Page 72 of Property of Fox

“Yes,” I answer without hesitation, surprising even myself. The conviction burns hot in my chest as I glance at Brea, now watching me intently. “I’m claiming Brea.”

Azrael exhales sharply into the phone, a low rumble like thunder before a storm breaks loose. “Fine,” he relents at last. “But if this goes sideways, it’s on you. Your mess to clean up.”

“Understood,” I reply.

“How soon can you get here?”

“Az, I wasn’t asking to bring them…” I trail off as Brea’s eyes snap to mine.

“You can’t protect them there. Coming home is the only option you have right now. Once they figure out the guy they sent is missing, they’ll send more.”

Fine,” I say, feeling Az’s words settle like lead in my stomach. “I’ll make it work. Just give me some time to get everything packed up.”

“Get them moving, Fox. Do it now,” he urges before hanging up.

Turning back to Brea, her expression mirrors the fear brewing inside me. “Wake up, Keira. We need to leave. Now.”

“Leave where?” she asks, confusion mixing with fear in her voice.

This isn’t going to be easy, nothing ever is.

“Home. Back to Lafayette, and Bastard Boilers territory.”

BREA

Fox takesthe wheel for the entire journey, me sandwiched between him and Keira on the bench seat. It's been a mostly silent ride, Keira vocalizing her disapproval of me being brought back to Indiana while Fox stands firm on his decision. The tension hangs heavy between us, casting a frosty veil over the entire trip.

I gaze out the window, watching the blurred lights of towns flicker as we speed by. We’d crossed over the Indiana state line an hour ago. We were close to Lafayette now.

My heart races in sync with the thumping engine beneath us. My stomach twists uncomfortably. Regret swims through every fiber of my being because dragging Fox and his club into this feels selfish. While he was loading the truck this morning, a thought crossed my mind. One that would have spared him, his club, and Keira from the mess I’d made. The Hoosier Hellions wanted me. Not them. Handing myself back over to them would fix this. The Hellions would have what they wanted. Keira would be safe, and Fox and his club didn’t have to go to war over me. The only sacrifice is me. One pitiful life for so many others. It seems like a fair trade, but it’s almost as if Fox was adept at reading minds.

He shoots a sideways glance at me. "You’re thinking too loud, firefly," he says. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

Keira scoffs beside him, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. “She wants you to take her to them.”

Fox grips the steering wheel tighter, those inked knuckles turning white against the dim interior light of the truck. “What? Brea, no. Absolutely fucking not. Why would you even think for a second I’d let you do that?”

I swallow hard at his words. It would be so easy to lay everything bare. A confession woven with panic and dread. I could feel the pull of it carving deeper into my soul.

“Because this is what she does,” Keira interjects. “She puts herself through hell to protect those she cares about. She’s done it for her mom for years.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here.”

“Then, you tell him. Tell him that’s exactly what you’ve been doing your entire life. You give and give until there’s nothing left of you. If I hadn’t gotten you out of there when I did, you’d have never left.”

I grit my teeth, fighting the urge to throw my own words back at Keira, but the truth roots itself in the pit of my stomach. “It’snot like that,” I say, more defensive than I intended. “I’m just trying to keep you two safe.”

Fox’s eyes dart between the road and me. “You think running back to them is going to solve anything? If you go, I’ll follow you.”

“So, will I. I am tired of watching you lose yourself. If his club can help you, you need to let them do it.”

I could feel Fox's eyes piercing through the dimness. It was easier to curl up and let the darkness swallow me than to confront the truth that hung between us.

“I’m not asking you to understand, Keira,” I said, wanting so desperately to strip away this tension. “You don’t know what it’s like." I turned towards Fox, my heart in my throat, trembling with a mix of fear. “But I can’t let them come after you or anyone else."

“It doesn’t matter what they want. You’re not giving yourself over to them.” Fox shot back, his voice steady but laced with pure fire. “I’ve seen what they do to women. One of my club brothers lost his fiancé to them. They left her to rot on his fucking doorstep like a dead field mouse. You crawling back to them will only get you killed. The war will come either way because I’m not going to stop fighting to keep you safe, firefly.”

I turned away from him, staring into the darkness outside. “You don’t understand,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “They won’t stop until they have what they want. If I hand myself over?—”

---