Page 90 of Fractured Future

“What are you doing here?”

I manage to pull her slightly away from the man eyeing me like a piece of meat he’d like to pummel.

“Bringing you home, obviously. We need to go.”

“No.” She yanks her elbow from my grip, visibly seething. “I’m here to speak to Blaine. I want to know why he saved me in Mexico and what he wants from us.”

“And you thought walking head-first into his territory, surrounded by his people, was a good idea?”

“Better than sitting at home like a prisoner and doing nothing!”

“You could’ve been killed tonight! Or even taken again!”

Ember scoffs, lips twisting in a sneer. “I can handle myself.”

“Against bought and paid for operatives looking to drag you back to Mexico? Trained professional killers? Or Madden’s insane crew?”

Throwing on her jacket, Ember’s neck and throat have flushed a deep shade of pink. I have a feeling I’m going to be on the receiving end of her wrath shortly.

“You won’t let me help. You won’t let me fight. I can’t even leave the house without an escort. What the fuck am I supposed to do?”

“Be safe!” I hiss back, checking to ensure no one is listening to us. “If you got taken again or worse… What do you think that would do to Tom? Or us? Or me?”

“Then give me the chance to fight back! Train me! Anything!”

Ember shoves my chest, stalking off towards the warehouse’s entrance. Relief blurs with my shock at her words. Axel suggested something similar a couple of weeks ago, but I didn’t pay much attention.

Is that what she wants?

I glance over my shoulder, a cold stab shooting through me when my eyes lock with Madden’s midnight spheres. That stare always unsettled me, full of calculation and criminal greed.

He’s still in the centre of the circle, surrounded by revellers. Madden pays them no attention. He clearly isn’t here for their praise.

Indignant determination fills his face. The kind of determination that tells me he isn’t going to surrender his new toy without a struggle. Lucky for him, I don’t mind a fight.

Though I’ll never admit it to anyone…

Ember’s always been mine to protect.

CHAPTER 12

EMBER

BURY MY BONES – WHISKEY MYERS

“Where are we going?”

Fisting the steering wheel in stony silence, Hyland glowers at the road ahead. Mr Grump is back in full-swing this morning. After my little adventure, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.

He’s deflected every attempt I’ve made at conversation so far. I expected to be walking into a full-scale argument when he summoned me with a text. Looks like he’s going for the silent treatment.

“Are you expecting me to apologise?”

Nothing.

“Because I’m not going to.”

Snorting, Hyland remains focused on the road.