Page 11 of Echoes of Fear

“Woah.”

Turning, I see Knox looking at Ben and then me. He leans into his friend and whispers something to her.

“It really was,” she sighs, fanning herself.

“Madeline,” King growls.

“Sorry, big guy,” she giggles. “There’s nothing wrong with looking, right?”

“As much as I appreciate your attention, I actually like breathing,” I tell King’s woman as she continues to ogle me. “Which is something I won’t be doing unless you get your man’s jealousy under control.”

I smile when she starts laughing at King glaring at me. But I’m not an idiot. Friend or not, that man will kill me with a smile on his face when it comes to his woman.

A pang hits my heart at what I don’t have.

“I’m ready,” Knox says, causing that pang to vanish completely.

Nope. Knox is not the one I want. He’s way too fuckin’ pure. I would drive him away within a week. Besides, right now, my full attention needs to be on the task at hand.

Ignoring the anger and fear in the back of my head, I start talking.

“I need help finding someone,” I say.

“Oh,” he says, jumping up. “Be right back.”

“Hayes, why don’t you and Parker take Ben back to my house and lock him in the basement. I’ll deal with him when I finish up here.”

“Boss, Titan hates Ben. He’ll attack him the second he walks through the door without you there to stop it,” Hayes reminds me.

“Do I look like I give a fuck?”

The men grunt as they do as they’re fuckin’ told.

“I mean this as no offense,” Sophie says. “But, if you own your own security company, why do you need Knox’s help finding someone?”

“Sentinel Security specializes in keeping people safe using our bodies,” Sullivan answers. “We don’t have a member that is smart enough to do what we need done.”

“So, all of you are part of the Sentinel Security?” Madeline asks shyly. “Is it part of your club?”

“It’s an extension of their club,” Knox answers as he retakes his spot on the floor. “They have an extension like we do with Ghost’s nightclub and the twins club, Oasis. Which is why this meeting had to happen in the first place. With two motorcycle clubs occupying the same location, it’s important to know if they will clash or meld.”

Knox licks his lips and coughs a couple of times.

Standing, I walk to the kitchen area and grab a bottle of water from where the case sits on the counter. I casually walk over and place the bottle next to Knox on the floor before returning to my seat.

“Drink it,” I order when he looks at me wide-eyed. “You’re dehydrated, sweetheart.”

“Oh,” he mutters, reaching for the bottle and taking a few drinks.

“Good boy,” I praise.

Blaze clears his throat, and I glance up into a knowing grin.

Fucker.

“Do we have club business squared away?” Venom asks. “We need to get back home and relieve the sitter. I don’t like being away from my kids for too long.”

“We’re good,” Ghost answers. “If anything else comes up, I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.”

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