Page 83 of Dangerous Love

I inhaled and let out a deep breath. “I just shot two people, in case you guys missed that part. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t pay for it? Where’s the justice in that?”

“Kid, with all due respect to your bloodline, these ain’t men. These are dogs.” Avery spat at Hal’s feet. “This fucker had Sienna almost raped right in front of my eyes. He had both you and her trafficking as kids, and I’m not even talking about what he did to your brother.” His voice grew louder. “Trey, get that fucking clean-up crew sorted.”

“I’ll do my best.” Trey smirked. Then he left the room, his mobile phone already on speed dial.

Once the door was closed, Avery dragged a chair next to me. He exhaled a loud breath. “How are you holding up?”

“It feels surreal,” I murmured. “Something took over the second he touched her. I saw red. There was nothing else going through my head besides getting her away from him. Nothing.”

“I get it, kid. That’s how I got Grace out too.” He chuckled lightly. “That’s what people do when they’re in love.”

I do love her.I loved Sienna more than I ever thought possible in a lifetime. Every part of me existed to make her life better. Happier. Fuller.

Mine. I strengthened when the truth crossed my mind, confidence punching me in the gut. “I can’t let her go, Avery. Ever. She’s my woman for the rest of our lives, whether you approve or you don’t.”

His palm landed on my shoulder, his throat tightening. “You saved my sister’s life, kid. There’s no one else I’d trust with her. I’m so fucking grateful.”

“Thanks, mate.” I grabbed him into a bear hug with my free arm. “Now, if it’s all the same to you, stop calling mekid. It’s creepy.” I laughed.

“Or he’ll tell you how he’s banging her until you stop seeing them as kids.” Trey barged back into the room and winked at me. “Youarebanging her, right?”

I raised my hand in the air. “Dude, no one gets to picture her naked but me.” I shook my head, my lips curled. “What’s the update?”

He crumpled on the sofa, his legs stretched over Alexandro’s. “Spoke to Pete. Can’t say he was thrilled, but a deal’s a deal. He won’t fight the change in presidency, which gives us time to work out how to dismantle this shithole without anyone getting hurt.”

“And you can count on Jarryd and me for anything you need.” Avery leaned forward and extended a hand towards Trey. My brother grabbed it. “You’re family now.”

Trey’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “I’ll hold you to that.”

The door sprang open, the three of us pointing guns in the direction of the noise. We dropped our arms when Jarryd’s face materialised in the doorway.

“Fuck,” both Trey and Avery puffed at the same time.

Large wrinkles lined the corners of Jarryd’s eyes, his chest rising up and down like he’d run a marathon for the last week. In one stride, he was at my side, squatting by my arm. He ripped his medical bag open, removing bandages, Vaseline, and a vial of something from the interior.

“Sienna called me,” he murmured as he drew a liquid into a syringe. He flicked it upwards until there were no air bubbles in the mix. “I’m going to give you some painkillers and some antibiotics, then we’ll patch you up properly when we get to the General.”

I gave him a grateful smile, ignoring my father’s cold body sprawled out behind us.Jarryd’s more family to me than anyone else has ever been.

The irony slapped me in the face. Jarryd wasn’t my father. Hell, he wasn’t even old enough to fill that role, and yet, he’d always been the paternal figure guiding me since I’d forgotten Hal’s drugs in the good doctor’s car a decade ago. I choked, my love for the man overwhelming me. Iwasa Williams. No matter the colour of my blood. “Jarryd?”

He stopped wrapping my forearm and lifted his gaze, the pain prevalent in his pupils. “Yeah, mate?”

“Thank you for the life you’ve given me.”

He cleared his throat while he finished loosely tying my bandage. “Your little sister’s making a get-well cake as we speak, so you better get yourself well, ‘cause these kids want their brother back.”

Avery turned towards Trey. “Why don’t we send these two saps out of here while we start on this place?”

My brother fist-bumped him, his laughter resonating through the room. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Jarryd tossed his medical supplies into his bag and closed it, before he jumped to his feet. “There’s someone waiting for you outside.”

My heart burst in my chest, excitement pumping through my veins.

I’m not spending another minute without her.My limbs smacked the concrete with every step through the warehouse until Sienna stared back at me. Her eyes glistened, her lips wobbling, as she launched herself into my arms.

“Oh god, you’re okay.” She squeezed me tight. “I was so worried.”

---