Page 45 of Facet

“Fuck. Well, I’m beat, and I’m sure Jazz is waiting up for you. You’re normally home by now.” I ran a hand through my hair as I stared up at the night sky. The moon was nearly full, and the stars twinkled brightly.

I stopped with my hand on the door handle. “Thanks, bro.”

“It’s no problem. I really wish it wasn’t so… invasive and overwhelming when I touch someone. Then, I could do more,” he muttered.

“Bro, I get it. Don’t worry—what you did, it was great. Hopefully, Séamus knows someone who recognizes the guy. Maybe that’s where he went, to ask around.”

We went inside and Chains cut straight through to go out the front and head home. I went back to my room.

Willow’s dark red hair was spread across my pillows, and I watched with an irregular flutter in my heart for her chest to rise and fall. Would I forever worry that she died on me? Wouldn’t it be better if she was immortal as well? But would she want that?

Suddenly bone tired, I hung up my cut and stripped out of my boots and clothes, letting them fall to the floor. Then I crawled under the sheet and wrapped my arm around her waist. Barely able to keep my eyes open, I dragged her small body against mine and reveled in the warmth of her soft skin.

“I love you,” I whispered into her hair before pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. Content, I couldn’t help but think about how much had changed in a few short weeks. It boggled my mind that I had believed feelings like this were all fairy tales.

As I drifted off to sleep, I cupped my hand around her tit, and she snuggled her ass into my dick. We fit perfectly together, and I couldn’t believe it had taken me that long to stop being stubborn.

The next morning, she woke me up with a blowjob, and I tried to stop her. I really did. She had almost died the night before. It didn’t feel right. Until she whispered, “I didn’t die, so let me live.”

She may have been living, but I was seeing stars. Once my brain re-solidified, I returned the favor, then we showered. She insisted on making breakfast, but I helped. By the time we were eating, the other brothers were slowly shuffling into the kitchen. They all filled a plate and took a seat at the communal table.

It made me smile that though we had a shit ton of tables out by the bar, everyone gathered in the kitchen. We ate together like a family.

I was putting my dishes in the dishwasher when I saw the time. My eyes popped open wide, and I glanced over my shoulder. Though Ghost and Laila were walking out of the room, everyone else was finishing their food and getting up from the table.

“Go,” Willow whispered. The corner of my mouth lifted, and I brushed a kiss over her cheek. Then I grabbed my laptop from where I’d left it while we cooked and booked it across the room and through the common area. The scrape of chairs on the concrete floor was followed by boots pounding on the floor behind me.

With one hand, I hooked the corner of the wall and flung myself down the hall. When I burst through the chapel door, I was grinning. Venom and Hawk sat in their seats, trying to hide their smiles. The rest of my brothers were pushing their way through the door.

“Goddamnit,” Squirrel grumbled as he was the last through the door.

We all laughed.

“Squirrel’s cleaning the shitters!” Chains barked.

Squirrel lifted a middle finger as he slouched in his seat. “I hate you guys,” he muttered. Someone snickered.

I was opening my computer as Kicker called the meeting to order. He went over the meeting notes from the last church, and everyone agreed they were accurate.

“First order of business is what happened last night. I know what Willow said and what she’s afraid of, but no motherfucker comes into one of our businesses and does that shit,” Venom announced.

There was a chorus of agreement that went up, and my heart swelled at the way my brothers came together to protect what was ours. Didn’t matter if it was our families or our livelihood—someone fucked with one, they fucked with all.

“Angel, you doing all right?” Venom asked, his usual gruffness softening a bit.

“Since Facet’s old man took over, I didn’t have much of a recovery period. I feel great, but thanks,” he replied with a crooked grin.

Venom and Hawk gave a satisfactory nod.

“Now we need to decide what we’re gonna do about the guy responsible.” Venom’s face was grave as he met our gazes one by one. “Chains made this drawing of him. He saw him in the vision that he had from Willow’s shirt.”

He handed the copy he’d made to me. Smoothing it out, I fought the burning need for vengeance that swirled in the darkest recesses of my soul, then I passed it around. Each brother studied it long enough to memorize its details before handing it to the next one.

“I already ran his face through my facial recognition software and came up empty,” I muttered. The software I’d developed was far superior to anything on the market or used by government agencies. I knew I could’ve made a killing off of it, but I had enough money, and I didn’t feel like sharing with anyone.

“Anyone recognize him from a passing encounter?” Hawk asked.

Unfortunately, everyone shook their heads.

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