Page 112 of Fight or Flight
“The building’s been put on lockdown,” I tell him as my blade catches on the mechanism. “The external doors won’t open again until they lift it.” I hold my hand out to my brother.
He slaps his switchblade into my palm, and I flip it open so I can slide it under the seam next to mine.
“Is carrying those on you part of the whole knife throwing and dodging hobby you guys have?” Shane asks, eyeing the knives as I find the second pin and pop the mechanism open.
“Nope.” I grin and pull the blades out from under the window. “Knives are like condoms. It’s better to have one and not need it than it is to need one and not have it.” I snap the blades closed and hand Jax back his. “I never leave home without one.”
“A knife, or a condom?” Shane asks, a hint of a smile ghosting his lips.
“Both.” I shoot him a quick wink and shove the window open.
Shane glances around, a worried look crossing his features. “Are we going to get in trouble?” he asks. “We’re supposed to stay out of the house until the fire crew clears it.”
“Some rules are made to be broken.” I wave at the window. “The fire is out, and if by some miracle it flashes back up or is still in the walls, the firefighters are already here, so the risk is basically non-existent.”
He glances between me and the open window and chews his lip.
“It’ll probably take an hour to clear the place,” I add. “But they won’t bother searching the upper rooms if there’s no immediate danger. No one will know.” Leaning down, I put my hands in a cradle. “Come on, I’ll give you a boost.”
He slaps my hands away and grabs the edge of the sill. “Asshole,” he mutters as he pulls himself through the window and disappears inside the house.
Once he’s clear, I peer into the window and watch Shane sneak across the room like he’s expecting someone to jump out from behind one of the chairs and shout “Boo” at him.
Chuckling softly, I pull the window down, and I can already feel Jax’s eyes on me as I turn to look at him.
“What?”
“No elephant in the room, huh?” he asks mildly.
“No.”
“Is that really the story you’re sticking with?”
I roll my eyes and step out from behind the bush. “You’re reaching, bro.”
“Am I?” he asks as he steps out after me.
“Yes.”
“Why did you go in after him?”
“Because he was in a room that was on fire,” I say slowly, like Jax is a dumbass who needs me to explain it to him like he’s five.
“And?” He pins me with a hard look. “Would you have gone after anyone else if it weren’t me or Killer or Felix in there?”
I give him my own hard look. “You’re reaching.”
“Answer the question.”
“No,” I admit grudgingly.
He shoots me a knowing half smile.
“Shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything,” he says innocently.
“Oh, you did.” I point to his face. “That said everything your mouth didn’t.”
