He turned a dark look Killian’s way and said, “Find out what else you missed,” before walking off.
He headed toward the front door of the clubhouse, his gaze immediately catching on Miles’s pale face, and his steps faltered.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Miles
HIS HEART skipped a beat at the sight of those cars because something inside him had known instantly that this wasn’t friends stopping by for a chat. They were dangerous people, and from what he overheard of the conversation between whom he assumed was their leader and Kaz, it wasn’t a friendly chat. That Kian seemed to know the guy didn’t calm his thundering heart one bit. One of Kian’s dads worked for a mafia boss back in Baltimore, which likely meant that these guys were also mafia.
The second he heard gravel crunching in the driveway, Emma was next to him. She kept her hands close to where she had several knives strapped to her body. He didn’t want to think about her using them. His heart was pounding hard, his vision blurring at the edges. Fear. It was fear. He was fucking terrified of something happening to Emma. He couldn’t lose her. He’d never forgive himself. He was her big brother. He was supposed to protect her always. But what the hell could he do against a dozen big, scary men with guns?
His heart sank.
Nothing. He could do nothing.
The mafia guy grabbed Kian, and Emma surged forward, only held back by Miles’s hand on her arm. He wasn’t letting her get between them, outlaw biker or not. No matter how good he knew she was with those knives. He wasn’t losing his baby sister to whatever the fuck Kaz had gotten the club into.
He was of a mind to drag her the hell out of there just as the mafia men returned to their cars and drove off.
Emma’s sigh only sparked his anger further.
“What the fuck was that?” he demanded, his hand tightening around Emma’s arm.
She gave him a scathing look that had him releasing her and stepping back, hands raised as he mumbled an apology.
Emma pursed her lips, gaze scanning Miles’s face.
“Miles…”
She was deciding whether she could tell him club business or not. That was the part he fucking hated. The secrets. The lies.
“That was a threat, wasn’t it? The fucking mob is coming after you,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “You can’t seriously want to be a part of that?”
Emma shrugged, head shaking as she scrunched her brows, clearly uncertain about what to say. He opened his mouth, but a hand on his shoulder had him sucking in a breath and snapping his head up to see Kaz next to him.
“Come with me,” Kaz said, the touch of his hand burning right through the fabric of his shirt as he guided Miles toward the garage and away from the others.
Kaz pulled open the door and practically shoved Miles inside, turning to close the door behind them. Miles clenched his hands into fists, his teeth grinding hard.
“I told you I let you stay as a courtesy,” Kaz said, dark eyes gleaming with something dangerous. “But while you’re here, you need to abide by our bylaws. You know better than to ask questions.”
He knew Kaz couldn’t make exceptions just for him. It wouldn’t look good to the others. It could undermine his authority.
Did he give a shit? No. Not right then.
He was too fucking pissed, adrenaline still pumping through his veins. If something had happened to Emma… He didn’t want to even think it.
“I’m not a part of your god damned club,” he snapped.
Kaz’s huff only made him glare harder at the man. Kaz took a step forward and was suddenly so close Miles couldn’t breathe without Kaz’s scent washing over him. His throat closed up, and he feared he might choke on it. On that smell he’d tried to forget about for fourteen years.
“I’m well aware and so is everyone else,” Kaz said, his tone dark. “Follow. The damned. Bylaws.”
Miles raised his chin.
“And which bylaws were you following when you cheated on your old lady with me?” he asked, voice low but tinged with the sharpness of the hurt and betrayal he felt.
Kaz’s jaw ticked, and the anger blazing in those grays had Miles swallowing hard and taking a step back.