Page 8 of Whips and Chains (Saint View Murder Squad #2)

It took a moment for that to sink in fully. But when it did, it brought a cold flush with it that sent goosebumps across my skin. “You knew? You knew there was some psycho out there targeting me and you didn’t think that was information I should know?”

Whip’s gaze dropped to the floor.

Levi cleared his throat uncomfortably. “We didn’t actually know they were targeting you too—”

I held up my hand, not interested in being fed bullshit, and a whole lot of other things fitting together.

“But you suspected, didn’t you? Even if they hadn’t directly threatened me, you suspected.

That’s why the three of you haven’t left me alone for a second for the past few weeks.

One of you has always been with me or sitting out in front of my apartment. ”

I suddenly felt so stupid I couldn’t believe I hadn’t realized any of this before. I barked out a bitter laugh. “Wow. And here I was, thinking you were hanging around just because you liked me.”

“I would just like it noted I was hanging around you long before Grayson told us to watch you,” X mumbled cheerfully around a mouthful of toast, clearly not picking up on the vibe in the room.

I just stared at him. “Grayson told you to watch me?”

Levi groaned, “Seriously, X. Shut up.”

I whirled on him. “No, you don’t get to tell him to shut up.

At least he’s being honest, unlike the two of you.

You knew I was in danger and instead of telling me, you three went all freaking macho and decided you knew best. That I was too weak and pathetic to take care of myself and I needed the three of you to do it for me. ”

Levi reached for my hand, but I snatched it away before he could touch me.

He sighed, dropping it back to the countertop.

“It wasn’t like that. We didn’t have any direct proof they would target you too, and we didn’t want you to live your life in fear, always looking over your shoulder.

That’s a shit way to live, and you’d already been through enough, what with everything that happened at that house on Olympic Drive… ”

I closed my eyes, remembering the way the owner of that house, Paul Jeddersen, had drugged me, stripped my clothes, and would have done so much worse if X hadn’t been there to stop him.

Suddenly, I could understand why they didn’t think I could take care of myself.

But the fact they’d judged me and formed opinions of my capabilities over that one event sent rage through me.

I was more than the terrified, half-naked woman Paul Jeddersen had turned me into.

I was also the woman who’d pitched anything in reach at X and Scythe when I’d thought they would hurt me.

I was the woman who’d put herself together, alone in her room so I didn’t have to burden anyone else with my troubles.

I was the woman who just last night had asked three men to fuck her because I’d needed something and made it happen.

I wasn’t always strong, but the three of them hadn’t seen any of that. And in underestimating me, they’d caused my best friend’s death.

“Get out.”

Whip winced at the ice in my voice. “Sweetheart, we can’t. Not after what happened last night.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You can’t? This is my goddamn home, and I’m telling you to leave. So get out.” My gaze switched to the other two. “All of you.”

“Vi, he’s right. We can’t leave you here alone. We need to work out what we’re doing next.” Levi’s mouth formed a tight line.

Rage rose inside me, and my voice rose right along with it. “I said, get out!”

All three of them stared at me, guilt riddled all over their faces, but refusing to budge.

I couldn’t believe them. My stool scraped along the kitchen tiles as I jerked it back and got off, leaving my half-eaten bacon and eggs behind. “If you won’t leave, then I will.”

I stormed to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me.

My anger with them only increased when I heard them reassuring each other I couldn’t go anywhere. We were on the third floor, and the fire escape was outside the living room, not my bedroom.

Oh, fuck them. I picked up my phone, made a single call, and then started shoving clothes into a bag.

I didn’t even know what I put in there, I was too blinded by rage and hurt and embarrassment, and an ache that wanted to consume me if I let go of any of those other feelings.

I jerked on clothes, yanking a hoodie over my head so roughly it caught on my earring and ripped at my lobe painfully.

But the pain only spurred me on. And when I got a text, I was ready.

Bag over my shoulder, I stormed back into the living area.

X was the first to notice me. His gaze darted to the overflowing bag of clothes shoved over my shoulder. “Uh-oh. I think someone is staging a jail break…” He glanced over at Levi. “You probably have experience with that, right?”

Levi made a face at him.

Whip sighed, taking in the bag. “We’re sorry. You’re right, we should have told you. We thought we were doing the right thing—”

“Well, you weren’t.”

Levi nodded. “We know. We fucked up.”

“Yeah, you did.”

X threw me his most charming smile. “But you think we’re really cute, and we gave you really good orgasms, so we’re forgiven?”

I glared at him. “Not a fucking chance. The three of you can go to hell.”

I stormed to the door, but Levi grabbed my arm. “Vi, stop.”

I stared down at his grip around my wrist. “Let go of me.”

“You’ll leave if I do.”

“Damn fucking right I will. I said let go of me.” I didn’t care my traitorous body loved having his hands on me.

I didn’t care that all I could think about was him gripping both wrists that tightly, raising them above my head, and pinning me to a wall so he could touch places a whole lot more intimate than my arms.

But if he didn’t let me go, I was going to use my free hand to punch him in the face.

My apartment door opened behind me, which was the first time I realized the lock was broken. But I didn’t have long to dwell on that as the six-foot-five man I’d called for backup strode into the apartment.

Fang took one glimpse of Levi’s fingers wrapped around my wrist and his voice dropped to a growl. “Get your fucking hands off my sister before I rip them from your body.”

Levi didn’t let go. “Fang…fucking hell. Hold up, I’m not hurting her.”

Fang glowered at him. “Do I look like I care about your excuses? She said let her go. Even I heard that and I was out in the damn hallway. So you have exactly three seconds to do that before I make you. Don’t think for a second I won’t fucking end you right here, right now, Reaper.

You might have been my mentor, but you’ve been out of the game a long fucking time, and you have no fucking idea how pissed off I am right now. ”

Levi’s fingers reluctantly unraveled from around my wrist.

Stupidly, I instantly missed his touch. But the anger inside me would have to keep me warm instead.

I didn’t look back at the other two, just stormed to the door, Fang hot at my heels.

Anger propelled me down the stairs and out onto the front lawn of the apartment building.

Rebel was waiting behind the wheel of an SUV, knuckle-dusters around her fingers.

I slid into the back seat and glanced at them pointedly. “Were you expecting a fight?”

She shrugged, but there was a bit of disappointment in her expression. “More like was hoping for one. I don’t get to use these enough these days.” She threw a few air punches at the space above the steering wheel while Fang slid into the seat beside her.

The three men I’d spent the night in bed with had followed us down the stairs and were now standing helplessly on the lawn, watching us.

Rebel hit the power button that opened Fang’s window and yelled across him, “Well, you three fucked up, didn’t you? Dumbasses! Next time I see you, each of you is going to get a taste of these! A solid punch right to the dick!”

Each of them could have picked her up and tossed her across the room, but she was fearless. I had no doubt, if I’d asked her to, she would have been running across that lawn, aiming those knuckle-dusters at someone’s junk.

Fang clicked his seat belt into place. “Pix, the getaway driver is supposed to actually drive the car. Not antagonize the targets with threats on their reproductive organs.”

She grinned at him. “Oh, right. Sorry.” She shook her metal-decorated knuckles at my men one last time and then put her foot on the gas.

X, Whip, and Levi disappeared behind us and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Fang twisted to glance back at me. “Are you okay?”

I wasn’t. I was mortified, filled with embarrassment that I’d been stupid enough to think they actually wanted me and I wasn’t just some job Grayson was making them do.

I’d been a desperate, easy lay. But above all that, I was heartbroken.

I’d opened myself up and had gotten stomped down in the most painful way I could imagine.

But I forced myself to smile at Fang because he didn’t need me trauma dumping all over him too.

“I will be. Thank you for picking me up.” And then I added on, “Brother.”

He smiled at that, just a little, the small upward flicker of his mouth at least the closest I’d seen Fang come to smiling.

“You’re welcome. Sister.”