Page 19 of A Brother's Secret
I almost heard Kyle facepalm and heard him say, “Fuck, Reaver. Just don’t hurther.”
Reaver pulled me into him, right up against him, and ran his nose against the inside of my wrist, breathing me in like I was wearing some kind of perfume or something. I scowled and brought a knee up but he deflected. He shoved me back and I frowned again – he put space between us, and I didn’t getthat.
I circled, putting my forgotten bag between us as a stumbling block for him and like magic, a knife appeared in his hand. I blinked, and the blade snapped open with a soft and terrifying little snick. I swallowed hard and stilled and his grin grewwide.
“There it is!” he crowed triumphantly and I shook my head. He lunged, keeping the knife back and I dodged, going for my gun. I pulled it free and aimed, thumbing back the hammer. Everyone went still.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you? You never bring a knife to a gun fight.” I swallowed hard and his grin went rictus.
“I like her!” he declared and I glanced at Kyle. It was a mistake. Reaver lunged impossibly fast, he ripped the gun out of my hand and hooked a leg behind mine. We were both falling and there wasn’t shit I could do to stop it but he was a crafty son of a bitch. I hit hard, the wind almost, but not quite, knocked out of me. My head cushioned from the pavement by my messenger bag. Icy blue eyes were staring into mine and I could feel the pulse in my neck bouncing wildly against the tip of his knife blade.
“You need to make better choices, Amalia Rose,” he said, his breath fanning my lips. I tried not to hurl from fear even as his words snapped me back to the Queen of Swords I’d held in my hand just hours ago. I blinked and swallowed hard, thankful for the reminder and damn! He got up off of me and held a hand down to me, the knife just suddenly gone. I swallowed hard and took it and he heaved me to myfeet.
Kyle looked equal parts embarrassed and pissed, the rest of the guys looked amused, and I felt flushed. I held out my hand for my gun but Reaver took it over to the Mexican, who was still looking me over, dark eyes stormy.
“Just what’ve you brought home with you, Data?” he asked, and even though he was staring at me he was clearly talking toKyle.
“Dragon, Amalia… Mali, this is Dragon, our president.”
“Charmed,” I spat out and saw Kyle’s shoulders drop out of the corner of my eye. Reaver grinned from his place next to the man, Dragon, who was going over the big old revolver with a practicedeye.
“Yer daddy’s gun?” he asked.
“Mine now, but yeah, what was your firstclue?”
“Way too big for a little girl like you,” a dude off to my rightsaid.
“Ghost,” Trigger intoned.
“Guys, please – I get it if you want to be pissed at me, but Mali didn’t do anything,” Kyle said and the frustration in his voice had everyone turning in his direction.
“Sweetheart, can you give us a minute?” Dragon asked me and his tone was decidedly less irritated with me. I blinked and threw up my hands, turning.
“Rev, Reaver, go withher.”
“No thanks,” I snapped. “I’m fine.” But nothing about this was fine, I turned to Kyle – “You good with me leaving you alone with these fucking lunatics?”
He smiled at me and it was tired, “These ‘lunatics’ are my family now, my brothers, and they have been for a long time. Let them go with you and watch your back, please?”
I scoffed. “Seriously, Kyle?”
“Mali…” his voice was strained but tinged with pleading. I sighed.
“All right, fine…”
I went to the door we’d come in through, Reaver and the one they called Rev at my back. It was a decidedly uncomfortable sensation.
