Page 52 of Ginger

"Ginger, listen to me. This isn't your problem to fix."

I felt my jaw tighten. "She's my friend."

"And she's a grown woman who made her choices," Bronx countered, his voice gentle but firm. "Vegas and KiKi will work this out between them."

"And if they don't?" The words escaped before I could stop them.

Bronx's expression hardened slightly. "Then that's still not your business."

The bluntness of his words stung, even though I knew he was right. In this world, getting involved in someone else's drama was a good way to end up as collateral damage.

"I can't just—" I started, but Reno's fingers tightened on my shoulder.

"Yes, you can," he said. "And you will."

I searched his face, looking for some crack in his resolve, some way to make him understand what it felt like to sit here, helpless, while KiKi might be in danger. But his expression remained unyielding.

"Detroit threatened her," I said, a last desperate attempt. "He practically dragged her to Vegas."

"Detroit's an asshole," Bronx said matter-of-factly. "But he's loyal to Vegas. If Vegas thinks the baby is his, Detroit won't touch her."

I let that sink in, trying to find comfort in it. The logic made sense, but logic didn't always apply in this world of violence and testosterone.

Reno pulled me closer, his warmth seeping through my clothes. I inhaled deeply, his scent giving me comfort. His hand traced slow circles on my back, the gentle motion at odds with the hard lines of his body.

"Kitten," Bronx said, his voice dropping to that honey-gravel tone that made my insides melt despite my worry. "KiKi's been in this life longer than you. She knows how to handle herself."

I wanted to believe him. Needed to believe him. But the image of Vegas’ cold eyes kept flashing in my mind.

"What if she doesn't come back?" I whispered against Reno's chest.

His heartbeat thrummed steady under my ear. "She will."

"But if she doesn't—"

"Then we'll deal with it," Bronx cut in, his hand finding my knee. His thumb traced lazy patterns there, the heat of his touch burning through my jeans. "But not before we need to."

The room fell silent except for our breathing. My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I refused to let them fall. Crying wouldn't help KiKi. Nothing I could do would help her right now.

The realization hit me like a physical blow. I was powerless here. In this world of alpha men, I had no standing to intervene. The knowledge settled in my stomach like a stone.

"I hate this," I admitted, my voice barely audible.

Reno's chest rumbled with what might have been a chuckle. "Welcome to the life, Ginger. Nobody said it was pretty."

"I know that," I said, pulling back to look at him. His eyes were dark, unreadable. "But she's pregnant. Doesn't that count for something?"

Bronx's hand slid higher on my thigh, a gesture meant to comfort rather than arouse, though my body didn't seem to understand the distinction.

"It counts for everything," he said. "Vegas isn't a monster, Ginger. He's a businessman. A killer when he needs to be, yeah, but not stupid."

"A baby could be a good thing," Reno added, his breath warm against my temple. "Continues the bloodline. Like I said, Vegas is getting older. An heir might appeal to him."

I hadn't considered that angle. In my panic, I'd only seen the worst possibilities. But what if they were right? What if Vegas, after his initial anger, embraced the idea of fatherhood?

"So she might be okay?" I asked, hating how small my voice sounded.

Bronx's lips curved into a half-smile. "More than okay. If that baby is Vegas’, KiKi just secured herself a position few club girls ever achieve."

---