Page 60 of No Saint

“Gabriel, it’s fine,” she tries, “I’ll just go.”

“That would be best,” Asher says.

She tries to stand, “Sit down, Amelia.”

“Gabriel…”

“I’ll be back.”

I stand, rolling my neck side to side to try dislodge some of the tension. Once beyond the doors I don’t waste a second. My fists go to Asher’s collar, pulling so tight the neckline of his shirt presses into his windpipe, cutting off air, “You disrespect me!” I growl, tone low so Amelia won’t hear, “You disrespecther.”

He chokes behind the pressure, words strangled.

I let go abruptly, stepping back so he stumbles forward, barely catching himself. His hand rubs at the raw bruising on his throat, “She hasn’t earned my respect.”

“She is my wife!”

“Not by choice!”

I push him against the wall, “You will respect her, brother, or so fucking help me.”

He shakes his head, “You’ll fucking damn it all.”

My fist collides with his cheek, splitting it. Don’t they fucking know!? Don’t they fucking know what I have given for this damn city. For this damn family. What I have done!? I am the fucking reason they sit in their big homes and drive their shiny cars. I am their bank accounts and their power. I fucking own them.

All of them.

Asher spits blood onto the tile next to our feet, “The casino was attacked.” Asher growls, “Two dead, five injured. Looked like a gamble gone wrong. I thought you should know.”

“Then fucking handle it Asher or get Atlas to.”

I shake him once before I let go. Was this the first time shit had gone down at the casino, of course not. It was a haven for fighting and crime. I didn’t need to get involved.

“They wore masks,” Asher snaps at my back, “I have a recording from the doorman, who’s dead by the way, but they didn’t take his tape.”

I freeze.

Behind me, I hear the rustle of clothing and then a pause before static fills the space.

“Are you listening, Gabriel?”the voice says, muffled and staticky,“I’m coming for your city. For your throne. One piece at a time.” A gurgled cry joins the sound next, accompanied by the familiar squelch of flesh being torn,“I will take it all. Your city. Your Power. Your pretty little wife.” The voice laughs, “You don’t deserve that seat you sit on. We are just getting started. And as for you, you’ll soon be reunited with your beloved brother. See you soon, Gabriel.”

Ice fills my veins. The voice was low, purposely so but deep. Something in the back of my head sparked at the familiarity of it but with the static on the radio and the purposeful way they lowered the tone, I couldn’t place it.

“Anything else?” I grit out.

“Is that not enough?” Asher asks, “Your city is under attack and you’re here playing house with a woman who doesn’t want you.”

“I have taken enough of your disrespect for one evening, Asher, I have let it slide because we are blood but one more step out of line and I’ll treat you like I treat everyone else.”

I feel his glare on my back but I walk away, walk away from those words and the hatred I feel radiating from him. The relationship between the twins and me, the twins and everyone who shared the same blood was precarious.

But they were blood and family, they were my brothers. And shit got tough between us frequently, but the Saint’s valued family above all else.

They were taught that as much as I was growing up.

Amelia is standing behind her chair when I return, her thumb nail between her teeth, “I don’t want to get in the way, Gabriel, I’m sure you’re busy.”

I could tell a part of her was genuine in that statement, that she didn’t want to take my time but a big part of her saw it as an excuse to escape me.

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