Page 5 of Run, Little Rabbit (Blood & Bonds #1)

“As if that’s going to stop me from kicking your ass,” I say with a cocky grin. “We all know I fight better than both of you.”

There are sniggers from a few of the men around the room, and it pisses Cillian off. He lunges from his chair, and I half expect him to fly across the table at me, but Conor holds him back.

“Now, now, brother. She’s only winding you up.” Conor drags his twin back into his seat and whispers something in his ear. It’s too low for me to hear, but it makes him rein in his temper. It doesn’t stop Cillian from watching me, his eyes sharp and focused like he’s watching his prey.

I smirk back at him. Cillian can try and bring it, but we both know I’ll beat his ass. I might not be in the running to take over from my father, but I sure as shit know how to handle my brothers.

“Echo. That’s enough,” Dad shouts. He never shouts.

Barks and snaps and uses a clipped tone, but he never shouts.

I’m a little shocked. He’s always in control of his temper, but he looks like he’s on the cusp of losing it.

I’m starting to think there’s something that Bennie knew that Dad doesn’t want anyone else to know.

It starts my brain whirring and thinking about my dad and the possible secrets he might be keeping.

“They started it,” I pout. I catch Kai’s eye, and he’s grinning at me.

He also likes to piss the twins off, but I think that’s down to some unreleased sexual tension more than anything else.

Not that I’d ever tell him that. I think he’d run a fucking mile, but I also think that he’d be good for the twins.

He’s measured and has a quiet calmness that soothed my fraught edges when I needed him the most.

“Whatever. I need to know who you saw Bennie with,” Dad asks as he leans across the table towards me, his mouth pinched. “Was it anyone you recognised?

I recall the characters from the table who sat either side of Bennie. “Nope. Never seen them before. They were slimy-looking, ill-fitting suits, slicked-back hair and thick moustaches. They reminded me of stereotypical Mafioso goons from an old movie.”

Dad frowns, the lines around his eyes pulling deep. It reminds me that he is starting to look old. There are a few white hairs sprouting around his temple, and his eyes look tired. Like there is a dullness about the edges of those green irises that look so much like my own.

“That doesn’t sound like any of the big players,” Jace comments, his lips pursed in thought. He’s right. We tend to keep tabs on all the main players in the city and beyond, so seeing Bennie talk to someone new is a little unnerving.

“I’ll get Lance onto the CCTV for anyone that fits the description,” Dad says. “He’ll send you the images, and you can tell me who you saw.”

“Of course,” I reply, knowing that I don’t really have a choice. “Is there anything else?”

“No. You can leave. The rest of us will talk business.”

I hold back the distaste at my father’s words. There would be no point to argue, and definitely not in front of the men. Wouldn’t want to make him look weak or that there was a woman trying to make him do something to break tradition. Heaven forbid.

I take a deep breath before standing and smiling sweetly at the rest of the table. “Of course. Enjoy your meeting, gentlemen.”

Veon pulls my chair out for me, and I walk out of the room with my head held high.

I am not going to let any of them see how angry I am at the dismissal or the way it stings.

I ignore the smug grins the twins throw my way as I leave, and I don’t even look at Kai.

I don’t want to see the pity in those whisky eyes.

It’ll make me say something I’ll probably regret.

The moment Veon closes the door to the meeting room, I let out the breath I was holding. It’s a harsh exhale, and I have to take another calming breath just to stop me from running back in there to give my dad a piece of my mind.

I can’t decide if he’s just misogynistic or if he thinks keeping me out of the family business will protect me.

“It’s not right,” Veon grumbles behind me.

I look up at the tall tower of muscle at my back, and a little flutter of something swoops in my stomach.

The guy is pissed on my behalf, and I like it.

Until Veon, I never really had anyone in my corner other than Kai.

He might do things begrudgingly, but sometimes, just sometimes , I think he does actually like me.

Like this moment where he looks like he’s one step away from marching back into the room and giving Dad a stern talking to. I’m almost tempted to let him, just to see what he’s capable of.

I place my hand on Veon’s chest, the warmth of his skin bleeding through his black t-shirt. Jeez, his chest is firm. I press down with my fingers slightly, feeling the density of his muscle, and I trail the tips of my fingers down his torso.

My mouth waters and heat flushes up the back of my neck. There’s a loud drumming in my ears as my heart kicks up its speed.

Fuck, I’m touching Veon, and he’s letting me. I count his abs—all eight of them—and I have to check myself for drool. He’s built like a god, and I have the sudden urge to slice his shirt from him, to—

A hand wraps around my wrist, but he doesn’t push me away. “Stop that.”

Veon’s voice is low, husky and raw, and when my eyes meet his, I see a war battling in his blue orbs.

“Why? Is it bothering you?”

“No,” he replies flatly.

Too flatly.

I lean closer and drop my voice to a whisper. “Then why are you trembling?”

I trail my fingers lower, towards the waistband of his trousers, and feel a shiver run through him.

Veon’s nostrils flare wide as he inhales deeply. “Stop.”

I hook my fingers into the top of his belt. “Tell me why, and I will.”

For a moment he doesn’t breathe; he just stares at me while my fingers scrape against the trail leading to his cock.

Suddenly, his hand darts out and wraps around my throat. He walks me backwards until my back hits the wall, and he pins me to it with his large frame.

I shudder beneath him as his breath caresses the shell of my ear.

“Because, baby, if I ever claim you, I want to make sure you’re far away from your father and I’m far away from my duty.

” He trails his lips along the side of my jaw, and my core clenches with need.

“I’m going to make you scream and beg as I turn your ass red for all the shit you pull. I bet you scream so pretty, baby.”

Veon sinks his teeth into the soft spot at the base of my neck and sucks at the skin.

My entire world focuses on the feel of his mouth on me and the wet heat of it against my skin.

My eyes roll back in my head as he pulls and sucks, and my fingers twist into the fabric of his shirt, trying to hold him closer.

He releases me with a wet pop, and his eyes meet mine. They’re full of heat and yearning, and I melt under the weight of his gaze, sinking back into the wall.

“Until it’s no longer my duty to protect you, Echo, that’s all you’ll ever get.” Then he steps back away from my reach.

“You expect me to function after that?” I ask in disbelief.

Veon only smirks like a goddamn wolf and holds his arm out like a gentleman to let me walk in front of him.

For the second time today, I straighten my shoulders and hold my head high as I walk out of the house.

I need to see a guy about a phone.