Breezy walked around the ottoman, ignoring Xan. “I’m glad you’re okay, Lyric. Welcome to the pack.” Her friendly smile was genuine as she looked at me.
“Thank you, Breezy. I’m sorry my brother is an ass.” Lyric squeezed her hand.
“It’s okay, I have become immune to his lack of charm.” Tears sparkled in her eyes before she blinked them away.
I could smell the lie and hear the hurt in her voice. At the door, Breezy looked over her shoulder. “By the way, it’s not Coti you should worry about me fucking, Xan.” With those words, she walked out the door, her head held high.
I hoped like hell I never pissed Lyric off to the extent that Xan clearly had Breezy.
“Who the hell is she talking about?” Xan asked Lyric and Syn.
Syn lifted her shoulders in a negligent shrug. “We don’t necessarily run in the same circles, you know. Breezy and her girls are a few years older and are a little more…adventurous than we are.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Xan snarled.
“I don’t give a flying fuck,” Kellen roared. “Stop thinking with your goddamn dick, and either let the woman bounce on yourcock, or deal with the fact she’s one hot piece of ass any man, or woman would be glad to have.”
I felt Kellen’s power flood the room. No wonder nobody questioned the man’s right to rule. I felt like turning my head and giving him my neck. I barely restrained myself. I noticed Syn and Lyric weren’t so brave.
Xan met my gaze across the room. He lifted one blond brow. “Looks like we have another alpha, Kellen.” Xan stared at me.
Kellen smirked. “If you’d had your head outta your ass, you’d have noticed that earlier.”
Xan lifted his middle finger and then went back to the bar to pour himself another drink. He held up the bottle, and Kellen nodded. “You want one? It’s the good stuff, Maker’s Mark,” Xan said.
“Throw it over some ice for me.” Lyric leaned forward with a smile. Syn got up and poured another drink while she got Lyric’s. I nodded and then accepted my glass.
Chapter Eight
Iwent over the events again, starting with when I’d spotted Lyric and the men at the bar, through the fight, and what the van looked like. At the last moment, I remembered the downed man hadn’t been killed, only two of the four.
“Were there any signs of the altercation at the bar when you left?” Xan asked.
“Only the faint scent of blood. Whoever these guys are, they called for a cleanup crew. Meaning they had this planned.”
Kellen looked over at Lyric. “They didn’t plan to take me, though. They called me a chew toy and specifically said they wanted to get word to you, Xan. Like this is a personal vendetta.”
“Fuck!” Xan slammed his fist on the counter.
“What aren’t you telling me, Xan?” Kellen asked.
Xan downed his glass of amber liquid. “Taya and I’ve been seeing each other. Not exclusively, but I did stay at her place the night before last. We haven’t fucked if that’s what you’re scowling at me for, Lyric.”
“Who the hell did you piss off? It seems this is aimed at you. First, they take Taya, then attack Lyric, and now they’re leaving a note for Breezy. How the hell do they know who you’re connected to?” Kellen growled like he was ready to spit nails.
“I’ve no damn clue. Taya and I are casual. Lyric is my sister, and I’d kill for her. Breezy is…well, she’s just a chick in the club. I’d protect her like I’d protect any pack member.”
I wanted to snort. “Are there any other casual relationships that these fucks might target?”
Kellen got up and started pacing. The glass cracked in Xan’s hand. “Don’t act like you don’t have a different woman every night, Kellen. I’m single, healthy, and can’t help it if there is a line of ladies willing to, as you so eloquently put it, bounce on my cock. You’re exactly the same, so don’t even think to condemn me, brother. Just tell me what I need to do. You want a list of every woman I’ve fucked or had suck me off? Give me a pen and paper.”
Lyric got up off the couch. “I think this is our cue to go.”
“I want you both to stay here at the clubhouse in one of the suites. Don’t worry, there are some that are freshly cleaned.” Kellen smirked.
I got up to stand next to Lyric. “How safe are we here?”
“Safer than you are away from here,” Kellen answered.
