Page 16 of Indecent Villain

“Not making much sense, but I hear you.”

I grunt in response. “Heard from Edgar yet?”

Just as I ask the question, Salem’s phone beeps. He reads the message and winces.

“You’re wanted at the house,” he says.

“Why?” I ask, distracted.

A sleek black sports car moves slowly down the street. Salem is speaking to me, but I don’t make sense of his words as I keep my focus on the car. Blood rushes around in my veins when the window lowers. Seconds before I see the barrel of a gun, I recognize Cannon Edge. He's pointing the gun directly at me, a smirk playing on his lips. Panic sets in as I realize the danger I'm in, and Salem's urgent voice finally breaks through my shock. As though in sync, I turn and grab Salem as he grabs me. We hit the sidewalk, taking cover behind my SUV. Two rounds explode into the night. Chaos erupts. Screams fill the air as guests waiting in line to get inside the club scatter.

“Edge,” I hiss. “That bastard won’t get away with this.”

Salem peers out from behind the SUV. “They’re gone.”

I clamber to my feet and brush off my clothes. My eyes scan the area for any injured, but I don’t see anyone on the ground.

Salem curses. “They took out the fucking tires. Bastards.”

Sirens break into my thoughts, and with a wince, I glance at Salem. “We don’t identify the driver.”

“I didn’t see him anyway," Salem responds. He shakes his head and approaches the bouncers for a quick word.

I stand with my hands on my hips, my eyes seeking out anyone who might be out there to report back to Edge. I don’t see anyone. Zilch. This was a warning. If Cannon Edge wanted to take me out, then he would have used a sniper with a high-powered rifle. The asshole wouldn’t want anything traced back to him.

Salem returns to my side. “A team is on the way to change the tires. Blaze will drive it back to the house,” he says. “We need to get to Edgar.”

“Kinsley?” I hold his gaze.

“The girl is fine. The house is secure, and Jock is on alert.”

Three cop cars pull up. “I don’t think we’re going to get the car fixed anytime soon.”

Ryan pulls upoutside the Lake House. Edgar has someone in the outbuilding. The man is hard and dangerous, more lethal than Salem, which is saying a lot.

Following the path around the house, I veer off to where a large storage building is located.

“I wasn’t sure what to do,” Edgar says when I step inside.

“About?”

“You’ll see.” He indicates for me to look over his shoulder.

Salem lets out a string of curses. “What the fuck, Edgar!”

Impatient, I look toward the man strung up to an overhead drain with his face lowered. There is something about him that I recognize. My eyes widen when he lifts his face. “Bastard,” I curse with a glance at Edgar.

“I caught him snooping around,” Edgar says.

“I wasn’t snooping. I was coming to talk to you,” says Xavier Edge. “I didn’t want to be spotted.”

Edgar snorts.

“Untie him,” I demand.

Salem steps forward and does my bidding.

“Xavier, why are you here?” I ask. “Your brother will be pissed when he finds out.”

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