Page 42 of Blood & Loyalties
“Ghost!” Jag yelled, making me jump.
“Yeah?”
“After you’re done, go out and make sure it’s clear then start the cleanup.”
Ghost disappeared quickly, I assumed getting to business.
I looked down at Scraper. His chest was rising and falling with each breath, and his color looked good. The large knot on the side of his head was gonna hurt like a bitch. Hulk was the same way. Whatever had hit them was gonna give them a horrible headache, but nothing looked too serious, as long as they woke the hell up.
A phone was pushed into my face, and I turned to look into Jag’s eyes.
“Your dad.”
I took the phone, still clutching the gun in the other. “Hey, Daddy.”
“Are you okay?” Concern laced my father’s voice, and I could almost hear a quiver of despair.
“I’m fine. Jag took great care of me.” Really, I had taken care of myself, but that was for another time.
He blew out a deep breath like he had been holding it for a while. “I expect nothing less from him. Are you really okay? Jag said you took the guy out, yeah?”
As I looked back over at the man on the floor, I didn’t feel fear. I didn’t feel anything except ice. The fucker deserved what he had gotten, and if he moved, I would put the bullet in his fucking head and not bat an eye. What did that make me? I wasn’t sure. I didn’t have time right then to piece that shit together, either.
“Really, Dad, I’m good. I promise.”
When he hesitated on the other end of the phone, I was sure he was contemplating whether I was telling him the truth. “You listen to everything Jag says, all right?”
I nodded and then shook my head at myself. He couldn’t freaking see me through the phone.
“Got it.”
“You still got your gun close?”
I looked at my hand, my knuckles white from clutching it so hard. “Yep.”
“Keep it. Your brothers and cousins are on their way. I’m heading over to your uncle’s house.”
“Yeah, Dad.” My veins were pumping hard like I was on some kind of drug, some high that I had never felt before. It rocked.
“Bye. Be safe.”
“Always.” I clicked the phone off.
“Their breathing is steady,” I told Jag, “but if they don’t wake up soon, you’ll need to take them to the hospital to get looked at for a concussion.”
Jag wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close. I breathed in the scent of him and wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my head in his chest.
“You kicked fucking ass,dolcezza. You made me so proud.” He pulled my lips to his in a scorching kiss.
“Not the fucking time for that shit.” Val growled.
When I looked over at him, he was seething mad. My first instinct was to go over and comfort him, but it wouldn’t help, not when he was that angry.
“Calm your ass down. Now.” Jag scowled. “You don’t talk to her like that.”
Val’s nostrils flared, and from the clenching of his fists, I could see that he was ready to throw down. It was because I got too close to the business. I knew it. He had never wanted me to be involved, and there I was, smack in the middle of it.
I turned, putting my back to Jag and getting in the middle of the two men.
