Page 16 of Room One Hundred and Seven: Catch and Claim

“Now,” I grin at my brothers, knowing we’re on the same page, “we catch her. She’s been running long enough.”

CHAPTER 7

DOMINIC

Kirby hasn’t allowed us to get all that close to her over the last few days, not since the night that we barged into the room where she was having a session with a sub. I know I’m not the only one affected by what happened that night, and I’m not just talking about Wolfe and Hendrix either.

There have been moments when I’ve caught Kirby watching us out of the corner of her eye. I swear I could see longing in her eyes, even as she tried to ignore us. Watching her talk to Charlie and other men who approached her had me considering going on a killing spree.

The only thing holding me back was the knowledge of how disappointed she would be if we gave into the blood lust. The only person I’ve ever been worried about disappointing is my mom. And now Kirby. It’s kind of a mind fuck.

What has kept me going, what has keptusgoing, are the small moments when we’ve been able to talk to Kirby.

Honestly, I was expecting her to freeze us out completely, but we’ve been able to have short conversations with her from time to time over the last few days. It wasn’t like we talked about anything serious, and we sure as fuck didn’t bring up her past or the role that we played in it. Still, they’ve been little momentsworth cherishing.

It’s felt like walking through a field and picking flowers along the way. I’ve tucked each interaction into my soul, creating a bouquet slowly, one full of meaning. I hope she feels the same way, but it’s hard to get a read on her.

I know Hendrix and Wolfe feel the same way, maybe not the flower part though. But, hell, you never know. It wouldn’t be surprising to know they feel something similar.

Not knowing if Kirby is there with us is hard, but I also know I can’t push her. At least I haven’t been able to yet.

Tonight is different though because we had to do some work and couldn’t ignore it. Not that we would have, but it’s possible that we would have tried. Considering the reports we’ve gotten about some of Mikhail’s associates selling drugs on the streets of Seattle, we had no choice but to try and track someone down and put the fear of the devil and his demons in their heart.

Since our hunt was a bust, I’m on fucking edge.

Not only are we late getting to Club Sin to see our woman, but we don’t have anything to show for it. Blood is pumping through my veins and I’m just enough on the edge of my control to be dangerous.

Not to my Phoenix; never to her.

The moment we step into the main room of Club Sin, I see Charlie following Kirby like a lost fucking puppy. I don’t even think about it as I stride over to her and throw her over my shoulder without missing a step. I can feel Wolfe and Hendrix at my back.

Charlie makes a small yelping sound, but I shoot him a look, one I hope conveys that Kirby isn’t in danger from me and that he needs to back the fuck off.

“We’ve got her, Charlie,” Hendrix murmurs.

Wolfe moves in front of me, and I know, without him saying a damn thing, that he’ll make sure to intercept anyone who tries to stop me. Kirby lands a punch to my kidney that has me letting out a low, painfilled grunt, but it doesn’t stop me.

Nothing could stop me right now.

Not her anger.

Not her fire.

Not a damn person stepping into my path.

I need our woman. This day has been complete shit, even more so after the pure torture of not having our woman in my arms for the last few days. I can’t do it anymore. I won’t.

I’ve been trying to not push her, but I think she needs a little shove. Normally, I think long and hard about my actions, but I also listen to my instincts. We need this.

It only takes a few minutes to get back downstairs and leave The Centennial building behind me. I only shift my hold on our woman when I’m standing at our SUV. Wolfe opens the door, and I slide into the backseat with Kirby on my lap.

Her eyes, normally more like a slate blue, are practically glowing and have turned a brighter blue. I’m mesmerized for a moment and don’t see her hands move until it’s almost too late. Just before she can land a punch to my jaw, I grip her wrist but make sure it’s not enough to hurt her.

I make a tsking sound and shake my head slowly. “Violence isn’t the answer, little Phoenix,” I admonish her.

She narrows her eyes, her voice downright glacial, “Abduction isn’t the answer either.”

When the front doors of the vehicle slam closed, she startles slightly, her eyes widening as if she just realized exactly what kind of situation she’s in. I expect her to come at me again with her claws, but she scrambles off my lap and presses herself to the opposite door.

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