Page 76 of Conquered

I flexed my hand, realizing my knuckles would bruise. The pain and discoloration were worth enjoying. “You obviously didn’t know me very well. Did ya? We had a reputation to uphold so I kept my end of the bargain.”

Creed muttered something under his breath as he pulled out his phone. “I guess I need to cancel the cleanup crew. It would be awkward to have them show up now.”

Both Styx and I laughed, my oldest brother putting his arm around my shoulder. “One big happy family,” he said. “Soon to be bigger.”

“Don’t push. I’m not ready for marriage or baby carriages.”

“Give it time,” he added. “Just give it time.”

Time.

It was an interesting concept and one I’d taken for granted, believing my life would end at any point. Now, I was looking forward to the future.

“Let me offer one last piece of advice, brother,” Creed said as we reached the SUV. “Ne tykayte medvedya, yesli ne gotovy vyrvat’ yemu serdtse.”

“Since when the fuck do you speak Russian?” Styx barked.

“I don’t but it’s a saying a Russian college buddy of mine told me once and it applies here. Don’t poke the bear unless prepared to rip out his heart.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re worried the article will cause retaliation.”

“Very much so, which is typically easy to handle,” Creed continued. “However, since we don’t know who we’re dealing with, I’m going to offer a suggestion that you keep your relationship professional with Sara until we do know who’s behind it. You refuse guards and your security system isn’t as powerful as you think it is.”

“I can take care of her,” I insisted, although he was right in that playing dangerous games often resulted in a bloody outcome. “My security system is topnotch and besides, I made it perfectly clear that the lady belongs to me. Period.”

“Now, he’s possessive,” Styx said, the amusement in his voice annoying for some reason.

“Listen to me, Easton. You can’t protect her against an army and my guess is whoever planned this has soldiers behind him. Whether you believe you’re the Angel of Death or not, the fact is that you’re one man in a world full of those who would do anything to step in our shoes. I do mean anything. If you’ve claimed her then she has a target on her back.”

“Then I’ll allow my beast to come out and play should the boogeyman attempt to take what’s mine.” There were no secrets in the family, my two brothers likely sharing a glass of whiskey as they made fun of my efforts. Maybe I was more than a little annoyed.

I’d also meant what I said. While I knew Creed meant well, he’d underestimated my abilities for years, much more than Styx had ever done.

“You’re not fucking Superman, Easton, no matter what you think. If you want, I’ll send several of my soldiers to guard your house so you can feel safe.”

There was no real reason for his offer to set me off, but it did more than almost anything he’d said before. Within seconds, I’d thrown myself across the vehicle, one hand yanking the weapon from the holster, pressing the barrel against his cheekbone, the other firmly wrapped around his neck. “Be careful what you say to me, brother. I’ve been known to snap a man’s neck with a quick jerk of my hand. I doubt you want to find out what that feels like.”

“Whoa. What the fuck are you doing?” Styx hissed as he tried to pull me off.

“Back off, brother. This isn’t your fight.”

Creed gripped my arm but said nothing, although his face was turning red, which I enjoyed very much.

“Yeah, it is. Whether we like it or now, we’re a fucking family. And some asshole is determined to bring us down. We need cool heads, not flying off the handle. Get off him.”

I cocked my head, allowing Creed to see the hatred I felt for him and always had. “Always the crass one. Always the one who thinks he knows more than anyone else. Well, guess what, brother? You’re no match for me.” I pressed the cold, hard steel into his forehead before shaking it away with an exaggerated motion.

When I let go of his throat, he took a deep breath before gasping and coughing.

I walked away, pacing the street. I heard thunder in the distance and sighed.

Styx was suddenly behind me. “What the fuck?”

“He’s an asshole.”

“Yeah? Well, right now, the last thing we need is inner fighting. If the mysterious prick learns this, he or she will use it against us. I don’t think you want that precious and perfect life of yours destroyed. Do you?”

Precious and perfect. Neither man had any clue that I’d always been a ticking timebomb. I took a deep breath, looking away for fear I’d say something I would regret.

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