Page 148 of Crave

“What the fuck are you doing?” He asks.

“He’s sick. I was coming to find you.” I hold my wrists out and stand still, like I’ve been taught.

The second moves closer and drops the end of his Billy club to nail me in the gut. “No one touches him,” he growls through his face shield.

What? Are the guards protecting him too? Or is that why no one will mess with him?

“He’s fine.” The Butcher waves the uniformed man away from me.

Holy shit, that worked.

In moments, two more guys with a stretcher appear and whisk the old man away.

Sven and Ben wait for me in the main corridor.

“He wanted us to keep you safe.” Sven cracks his knuckles as his brother nods.

“Does that mean I’m the king now?” I grin at them.

We’ve become pretty good friends.

Sven is the Butcher’s enforcer, and I’ve seen him fight.

I’m glad he’s on my side. I bet he’d give Jax a run for his money.

Damn. Jax feels like a distant memory, it’s been so long stuck in here.

Lara is the only solid thing I can hope to live for.

Ben grabs my shoulder and squeezes. “There will be trouble. We may need to fight.”

I tighten my fist and my smile gets wider. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

CHAPTER 73

LARA

A month?

I swear the only reason I’m alive is to keep these birds healthy. Mikhail told me to take as much time as I need, and I am.

When was the last time I went to work? Two weeks ago?

I can’t remember.

It’s harder to pay attention without Alexei here.

He would keep me on task. Always with which show he wanted us to watch, or which concert to go to.

Now, there’s nothing.

A blank schedule, and an empty bed.

With a hollow heart.

He was the only one for me. He accepted me for all my faults.

There won’t be another.

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