Her nose scrunches a bit, disbelief in her red rimmed eyes as she takes one step in our direction. She pulls the blanket tighter around her shoulders despite the heat and humidity, and that just reiterates the one thing we’ve all seen flashes of since we left the dressing room.
Fear.
Leo is afraid, she’s actually showing it, and that last thing she needs is any of us losing our shit and getting locked up because we’re seconds from combusting.
“Honest,” he says as we surround her, Lucky immediately pulling her close. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
Our girl nods against him before maneuvering so she’s within touching range of Pete and I, holding his hand tightly behind Lucius while pulling my arm around her waist. “Franc isn’t going to be a problem, is he?”
“Francesco is always a problem,” Peter grunts as I say, “No, it’s been handled.”
“You’re sure?”
I nod firmly as she looks me right in the eye. “Franc isn’t going to be an issue, sweets. He’ll make sure they investigate the way they’re supposed to and?—”
“That’s not good enough!”
We all follow the sound of that shrill voice and, sure enough, Justine has officially lost her shit.
Mark is holding her back, both arms around her waist as she takes a fucking swing at the officer and Fillmore security she’s screaming at. “You say you had peopleallover the backstage area? At every entrance and exit!”
Security nods.
“Bullshit! That’s the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard!” Justine fights against Mark, swinging her arms and kicking her legs as he keeps her at bay. “If that was true, if any of you stupid bastards were doing what you were supposed to be doing, my daughter wouldn’t be on the verge of going into shock because some two-bit demon put pieces of her daddy, of my husband, in her bag! If you sons of bitches did your goddamn job then neither of us would have had to relive one of the worst moments of our lives but since that wasn’t the case, I’m suing! I’ll have your badges. You’ll never be able to work in this town again!”
“Justine,” Mark says while fighting a smile and lifting her off the ground. “That’s enough, mama, your cub is fine.”
“Hardly!” She screeches. “My Leonor isnot fineand bologna apologies for incompetence isn’t going to fix what y’all have put us through!”
“Should I go over there?” Leo asks, not moving one inch but staring at the scene Justine is causing just like the rest of us.
Lucky shakes his head. “Nah. Markus has her.”
“Barely.” Our girl snorts as a smile curves her full lips. “I swear Justine has superpowers.”
“She does.” I chuckle a little as I hold her closer.
“Like skinning someone alive with her words alone,” Pete says as he visibly shudders then leans his head on Luck’s shoulder. “There isn’t anyone on the planet I’m afraid of except her.”
And as that angry mama tiger is thrown over Mark’s shoulder before he marches her to us, I can’t help but agree.
I’m not afraid of whoever this is after Leonor now, just like I wasn’t afraid of Hastings back then. I fear for my girl’s safety, for her well being and state of mind, but I’m not scared of the demons that have seemingly always chased her.
Just like the rest of the guys, I’d lay my life down for hers in a heartbeat, and I’ll do anything within my power to protect her.
The problem is, we’ve always felt that way, always tried our hardest to do that, and we’ve failed. More than once, we’ve failed Leonor, and I’m starting to worry it could happen again.
If this bastard can be everywhere he is, doing everything he does without detection, without leaving any evidence or clues, how can we keep our girl safe?
It’s like protecting her from a goddamn ghost and even us Louisiana natives don’t have a fucking clue how to do that.
38
PETE
The Resurrection of Leonor Poe and The Ravens: Some Spirits Won’t Stay DeadWell, that’s a shitty fucking title.
Clicking the link, I open the article with a scowl and start reading about some fuckhead from the NOLA post who decided the morning after was a great fucking time to rehash the past.
