Page 77 of Act of Brotherhood
Clara stared at her with wide eyes. “Holy shit! The spoon worked!”
“Right?” Nicolette was operating on pure adrenaline. “I didn’t even think about it. I just did it. Why did I do it?”
“Because the pint of pity ice cream was out of reach,” replied Clara, as if this type of thing happened to her daily.
Nicolette took a deep breath. “Shifters are real.”
“Yep,” said Clara before swallowing hard. “Want your mind totally blown? Vampires are real too. Your uncle is one. And before you freak, know that you and I aren’t human. We were cooked up in a lab. Run now. Freak out about it all later.”
Chapter Eighteen
Garth lookedup just as Edee, a hot-tempered redhead who had started working for PSI about two weeks ago, entered the training room, sashaying past the table full of pizza and beer. The men had made a serious dent in it so far.
Edee glanced at the mess on the table and rolled her eyes. Best friends with Malik’s mate, Brooke, Edee had become family of sorts to the men and women of PSI in an extremely short period of time.
He’d first met her five years prior while on a mission in Egypt. She’d been outspoken, carefree, and something of a wild child then. It had been refreshing and endearing. Much had changed in the five years since. Her life had taken a dark twist, and the young woman who came out on the other side was so strong, yet so vulnerable.
It broke what was left of his heart.
It didn’t help that Garth knew his presence unnerved the female.
Not that he could blame her.
His brother Grid had spent months torturing the young woman. Inflicting horrors upon her the likes of which Garth would never know the full truth. He knew Edee couldn’t help but look at him and see the monster who terrified her for so long.
A monster who he not only shared blood with but also shared a face.
Shame filled him.
Garth nodded to Auberi. “Time out.”
The vampire, under normal circumstances, would have told Garth to go fuck himself right before he attacked again. When Auberi glanced over to find Edee there, he nodded and took a step back. He was also very aware of what the young woman had endured, and that it had been at the hands of Garth’s brother.
While they might hate one another, Edee was more important than their grudge.
Malik stepped closer to her. “You’re here late tonight. Want me to give you a ride home?”
Edee was living with Malik, his mate, and his daughter Bethany for the time being. It was for the best. The Corporation would make a play for her again, Garth knew that much. They weren’t ones to back down with ease. It was important Edee be protected at all times. While at work, she was surrounded by endless alpha males willing to sacrifice themselves for her. And while home, she had Malik and all that his protection entailed.
Each time Garth looked at the young woman, guilt consumed him. Had he properly dealt with his brother long ago, when Grid had shown signs of being beyond redemption, she wouldn’t have suffered. The sad truth that the world would be a better place without his brother in it had struck him hard when he’d learned what Edee had endured.
Edee’s blue gaze slid momentarily to Garth. Her pulse quickened, and the smell of fear emanated from her. He knew all the males in the room could sense and smell the changes in the woman’s body.
Malik eased closer to her, clearly aware that she needed to feel safe. He provided that.
“Auberi, your cell was on Malik’s desk.” She held it out for him. “It kept ringing. I thought it might be important. I didn’t mean to interrupt whatever it is you guys are doing. Wait. Whatareyou guys doing?”
Gram waved to her. “Dying of boredom in place of injuries. The two meatheads before you were fighting.”
“Again,” added Striker for good measure. “And we’re still trying to convince Viking that he was high last week. He’s stubborn and does nae believe us.”
Corbin sat on the floor, his legs crossed, eating a slice of pizza. He grinned, and Garth second-guessed thinking the man was the least man-child-like of Team Five.
Hans shrugged. “It’s what they do. You get used to it.”
“Want some popcorn?” asked Striker.
Edee groaned. “No. I don’t like the smell of popcorn. And it’s all over your beard.”
