Page 39 of Up in a Blaze

Henri glanced over to me and widened his eyes, silently asking me if I saw that.

My lips twitched. He was the only reason I relaxed, and he made the anger dim enough to think straight.

“I will kill you,” Adrick shouted.

“Man, it was a joke,” Loyal said.

Country pinched the bridge of his nose. “Brother, we don’t joke with the Russian. He has no sense of humor.”

Adrick stopped trying to step around Saint and crossed his arms again. “I have humor.”

Everyone stared at him.

“I only give it to West.”

Henri smirked over at me, one brow cocked up.

Wait. Was my little firecracker trying to tell me I was like the Russian?

What the fuck? I wasn’t cold or…. Fuck me. Maybe I was like Adrick since Henri was the only one who saw all sides of me, like West did with the Russian.

Not that I cared that we were similar. If anything, it made me understand Adrick more and his need to protect West in any way he could.

“Sawyer,” Country intervened. “Loyal can give you a lift home if?—”

“No!” He slapped a hand over his mouth and shook his head. Slowly, he dropped the hand, fisting both at his sides to hide them shaking. “I-I mean, I don’t need a lift. Thank you, though. I should go.” He nodded. “I need to go.”

Yeah, that wasn’t suspicious at all.

“Thank you—not that I’m thanking you for the—” He made a strangled sound and shook his head as he headed toward the door. He turned back and added, “Just that, I’m glad it’s been dealt with.” He groaned low, running a hand over his face. “Not that I wanted anyone dead.” He flicked his gaze to me and back to Henri before he quickly said, “And not that I don’t appreciate the issue being dealt with. He held her hostage. The outcome was inevitable.” He was near panting now.

Henri moved over to him. “Relax, chéri. We understand. Are you sure you don’t want to ride Loyal home? Loyal will be good with it.”

Loyal dropped his head, eyes to the floor, hiding his expression.

Fuck me. Did Henri understand how that sounded?

Saint choked on his laugh.

“What?” Adrick asked.

Country snorted. “Henri, want to check how you said that?”

“Sorry, I am French. Sometimes I get things wrong.”

Fuckin’ bullshit. But God, I loved that man.

Sawyer blushed. “N-No? I… I’m not far. I should go.” He reached out and patted Henri’s arm awkwardly before he spun around and slipped out of the room.

Henri spun on Loyal. “Maybe you should check on him before he leaves?”

Loyal looked at Country, who nodded, which had Loyal moving out of the room quickly.

Saint let out a long whistle. “Everyone can see the sexual tension between those two, right?”

“We are not standin’ around gossipin’ when we have shit to do,” Country stated.

Henri ignored Country and said to Saint, “They would be amazing together, but I fear little Sawyer is way too shy or there is something else holding him back.” His brows drew together before he lifted his gaze to me.