Shit!
I know she has to be beyond scared, and this is against everything she stands for. How she can look at me the same after she’s seen the animal I’m capable of becoming will be a miracle. I love her though, and I will see to it that those eyes are filled with nothing but love and lust, and not in fear when she looks at me.
I can’t stand to see her afraid of me, I need her love. I have to have it or I won’t survive. For some reason, she’s the only one I trust in this world.
“I’m going to get you out of here.” I pull her to my chest, her fingers clawing into my shirt.
“Shit, we got a problem.” Tearing my eyes from Jillian I look at Felix. “Cross is gone.”
“What?!” Letting go of Jillian I look to where I had last seen Cross, and find spots of blood trailing to the elevator. “You didn’t watch him?” I ask as I open the elevator, only to find it empty.
“We were right behind you, man. We were watching Frank, I thought Cross was a done deal. Dead.” Mac shrugs.
“FUCK!” I scream.
“He’s gone? He can’t be gone! He’s going to come back, he’s—”
“Jillian!” I holler, interrupting her. Placing my hands on her arms, her body shakes, her eyes leaking with scared tears.
“I’ll find him. I won’t give up until I find him, baby. I promise.” She nods, her eyes fluttering.
Pulling her close I wrap my arms around her, needing to hold her. Let her know I’m here. She winces from my strong hold. Pulling her an arm’s length away I notice blood staining her arm. My chest weighs heavy, realizing she’s been hit.
“Fuck, baby.” Pulling her arm out I inspect the wound. The bullet just grazed her.
“It burns bad, but I think I’ll be fine,” she responds through clenched teeth. I want to turn around and slam my fist down Shadow’s throat. He swore he wouldn’t hit her. But, then again, she might not even be standing here without their help.
“Shadow texted, said the gun jammed and recoiled harder than he anticipated. Nearly dislocated his shoulder when firing,” Bobby informs, holding his phone. Shadow must have saw me looking at Jillian’s arm. Glancing out the window I look up on the rooftops, and jut my chin out. Silently telling him we’re good.
“We need to get going,” Lip informs his brothers, looking down at Frank’s body from the window. “We got cops.” The Devil’s Dust scatter out of the building, and Lip stops at the elevator.
“You coming?” Bobby questions Lip, holding the doors open.
“Nah, go. I’ll be down in a second.” Turning back around he crosses his arms and smirks in my direction.
“It wasn’t so bad working with ya,” his voice humorous. I think Lip and I have always had a miscommunication since we were kids. With both of our parents out of the way, and our heads out of our asses, thanks to some spitfire women, maybe now we can actually have the bond brothers are supposed to have. Pride, and the size of our dicks set aside. (Because we all know mine’s still bigger.)
“Yeah, same.” I smile, heading toward the elevator holding Jillian’s hand. We all climb in, willing the elevator to race down so we don’t get caught by the police.
“You need help cleaning up the club?” He flicks a brow my way.
“I think my boys and I can take care of it. You got a family to get back to. I appreciate everything, brother, really.”
“You know Frank was talking shit, right? You’re my brother Zevin, I can feel it, and I know it.” Closing his eyes, he shakes his head. I have no doubt that Lip is my brother, whether it be half or fully. But I don’t think Frank was talking shit.
“Probably, he’s always been full of shit,” I lie. I’ve always been jealous of Lip and my mother’s close friendship, but it’s something I don’t want to take away from him. Not anymore anyway.
“If you ever need us, or not, and just want to shoot the shit or play some pool…give me a call.”
“You mean you might actually pick up the phone if I call?” I jab with a smile on my face. Trying to cut the awkward tension surrounding the foreignness of our bonding.
“We’ll see. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he jokes laughing.
The elevator doors open, and the garage is empty of police.
Shadow leans over and opens the passenger door of the SUV, urging Lip to get in.
“Later, bro.”
“Later,” I whisper.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Jillian