Page 7 of Echoes of Fear

It’s not often that my old friend gets angry, but when he does, he’s damn scary. Ben will be one lucky bastard if he’s able to actually walk out of this building on his own.

“If you so much as look at him wrong, I will remove your eyes from your skull and offer it to him on a silver platter. Got it?”

“He’d hate that gift,” one of the women whispers, causing the other one to giggle.

Blaze drops Ben to the floor and walks towards the hallway we were warned about going near.

They said their friend was attacked last year and, as a result, is now afraid to leave their clubhouse. I don’t know all of the details, and it’s none of my business anyway, but knowing this man is a Little and was hurt makes me angry enough to shoot Ben myself.

I watch Blaze disappear, only looking away when the short, curvy woman sits on the floor between King’s parted legs and looks at me.

This must be Madeline.

“He has agoraphobia,” she says. “That’s the medical term for it. This is his safe place, and he might shut down when he sees so many new faces. Please, just be patient with him.”

“Be kind, too,” the other woman says from where she’s sitting on Venom’s lap. “Knox has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. He’ll do everything he can to help with whatever you ask.”

“You have my word, ladies,” I promise. “I’m sorry about Ben. He’s a bit of an idiot.”

“He’ll be a dead idiot if he upsets Knox,” Ghost says.

“Agreed,” I growl, looking pointedly at the idiot.

The room falls silent as Blaze and Steel enter the room with their Head of Security tucked safely between them.

I know the bond my friends have with this man is strong. They’ve felt protective of him since they set their eyes on him years back. They’ve told me numerous times that Knox has always felt like their little brother, and they would protect the man with their lives.

I’ve never gotten the opportunity to meet him because the guys never wanted him to go to Obsidian Oasis. Vetted or not, there are some pretty sick fucks with some pretty sick kinks that come to scene with Subs. I can understand why they wouldn’t want him there.

I’m just glad they’ve moved the Little’s section to an area where they don’t have to pass the main area to reach it.

Little’s shouldn’t see things like that. Unless it’s something they specifically ask for, of course.

The trio stops several feet from where we’re sitting and turns to face us. Blaze and Steel stand tall and seem wider than they were minutes ago.

They’re doing whatever they can to make their friend feel protected.

“Everyone, this is Knox,” Blaze says. “Knox, this is our buddy Taylor and his club, the Dark Sentinels.”

Knox looks up, and I see him for the first time. He looks so sad. So lost.

And so fuckin’ beautiful.

“Taylor, would you introduce your club?” Steel asks.

I open my mouth to speak, but Knox beats me to it.

“No need,” he says shyly, looking at my chin.

He nods his head to each of my brothers as he speaks.

“Jacob Reynolds, thirty-three years old. Born April 13, 1990, to Bridget and Scott Reynolds. He was wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his sister, and upon his release, he sought and killed the man responsible when the police said there wasn’t anything more they could do.

Ryan Mitchell, thirty-nine years old. Born December 10, 1985, to Angel and Dan Mitchell. Orphaned from the time he was thirteen but eventually adopted by his foster parents. He spends his free time at the nursing home visiting patients with no family. For some unknown and crazy reason, he hates chocolate.

Nathan Parker, twenty-nine years old. Born March 24, 1995, to Sabrina Parker. Father unknown. I could probably find out with some more information. Nathan builds motorcycles from the ground up, but I personally don’t think he charges enough. When he’s not building bikes, Nathan likes to go camping.

Christopher Sullivan, thirty-one years old. Born July 1, 1993, to Connie and Frank. He has three older brothers, one older sister, and four younger sisters. He has a limp when he walks because of something that happened in his past that I don’t feel comfortable sharing without his permission.

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