Page 56 of Kyle

“Then most people are assholes. I wasn’t giving up Kyle and Declan no matter what. I’d rather die before I sold them out.”

There was a small gasp and Anaya and I turned to our right. A very pregnant Violet had come down the stairs along with Emerson.

The team had obviously not shared with Violet that Anaya had taken a beating to protect her brother.

Good to know some things could be kept secret around Z Corps.

I glanced over at Declan and he was looking down at his shoes shaking his head. Violet was getting ready to go all mother hen on his ass.

Time to shut this shit down, for good this time.

“On that note, you’re fuckin’ done, Jas. No more of that shit,” I demanded, barely keeping my temper under wraps.

Her eyes locked with mine and she nodded. She felt like hell she’d gone down that particular road with Anaya. And more so because Violet would now be upset, too.

“Great,” I grunted sarcastically, too pissed-off to articulate the word any better.

“Conference room,” Zane barked. “You, too, Emerson.”

I waited for everyone to file into the other room, then turned to Anaya.

“You okay?”

“Stop asking me that.”

“Anaya—”

“I’m fine. I’m not stupid, I understand what she was doing even if I didn’t like the reminder of what happened to me. Look around…” Anaya paused and motioned around the room. “I’m an outsider among a group of people who work behind more security than Fort Knox with a command center that rivals NASA. I get it. I have to earn their trust, and if you keep babying me in front of them, they’ll never respect me. I have nothing to hide from any of you. They can prod all they like, I won’t break and that’s something you’re gonna have to trust me about.”

My eyes went over her shoulder and Max stood in the doorway waiting for us. Arms folded over his chest and eyes hard, with a lift of his chin he dipped back into the room.

“Fuck. You’re right. I’m sorry.”

She gave me a tentative smile and grabbed my hand.

“Let’s get this over with.”

She yanked my hand and moved toward the door.

I needed to pull my head from my ass and stop doubting her. But fuck if I knew how to stop my insistent need to protect her, even from my teammates who were doing exactly what she’d said they were doing.

Chapter 17

My ribs ached and my head throbbed but there was no chance in hell I was going to complain. Admitting weakness would be like tossing blood in the water while sharks were circling.

I had something to prove to these people and I wouldn’t back down.

Ten men and two women sat around a huge table with Zane at the helm, all looking at me like I was an interloper. Well, eight of the men were, save Declan and Kyle.

“Violet thinks she found something,” Zane started. “She sent all her intel to Tex and Garrett. They’re combing through it to verify—”

“Respect, Z, but do you think this should be discussed in front of Anaya?” Max asked.

Kyle sighed beside me but held his tongue. Something I was grateful for. I couldn’t have him fight my battles for me.

“Just come out with it,” Zane instructed. “I hate this fucking part of the game. Every time one of you fucknuts falls in love this shit happens. You got something to say, Max, air it.”

Fall in love?