Page 76 of The Devastation You Reap

"I'll make it a surprise then," he says with a wink before spinning away from us and disappearing toward what I assume is the kitchen.

"You okay?" Leon whispers in my ear, his hand possessively wrapped around my hip.

"Err…"

"We don't have to stay long, I just said that I'd show my face. They guys are solid, I owe them."

I think back to what Reid said about the rat, whatever the hell that was about, and I can't help but wonder why Leon could possibly owe them. I already know that's not a good position to be in and I barely know them.

"I-it's okay."

He studies me, no doubt trying to work out if I'm lying or not.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I am or not.

Yes, these guys terrify me, but I fully believe Leon when he said I'm safe with him. I can't deny that there's a part of me who wants to just embrace everything in front of me, and that's still the main thought in my mind when Ellis reappears and holds a glass out for me.

"What is it?"

"My own special cocktail." He winks.

"But be careful because it's strong as hell, no doubt," a soft female voice says. It's a relief to hear, but Leon seems to have the opposite reaction to it because his entire body tenses beneath me.

"Thank you," I say to Ellis, taking the glass, before he moves and reveals the person behind the voice.

She's gorgeous. Her golden skin is flawless and her thick dark hair falls over her shoulders like a waterfall. And when I look at the guy standing beside her with his arm thrown around her shoulder, my breath catches in my throat. They really are quite a couple.

"Lee, what are you doing here?" she chastises, her brows pulling together as she fixes him with a hard stare.

"I was invited."

Her eyes flick to me, a softness creeping into them that wasn't there when she stared at Leon.

"Are you going to introduce us?"

Leon blows out a long breath, his grip on me tightening as the tension crackles around us.

I want to say that we've just come across his ex, but I don't think that's what's going on here.

Unable to bear the atmosphere, I put my glass to my lips and take a sip.

The sweet fruit juice hits my tongue a beat before the strong alcohol assaults my throat and I start coughing as it burns all the way down.

"What on Earth is that?" I splutter, watching as Ellis disappears to get the two of them drinks as well.

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

Another of the guys gets up allowing the woman to drop onto the couch opposite us while her guy moves over to talk to Devin.

"So?" She leans forward on her knees, holding Leon's eyes once more.

She's pissed, that much is obvious. But I have no idea why.

Ellis hands her a drink and she happily takes a sip without reacting like me.

"Macie, this is Letty, one of my oldest friends. Her guy is Kane. He's friends with the Harrises. Letty, meet Macie."

"See, now that wasn't so hard, was it?" she deadpans.