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27
Pen
Inod. If Asia can trust her, then I figure I can too. It’s time to put my pride aside. I need help. I need a friend, and whilst once upon a time the first people I would’ve gone to were the Breakers, right now I can’t risk trusting them without figuring out if they really are on my side. Well, two of them at least. My heart squeezes painfully. Zayn and York have made their feelings known even if they haven’t opened up about anything else, but Xeno unleashed his pain on me and told me in no uncertain terms to stay the fuck away from them. I don’t think he’ll ever come around, and Dax? Dax has made it easy and stayed away from me, refusing to even acknowledge my existence when we pass in the hallways at the Academy.
“Pen?” Grim prompts.
“I have a little sister, Lena,” I begin, drawing in a deep breath. Grim frowns, flicking her gaze to Beast then back to me. “Her life is being threatened, and I need to protect her at all costs. I’m asking for your help to do that. Whatever I earn here at the club, I will use to pay towards her protection. I’ll work more nights, every night if I have to, to cover the cost. But I need eyes on her at all times. I need her life protected.”
“Well, shit,” Beast says. “What little cunt is threatening your sister? Just give me a name and I’ll sort this.”
Grim holds her hand up, immediately silencing Beast. “This isn’t some two-bit street kid with a bad attitude threatening her, is it?” she asks me.
“No. Do you think I’d come here asking for your help if it was? I might be a dancer, but I’ve grown up fighting my own battles. I can deal with some stupidroadman.”
Grim nods. “I don’t doubt that. So, whoarewe dealing with?”
My fingers curl around the pad of my seat and I lock gazes with Grim. “I can’t tell you that.”
“What do you mean, you can’t tell us? Listen, Pen, we need to know who we’re dealing with if we’re gonna agree to protect your sister,” Beast states, shaking his head like he thinks I’m a lunatic for even suggesting it.
“I can’t tell you because I don’t know who it will be…”
“So your kid sister’s got a hit on her head? Why? What the actual fuck is this? Who uses kids as a tool to threaten—” Beast snaps, his tirade cut short by Grim.
“Jeb?! That motherfucker.”
“He’s threatened my sister’s life, yes. But it isn’t him I’m most worried about, not since you stepped in. I don’t think he’ll do anything to Lena now that you’ve hired me.” I give her a half-smile that doesn’t meet my eyes because whilst I hope that’s true, I really have no fucking idea whether I’m right. Jeb only does things that suit him. Right now, me dancing for Grim fits into whatever little plan he has. When that stops being beneficial to him, all bets are off.
Grim looks at Beast, a whole conversation passing between them both. It must feel good to know someone so deeply that just one look can convey a whole conversation. It used to be like that for me and the Breakers. I really want that back.
“Who’s the other person?” Grim presses. I swallow hard. Fear keeping me mute. Am I doing the right thing? “Who else, Pen?”
“My brother.”
“Your fuckingbrother,” Beast repeats, incredulous.
“Yes. My brother runs Jeb’s drug business in Mexico. He’s threatened Lena’s life and will kill her if I don’t find out what Jeb and the Breakers are doing at the Academy.”
“Fuck me.” Beast whistles.
“He’ll kill my little sister if I don’t betray the men I love. Whatever they’re up to, David hasn’t been kept in the loop. He’s pissed off and when he’s like that, he’ll act out. I can’t risk him hurting my sister,” I choke out, my chin wobbles and tears prick my eyes. But I don’t cry, instead I grit my jaw knowing that I have to be strong, though it’s getting harder and harder these days.
“Your brother sounds like one twisted fuck.”
I met Beast’s gaze. “He is.”
“And you didn’t consider asking the Breakers for their help?” Grim asks.
“How can I when they still work for one of the men who’s threatened my sister’s life?”
Grim raises her brows. “You think they’d actually hurt your sister?”
“No. I don’t.” I sigh heavily, swiping a hand over my face. “At least, I don’t think they’d hurt Lena, but they’re different now. I’m not sure I know who they are anymore.”
“You can’t trust them?” Beast asks, more of a question than a statement.
“I want to, but Xeno hates me, Dax has avoided me since I danced here last—”
