Page 42 of Fatal Temptation

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Diesel growled.

Akio glanced at Lucas out of the corner of his eye and the worry he saw on the man’s face did painful things to his insides. He could tell that Lucas wanted to cross the room, that he wanted to be the one checking Akio over for injuries, but he couldn’t with Chris and Diesel there. They hadn’t even had a chance to talk about what they were. Sharing anything right now would be foolish.

“Your Savage Rebel friends got arrested,” Lucas said to Diesel. “They arrested Akio, too.”

He gave Lucas a less-than-pleased glare. He didn’t need to lead with that.

“Arrested?” Chris sputtered.

“What for?” Diesel asked, narrowing his eyes at Akio.

“The cops think I’m a Rebel or involved with them because they’re protective of me.”

Diesel opened his mouth, then clenched his jaw for a moment before he cursed. “They’re only protective of you because I asked them to be.”

“Try explaining that to the cops,” Lucas said, arching a brow at Diesel.

Diesel shook his head and drawled, “That wouldn’t go over well.”

“I know,” Akio said with a shrug. “Which is why I called Luc. He got me out.”

Chris crossed his arms and said, “You should’ve called us. At least after.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to worry you.”

“That went well, didn’t it? Who the hell are these assholes, anyway?” Diesel asked, nudging the closest of the bodies with the toe of his shoe.

Lucas sighed. “Traffickers. From a case I’m working on. We just blew open their operation and I guess they decided to get some payback.”

Chris snapped his head toward Lucas, anger blazing in his eyes.

“You brought Akio here when you knew there was a target on your back?”

Lucas raised his hands, taking a step back as he said, “I didn’t know. I would never have brought him here if I thought it would put him in danger.”

Akio glanced at Diesel, not at all surprised to find unbridled anger in his brother’s gaze. His husband was watching them all somberly, but he thought he saw something resembling understanding in Chris’ eyes.

“At which point during all this did you decide to fuck my brother?”

Akio snapped his head up just in time to see Diesel charge at Lucas. When Diesel’s fist landed on Lucas’ left cheek, he jerked back with a wince. Fortunately, Chris was there to wrap his arms around Diesel and pull him away from Lucas before he landed more hits.

“First you try to get with my partner and now with my baby brother?” Diesel hissed at Lucas.

“He’s an adult,” Lucas said, rubbing his sore cheek.

“Barely,” Diesel snapped. “You’re also not taking into account the shit he’s been through.”

“Or perhaps I’m the only one who sees beyond that trauma.”

Akio lifted his head, eyes landing on Lucas who was staring at him, those green eyes of his burning with unsaid words.

“Oh, fuck you,” Diesel yelled and almost got free from Chris’ hold.

“I suggest you leave,” Chris said to Lucas, a threat clear in his tone.

Lucas shook his head, then winced. “No. We all need to go. Unless these guys followed me, which they didn’t, then there’s only one way they got my address.”

“You have a leak.”

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