Page 84 of Levee

Uncle Will shot me a raised brow look just as I heard the stomp of footsteps moving down the hall.

My uncle reached for his shotgun as someone knocked on his door.

“It’s Seeley and Cato,” I said, giving Jade a squeeze before moving off of the couch and across the apartment to open the door. “In here,” I said, getting nods from them as they moved into Jade’s place.

“Oh, honey,” Seeley said, looking at Jade’s throat.

“Will,” Cato said, eyeing my uncle’s shotgun.

“We need to go do some… knocking on doors,” I told my oldest friends.

“Sounds fun,” Cato said. “Jade, do you think you’d want some company? Think Rynn would like to come hang out.”

And Rynn was capable of taking care of herself. Of the both of them.

As much as my uncle’s shotgun was some form of deterrent, a more highly-trained person with a gun would be even better.

“Or, if you’d rather, you can go hang out at Teddy’s fancy-ass penthouse,” Seeley offered, knowing Teddy would never turn down a woman in need of a place to stay. “With Rynn, if you’d like.”

Jade looked torn. Likely wanting an escape, but not feeling comfortable accepting help.

“I hear Teddy has the best selection of ice cream and ice pops in the greater Miami area,” I said, lying through my teeth, but Teddy had people who could get him anything he wanted at any time, day or night.

“You could also discuss his hopes for the art at the hotel while you’re there,” I went on.

“Okay,” she agreed, nodding.

“Why don’t you feed the fish and pack a little bag while we call Rynn and Teddy?” I said.

With that, we moved out into the hall, my uncle included.

“Thanks for coming to save her,” I told Uncle Will as the apartment door closed behind us.

“Heard her scream,” he said, shrugging. “Don’t even know if this thing works anymore,” he added, tapping his gun. “But it did the trick.”

I nodded at Seeley, who reached for a handgun, giving it to my uncle.

“Just in case,” I said. “That one works. We’re gonna handle this, but I want to make sure you’re prepared if anyone comes foryou now that you’re involved. Never know how brutal local crews around here can be.”

I gave the guys a quick breakdown of the story before calling Teddy to request that Jade stay with him for a bit before making my way back into Jade’s apartment.

She was standing in front of the fish tank, a bag at her feet, watching the fish swim up to the surface of the water and eat the food she’d dropped in.

“You okay?” I asked, moving in behind her to wrap my arms around her waist.

She wasted no time turning in my arms, wrapping her arms around me and holding on tight.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”

“Me too. About my shit,” I told her.

“In both of our defense, things are… new,” she said, nuzzling her face into the crook of my neck.

“Yeah,” I agreed as my hands drifted up and down her spine. “Hey, I’m an arms-dealing bikerisn’t exactly first or second date conversation.”

“Neither isHey, some bad guys might be after me,” she agreed. “I don’t want you to get hurt trying to put a stop to this.”

“I won’t.”

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