Page 144 of The Broken Note

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Zane grumbles.

“Put me down at once!”

With a cocky nod at his brothers, Zane says, “I’ll explain things to her. In private.”

Dutch nods. “Have fun.”

Sol shakes his head and sighs.

Finn doesn’t stop playing his bass, but he does look up in acknowledgement. I can tell he approves despite his expression not changing much.

My heart rams against my ribs. Adrenaline quickens my pulse.

Are they letting Zane kidnap our teacher? Are they insane?

“Zane, stop.” I bounce to the edge of my seat. If they won’t do anything, I will.

Miss Jamieson helped me out so much at Redwood. After Mulliez got kicked out, she was my only ally. I can’t sit by while Zane carries her away like Tarzan with Jane.

I take a step forward.

But one step is all I get.

Before I can react, Dutch grabs me by the waist and drags me into his lap. I land with a thud, falling against his hard thigh.

“What are you doing? I need to help her.”

“No, you don’t.”

I squirm. “She’s our teacher.”

“She’s something else to him,” Dutch says cryptically. I lift my head to his darkened gaze.

I see that he’s serious, and that he’s not going to share more.

What the hell is going on between Zane and Miss Jamieson? And why did Dutch call her family?

Sol lazily climbs to his feet. I glance up. With us sitting down and him standing, he looks extremely tall. None of The Kings are under six feet but, for some reason, Sol feels like a giant.

He looks down at me, his face impossible to read. “Congratulations on your engagement.”

“We are not engaged.”

“Thanks.” Dutch captures my hand and presses a kiss to my ring finger.

I grit my teeth.

Sol says nothing more, but if he keeps scowling like that, the expression is going to get permanent. His footsteps thump as he leaves the room, slamming the door behind him.

“I’mnot going anywhere,” Finn says to his brother. He keeps plucking the bass strings. “So unless you want an audience, I suggest you keep your handsaboveyour fiancée’s skirt.”

“Read the room, Finn,” Dutch mutters.

Finn smirks. I get the sense that heletsDutch lead the group because he couldn’t be bothered. But he’s always waiting. Watching. Calm as a still river with a rushing current underneath.

Dutch flips Finn the bird.

Finn rolls his eyes.

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