Page 4 of Catch a King (Five Kings 1)

She heads outside with an eagerness to deliver her message, and I laugh to myself. She loves a bit of drama that’s obvious and Axel sighs and lowers his voice.

“Listen, before she comes back, I want you to know that I’m the only one who knows who you are. Ryder made it very clear you were here undercover, so if you’ve got any markings, or shit to reveal your identity, I’d tell me now.”

“Markings?”

“Tatts, baby, I know how it works. Those Reapers are tattooed into oblivion and I need to know because if there is one image of a reaper on your body, those guys will find it and you’ll have to leave for your own safety.”

“I’m clean.”

I stare at him defiantly and he exhales and leans back. “Good, the last thing we need is the trouble that would bring.”

“Why?”

“Because, darlin’, you are here to do a job and they need to gain your trust. I need you to discover what happened when my brother was killed, and I need to know sooner rather than later. One of those assholes out there knows something and I need them to be caught off-guard and you, so I’ve been told, are the perfect person for the job. From what I heard, Ryder told me you could squeeze blood from a stone and that’s what I need you to do. Discover who knows why my brother was killed because we have a traitor in our midst.”

“Any information that could help?”

“None. We were out on a job and my brother was left to hold the fort. When we came back, he was dead. No word on who killed him, no threats, no confessions. Rival clubs didn’t claim the kill and for all we knew, he had no other enemies and was doing no shit. It’s a mystery why anyone would kill him. Me, on the other hand, I have a list of enemies as long as your arm but Billy - no idea.”

“So, his sons…”

I watch the pain shatter the man’s face as he growls, “Hell bent on revenge. Slade’s always been a loose cannon, but Sawyer, well, that man scares the hell out of even me. He came back to find answers and won’t leave until he finds them.”

“But I thought…”

“That he was a Dragon, he is, just not a permanent one.”

He leans forward and whispers, “Sawyer’s a soldier, special ops. Slade always wanted this life, Sawyer did not. We allow him license to leave and fight for our country, and when he returns, he fights for us. Now he’s been given indefinite leave to sort his shit out and so, word of warning, stay away from him because who the fuck knows what dark thoughts hide inside his mind? Slade is bad enough and he’ll tell you how he’ll destroy you, Sawyer won’t. He’s silent and deadly, and they’re the worst kind.”

“But what if they know something?”

“They don’t.” Axel’s tone is hard, and he fixes me with a deadly look. “They’re family, look elsewhere. I’ll keep them away from you, just don’t let on where you’re from for all our sakes.”

We hear Marina’s loud voice heading our way down the corridor and Axel laughs softly. “She’s like an early warning system; can’t stop talking to save her life, although I doubt she’ll get much conversation from them. Never stops her though. Listen to her, Millie, she’ll be a good friend to you, the others, maybe not so much.”

Before I can ask why, the door flies open and I almost choke on my hatred because the two Channing brothers in the darkness were bad enough but, in the light, they are the worst kind of nightmare.

They crowd inside the office and suck the oxygen from the room. Marina is interested in watching the scene unfold as Axel yells, “See this girl.”

They nod, and yet their expressions are blank. Two brothers who share the same ability to close off their expressions, although their eyes say otherwise. They flash with a danger that should make me cower in fear. They are damaged, out of control and dangerous - the perfect recipe for destruction. I’m just hopeful it won’t be mine and stare at them defiantly as Axel growls, “This girl is off limits, do you hear me?”

They say nothing and he shouts angrily, “You touch one part of her, engage her with your foul conversation, or make her feel uncomfortable in any way, you will have me to deal with, got it?”

The two brothers look at me as if I’m not even worthy of consideration, which makes my already boiling temper almost spill over and luckily, Marina says quickly, “Wow, so much hatred I can almost taste it. Come on honey, I’ll show you to your room.”

Grateful for her interference, I nod to Axel and completely ignore the brothers and follow her out.

As the door slams behind her, Marina rolls her eyes. “Fucking Channings, they’re all the same.”

We start heading down the corridor and she laughs softly. “Axel thinks he’s better, but when I met him he was worse than the two of them put together.”

“So, how did you end up…”

“His old lady.” She laughs. “I fell in love—wefell in love. It’s the only defense against an asshole. These guys get plenty of pussy, but not a lot of them have conversation. The woman who challenges them in every department wins their heart. I’ve seen it time and time again, and Axel was no exception. He wanted my body but wasn’t prepared for the mind that came with it. To say I challenge every ounce of patience that man has is an understatement. He couldn’t control me and honey, these menexpectcontrol. They demand it, and it takes a badass woman to wrestle it from their firm grip. If you wanna stay and try for one yourself, play hard to get and take no shit. If you just want a good time and don’t mind who gives it, they’ll realize that soon enough and you’ll never sleep alone. It’s not for everyone but to me… well, it’s home.”

She smiles sweetly, and it strikes me just beautiful Marina is. Straight red hair that hangs long down her back, which reminds me a little of Bonnie back home. There must be something in a fiery red because Bonnie tamed the biggest Reaper badass and is now Snake’s old lady. Marina appears much the same, and that makes me like her on sight. Maybe there’s something of home here after all, perhaps I can just make this work.

Chapter 4

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