I have it. I know you said the marriage contract is unbreakable, but don’t let fear hold you back.

Let her decide what she wants. That is how you respect and love her. ”

“She has beautiful wings, untarnished by time. While mine are jaded and tattered by the darkness in this world,” I said.

“Who knows, maybe that is exactly why you work,” Savannah said.

“Maybe.”

I stood when Savannah yawned, but she grabbed my hand before I could walk away. Her eyes spoke to me, but she didn’t push.

“Thank you for stopping by and for standing by Nathaniel. It means a lot to both of us.”

I squeezed her hand. “Like you said, we’re family, and family doesn’t do what our father did. Get some rest so you can continue to kick my brother’s ass.”

“I heard that,” Nathaniel mumbled, making me and Savannah laugh.

Walking out, I made my way back over to Steph’s exam room and spotted Fawn sitting in a chair. Her head was back against the wall, and her eyes were closed. I stopped and soaked in her beauty. I’d always been the person who knew exactly what to do, but now…I’d never felt so lost.

My phone rang before I could take another step.

“Did you find them,” I asked Naji, answering the phone.

“Of course.”

“Are they still breathing,” I asked, never taking my eyes off of Fawn’s resting face.

“Barely.”

I licked my lips and said words that further darkened the shadows that painted my wings, but I would say them a million times to keep Fawn safe.

“Make an example of them,” I ordered.

“You got it,” Naji said.

“Oh and Naji…lets make sure the manager of, Club VYCE, understands he will be next if we hear of anything like this happening again.”

“With pleasure, boss.”

No one hurt my family. That was one Mikhailov trait I would proudly keep.