Page 110 of Three of a Kind

“My men asked for help.” Ranger shrugs, making his brown curls bounce. “I’m not in the business of ignoring the call when a coworker asks for assistance, let alone two men I consider friends. Trust me when I say the number of people I would use that word for is very small, and somehow, they made the cut.”

“He also promised that I could have a firsthand view of watching our family fall.” The third man approaches with his hand extended. “Locke, but you may know me as Declan Barrett.”

A shiver runs down my spine.

“Avan’s older brother,” Bless says.

It clicks into place, but I was under the impression he died years ago.

I stare for so long that it seems rude, so I raise a hand and shake his. If nothing else, I trust Bless, and the only one she seems to view as a threat is Soren.

The thought instantly sends my eyes darting around as I search for the dogs. I can’t believe they’d allow strangers in without, at the very least, barking a warning.

“Where are Nova and Haze?” I ask around the lump in my throat. “You didn’t hurt them, did you?”

“They’re in that pathetic excuse for a backyard,” Ranger says blandly. “I’ve known them since they were puppies. Of course, I didn’t hurt them.”

“Well, you scared the hell out of me,” I say before I can hold it back. I vaguely remember a conversation where Maverick told me about their boss. Only, it took until the terror wore off for me to remember his name. “I’m too pregnant for jump scares and guns being inches away from my face.”

Gunner’s fury smacks into me in the bond a second before he rounds the corner from the hallway into the kitchen where Bless first entered. He nods at Soren, and the dogs run in after him.

Nova immediately beelines for me, but Haze circles the room, sniffing everyone.

Gunner takes off toward Ranger.

I don’t know how I’m expecting him to greet his boss—friend—whatever, but it’s not by slamming his fist into the taller man’s face.

Gunner doesn’t stop there.

He launches himself at Ranger.

They end up on the ground as Gunner kneels over Ranger, slamming his fist into his face.

“One fucking time,” Gunner snarls. “You get one motherfucking time of pulling a gun on my omega. Do it again, and I’ll kill you myself.”

“He didn’t actually point the gun at me,” I call out in clarification as my hands fly to my face. The crunching sounds are brutal. “He was aiming at Bless, but then the other guy came in and aimed his gun at the guy you’re trying to kill…” I shut up about the time I realize I’m not helping.

“They’re not trying to kill each other,” Soren says in a calm tone that doesn’t seem to match the atmosphere of what’s happening.

I scoff.

He twists to face me. “Ranger deserves what he’s getting. Gunner is simply wiping the slate clean, so we can collectively focus on the true adversary.”

His words send a shiver down my spine, but he might be right because, a second later, Gunner climbs off Ranger.

Nova continues to bump her head against my hand, but I’m frozen and unable to pet her.

Gunner and Maverick work with these people.

Ranger used the word friend.

Noble killed the men who tried to run me over.

I bonded a pack of men who are just as dangerous as my ex. They just happen to have limits and morals, where Avan has none.

Gunner swipes at his bloody lip, approaching me slowly.

Bless gives me a small shove on the rump, but I was going to meet him in the middle.

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