Page 58 of Frenemies

I almost peeked around the corner to find out before Jax’s voice boomed out, “Come on out, little brother.”

Beast shook his head while Mannix clutched onto my arm as if he was afraid I’d go out there. They didn’t have anything to worry about—I knew when I was being baited. Good thing I was prepared.

“You didn’t say Simon says.”

“You want to play games, little brother? Fine.”

I didn’t have to see Jax to know that his jaw was clenched. “Let’s play twenty questions. Who’s pretty little blonde girlfriend am I going to pay a visit to tonight?”

This time it was my jaw that clenched along with my fists. Tanner, on the other hand. . .

He folded his hands in prayer, looked up at the celling, and whispered, “Please, let it be mine.”

We all arched a brow at that. Ava was a tiny little thing, but after seeing what she did to that van, I had to admit, I was curious how a meeting with her and my brother would go. Hell, I was a tad intrigued as to how Jax would take Naomi. She wasn’t as fragile as she seemed.

“Gotta say, Chase. Your taste in women has come a long way. Sam was kind of plain, but Naomi?” Jax clicked his tongue. “I could have some fun with a piece like that.”

Tanner muttered out a, “Damnit,” which made Beast shake his head.

It took everything I had to stop myself from charging out there and punching my brother in the face.

“Careful, Jax. You wouldn’t want to piss off her daddy. Might mess up your business arrangement.”

He was quiet for a second before responding with, “What do you know about that?”

“You mean the Aurora?” I paused for a second, then lied, “Everything.”

Jax snorted. “If that were true, then you’d know I’m worth more to her daddy than she is.”

What really pissed me off about that statement was how true it was. Naomi’s father had told me so himself with four words. ‘She’s just a girl.’

“In fact,” Jax sang. “I think I’ll pay her a visit now.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Before you do, how about one round of Simon Says? I guarantee you’ll like this one.”

Jax laughed out right. “Sure, little brother. What do ya got for me?”

Oh, I got something alright.

I smiled at Beast and Mannix, whose eyes widened when I pulled a grenade out of my pocket. Tanner didn’t share in their wariness. When I pulled out the pin, he jumped up and clapped, face full of glee.

“Simon says, duck and cover asshole.” Was all the warning Jax got before I tossed the grenade right at his cooking lab.

It bounced off the ground filling the area with an ominous, ‘Tink, tink, tink,’ Then rolled under a table.

Beast yelled, “Motherfucker.” He grabbed Mannix and headed for the back window, which he promptly smashed out.

Tanner and I followed. He dove through the broken glass while I paused long enough to lock eyes with my brother as he was running out the front door. Our gazes met for less than a fraction of a second, but years’ worth of memories passed through that look.

The way his chest puffed out with pride on my wedding day—how he used to hold my hand across the street and tuck me in at night. Then the anger in his face when our old man left the club to me.

The explosion that rocked through the sky helped push me through the broken window. The only thing I could think of when I hit the ground with a thud was the promise in my brother’s face. I had to get to Naomi before he did.

“This is where you grew up?”

If Bailey didn’t close her mouth, she was going to start catching flies. She’d been gawking out the window since we got here. I suppose to someone like her, my hometown might seem overwhelming.

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