Who were these people?
“So there’s no chance of stealin’ ya girl then?” My head snapped to Thiago, and as I glowered at him, he winked before a slow grin appeared.
Twitch was not amused, and although he said, “You can try, Tee,” what I heard was, “I will kill you slowly and bathe in your blood.”
Feeling he was close to implosion, I moved, pressing into his free side, and he put his arm around my waist almost reflexively. His mood did not improve when Luka decided to weigh in.
“You gotta take a number like the rest of us, fucker,” he added slyly. “I was here first.”
Oh my God.
My stomach clenched.
Twitch’s cheek ticked as he slowly looked toward his friend. “You’ve been good to me, Pav, so I’mma pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Luka shrugged, appearing completely unconcerned. “I said what I said.”
Fernanda’s jaw tightened and she lowered her gaze to hide her hurt. And I felt for her then. Whatever she had done had hurt Pav. That much was clear. And now, Pav wanted to hurt her.
The arm around me tightened. Showing my unreserved loyalty, I turned, leaning up to press my lips to his neck over the puckered scar he’d gotten six years ago, and when I felt his muscles loosen under my mouth, I began to relax enough to pull away.
Twitch’s eyes narrowed on his friend. His voice was barely over a whisper. “You’re lucky I’m holdin’ my son.”
These men were tiresome, and as my eyes closed, I reached up to pinch the bridge of my nose and ground out, “Can we please not do this?” Slowly, I opened my eyes and peered around the room. A tired sigh left me. “I hate to say this, but—” My apologetic eyes landed on Luka. “—we need your help.” And when my weary gaze found my son, I touched his soft hair before turning back to the room. “We have a problem to take care of.”
A problem with cherry-red lips and a motherfucking attitude.
Chapter
ThirtyEight
Lexi
The silence was thick, and while I normally appreciated a moment of quiet, this silence was different. It was sticky. Suffocating. And as we drove home at Luka’s wishes, my entire body thrummed in hyperawareness. Because we were being hunted like prey.
We were being hunted, and the king refused to help.
The logical part of me understood why Luka rejected our appeal for aid. The maternal part of me knew I would never forgive him his actions.
“No one else can help us.” I turned my pleading gaze to him, and when he looked away, I knew—I fucking knew—he would do nothing. That, of course, didn’t stop me from trying. “Luka.” I took a step forward before turning to peer at my sleeping son on the sofa. I would do anything for that boy. I had. I would. And I would continue to. “Please,” I appealed to the softer side he rarely showed. The side I was lucky enough to find in my time alone with him. “Help us.”
But when he responded as callously as he did, Luka Pavlovic was dead to me. “What do you want from me, woman?” He turned to face the Vega family lurking in the corner of the room. He eyed the three of them meaningfully. “Seems to me you got all the help you need.”
I quickly realized his problem and, wow, I couldn’t believe him.
My soft gaze ignited into fiery rage. “You’re bitter? That’s what this is?” My eyes widened in understanding. “You won’t help us because you’re fucking bitter?” I spun to face Fernanda, and sputtered, “He won’t help protect my son because of you?”
“Baby.” Twitch put a hand to my shoulder, but I shrugged it off, demanding an answer.
Fernanda’s cool stare landed on Luka with the force of an ax going through soft cypress. “Don’t stress, gatita.” She looked disgusted at the man she once called her king. “Can’t you see how shook he is? That should tell you everything you need to know. ” Her confidence was unwavering. “We’re all you need.”
So as we drove home with the Vegas trailing us, I probably should have felt more at ease than I did. But it felt wrong. All of it. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something was wrong.
Twitch pulled into the driveway, and the Vegas parked behind us. Within seconds, Molly drove up in Big Red and Tama stepped out of the car with her. I didn’t even notice Julius and Ana until I stepped out of the car. Happy was the last to arrive, and he came alone.
My eyes slid over to Twitch. “Family meeting?”
Taking A.J.’s hand in his, he stopped to watch me carefully. “Family meeting.”
With a long sigh, I unlocked the front door, and just before I stepped in, Thiago stepped in front of me. I frowned. “What are you doing?”
Thiago Vega looked down at my sleepy son a long moment, and when he responded, my gut clenched. “Checking for snakes.” He went in alone.
My stomach ached suddenly, violently, and I felt the blood drain out of my face.
It never actually occurred to me that Ling might have the balls to be sitting pretty, waiting for us in our own home. And the more I thought about it, the more I came to understand that there were no rules for Ling Nguyen. She was a paradox, wanting to rule, but hating the system and policies that came with that.
No. Ling didn’t play by the rules.
She walked the line of them, slipping a foot on either side of that line whenever it suited her. From what I gathered, she wasn’t the great leader she thought she’d be. Ruling purely from fear, not from respect. It was only a matter of time before The Dragons turned on her. Regrettably, I couldn’t wait that long.
“How bad is it?” came from behind us, and when I spun around, Zep was standing there, hands in his pockets and facing his brother.
“Bad enough that I want you in my house listening in,” Twitch said tightly.
Zep nodded slowly, and his face looked as tight at Twitch’s response. Evander crossed the street, moving to join his brothers-in-law.
Moments later, Thiago returned, jerking his chin toward the house.
The mass of us walked inside in complete silence as Twitch lead the majority out onto the back porch. Molly took A.J. by the hand. He yawned openly and rubbed at his eyes as she guided him to his room, putting him to bed.
Nobody spoke until she returned, and when Tama went first, I wasn’t expecting what he had to say.
He cleared his throat, gaining attention, and when he held up his cell phone and shook his head, he uttered, “Amoho called. It’s not good.” He looked spooked, and even I knew that for someone like this huge Maori warrior to look the way he did now, the news was indeed not good. “Van Nguyen was discovered in his sister’s bed.”
My face bunched.
Ew. Gross.
When nobody attempted to speak, Tama clarified, “He was stabbed so many times his chest caved in.”
Wait. “He’s dead?” I blinked at him, not expecting that story to take the turn it had.
Tama nodded. “And Ling’s missing.” He faced Julius. “Amoho lost sight of her somewhere on the highway about twenty minutes ago.” His lips thinned. “He’s pretty sure she knew she was being followed.”
Julius hissed in a breath through his teeth, and the strain he wore was plain to see. “Well, fuck.” Ana slipped her hand in Julius’s and they exchanged an apprehensive look that made my stomach hurt.
“There’s more,” Tama went on. “Seems The Dragons wanted a power change.” He made a knowing face. “As far as we know, The Dragon Queen has gone rogue.”
Gone rogue?
Gone rogue?
My stomach twisted painfully and I swallowed hard, sitting in the chair closest to me. My voice was weak. “Well, that doesn’t sound great.”
“No,” Evander agreed. “It doesn’t.”
“Where was she headed? What direction?” asked Twitch, and I knew what he was actually asking.
Was Ling on her way here?
Oh, Lord.
I held my breath.
But Tama just shook his head. “Last we knew, she was headed north.”
North. Away from here. Toward the king.