AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And my knife?” I ask, my brow arching as we walk out into the main club.
“Washed and with one of my men at the front door. So many questions,” he mutters. It’s loud in the club, so I almost don’t hear him.
Leaning over me, he places his lips outside of my ear. It’s weirdly intimate, and incredibly uncomfortable that he’s choosing to talk to me like this instead of finishing the conversation in the quieter hallway. I have a feeling there’s a reason.
Men in power always have a reason.
“Before you ask, I will be holding onto the details of my blood debt for now. I want the details of where you’ll be touring for the next two months, because God forbid I come between your adoring fans and the music,” he scoffs. “When I call in my debt, you will be a good girl and do exactly as you’re told. While your uncle is valuable, he doesn’t need all of his limbs to be useful to me. Is that understood?”
“Threatening me is beneath you,” I tell him, strapping on my big lady balls. Inside, I’m quaking, trying to remember if I’m supposed to lock my knees or not to be able to stay upright.
There’s a reason Seán O’Brien is the head of this crime family.
He’s really scary.
“It’s true,” Seán grunts, surprisingly resigned. “You’re a smart girl, you know what’s at stake. It wasn’t even fun. Sorry, girlie. I still meant it.”
“Of course, Sir,” I say softly. I don’t want to even breathe wrong, because he’s a damn yo-yo right now. I don’t know if he’ll yell at me or simply let me go. I’ve had quite enough of having his attention.
“Come along then. Your men should be getting their phones back right around now,” he says, moving back to lumber toward the exit.
I can’t even take a second to think or figure out how I feel about everything, because I know I’m not safe. As scary as Seán O’Brien is, he’s still my only protector while I’m here.
Hurrying, I stay practically on his heels, feeling eyes on me as I walk.
Seán opens the door for me, stepping out into the night air to point the guys out to me. They all take a step toward me when they see me, but I raise my hand up to have them wait. Theyaren’t a danger to Seán or his men, and I don’t want them to be mistaken as such.
“Your knife, Miss,” the bouncer says, holding out the handle to me. I still have the holster strapped to me, so I take it and slide it home.
“That’s where you hid it,” Seán chuckles, but it’s an unhappy sound.
“I wasn’t searched.” I shrug. “Why would the tiny pixie need a weapon?”
“Exactly, because she’s tiny,” the bouncer mutters.
“Stay out of trouble, Layla. We’ll be in touch,” Seán says. Taking this as my cue, I walk away seemingly without a second thought.
All the while, I feel like I’m prey right up until the door shuts behind me.
“Layla,” Tyler says softly, waiting for me to decide what I want to do.
“Walk,” I hiss, striding toward them quickly. “Call a ride-share at the corner. Don’t stop moving till we get there.”
My ankle rolls just as I pass Mav, and he reaches out to grab me quickly. Funny, I thought he’d let me fall. My thoughts are dark and angry as I struggle to process everything that just happened.
“I’m good,” I say hoarsely, struggling to take a deep breath. I can feel myself tearing up even though I’m not hurt. I’m perfectly fine. Everything is good.
I keep lying to myself as I shrug out of Mav’s hold. I can be fine for another thirty seconds, and another after that.
Just fucking peachy.
MAV
I think we have a quickly spiraling girl on our hands. Layla’s hands are trembling, and as she shakes them out, Tyler simply watches her carefully as he walks next to her. I hope he’s ready for her ankle to roll again, her body looks like it’s shutting down after she was a badass.
Tyler’s words knock around my head. Layla seems very critical of herself, doesn't want to share her lyrics with us, holds herself back a lot when speaking to us as if waiting for a hurtful word to be volleyed.
Unfortunately, we didn’t disappoint. Atlas and I were right there to tear her down. The gorgeous woman who tore back into me has my full attention. That’s who she’s meant to be, not the girl who hides from our cruel words.
