Page 56 of The MC's Little Brother

“On my way. Am I on speaker?”

“Yes,” I answered, moving slowly toward Xander. If this asshole got trigger-happy, I didn’t want Xander doing something insane like trying to get in the way. I was terrified for Mattias, but I couldn’t step in front of him. I could protect Xander, though.

“Officer, my name is Wyatt Lawson. I’m a lawyer. On what grounds are you threatening to discharge a weapon? Is my client armed?”

The officer sneered. “There is a viable threat in the vicinity and a boy who looked like he got the shit kicked out of him recently. I’m well within my rights to protect the general public. Ma’am, stop moving! Put your hands up!”

His gun shifted my direction and I could almost feel Mattias’s muscles bunch as he thought about moving.

“Mattias, don’t!” I hissed at him.

“Hands up! Both of you!” the officer bellowed.

“Do it,” Wyatt demanded. “Do as he says. Officer, do not discharge that weapon on unarmed civilians. Your station is already in enough trouble.”

Slowly, I raised my hands, watching the nervous cop’s eyes dart around.A nervous cop was a dangerous one. Too many pulled the trigger with just the slightest provocation instead of using their words like they were supposed to. If he had just spoken to us instead of immediately trying to take Xander away, none of this would’ve happened.

I could hear Xander’s panicked breathing from a few feet away. I couldn’t turn my head without drawing the cop’s attention his way, so instead, I spoke up, my voice calm. “Xander. Move away. See the hostess stand? Go wait for us there.”

He made a noise of protest, and I wished I could look at him and reassure him better. I needed him out of the line of sight.

Luckily, the officer didn’t argue with my directions. He jerked his chin at Xander, snapping at him. “Go. I’ll talk to you in a minute.”

“Fuck you!” Xander screamed at him. “Leave my brother alone!”

“Xander,” Mattias growled. “Go. Now.”

Xander began to sob, his choked cries echoing in my ears and breaking my heart. He was so young. He’d been through too much already. I did not want him watching his brother die. I was more than a little grateful that our server was nearby, and carefully edged closer until he could grab Xander’s hand and drag him out of the way.

Thundering footsteps approached and more cops spilled into the little restaurant to back up the asshole in front. A couple swarmed Mattias, shoving him roughly to the ground, while another one grabbed me and forced my hands behind my back.

“Wyatt,” I said quietly. “We’re being arrested. Xander is here alone. He needs a guardian.”

“I’m two minutes out. Don’t–”

“Take him with us,” the officer who had pointed his weapon at us said with a glower. “We don’t need a hostage situation if their gang shows up.”

“Leave me the hell alone!” Xander shouted, darting away from the officers who turned to grab him. “Mattias!”

His terrified cries got Mattias moving, and he tried to force himself off his knees, but the officers wouldn’t allow it. They kneeled on his back, pinning him to the ground, and I heard him grunt from the force of it.

“Don’t! You’ll hurt him!” I screamed.

“Get off him!” Xander made to come to Mattias’s aid, but an officer grabbed him,banding their arms around his and dragging him towards the door.

“He hasn’t done anything! Let him go!” I demanded, fighting against the officer who held my arm. My hands were cuffed behind my back, but I could still hear Wyatt’s heavy breathing as he all out ran to meet us. Tears spilled down my cheeks as Mattias’s face turned red. They were hurting him. How did it all go to hell in such a short amount of time?

Wyatt appeared in the doorway to the restaurant, blocking the officer from dragging Xander away.

“What the hell is going on here?”

“Out of my way or I’ll arrest you too,” the officer holding Xander growled. Xander was putting up a fight, and the officer’s face was all red from the effort of trying to get him away.

“On what grounds?” a striking female voice demanded.

Oh. Wyatt didn’t come alone.

A few of the officers flinched, recognizing the voice, and when Danielle stomped into the room, I could feel the energy change.

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