Page 23 of Shielding Lexi (Temptation)

“You want me to go grab some breakfast?” Hawk asks, running his hand over his stomach. “The cupboards are bare and I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving!”

We all nod in agreement without much conversation.

“Why don’t you grab something for everyone, and we’ll work out the details of how we’re going to manage all this shit.”

Hawk grabs the keys to his motorcycle off the table and makes his way out the door.

“So you remember everything now?” Kane asks Lexi. They’ve settled on the couch together, his arm placed around her shoulder.

I go to unpacking our bags, but keep an ear perked to what they’re saying.

“I think so,” she says with a sigh. “I remember about Brick. I remember I’m an assistant at the veterinary clinic. I remember I’m from San Francisco, but I moved out here to be with Brick. I remember my friends are still out on vacation. I should call them… see what they’re—”

“How did you meet Brick, Lexi?” I bark out the question haphazardly without thought, barely making my way back to the living room before the words are out of my mouth.

“Fuck,” Kane says. “You scared the hell out of me. I thought you were in the bedroom.”

“I was, but I overheard you two talking and it got me thinking.” I shift my gaze to Lexi, “Do you remember where you met him? How you ever thought he was good enough to date in the first place?”

She looks away then back again. “This is going to sound so stupid,” she says before pausing.

“Lex, you don’t have to,” Kane says. He’s trying to be comforting so I hold back a smart-ass comment about how she most definitely does. Good thing too because she keeps talking on her own.

“It’s okay,” she says, leaning her head against Kane’s chest. A pain of some sort hit’s me as I watch the display of affection, though I can’t define it.

“We met online my senior year of high school,” Lexi says. “He told me he was a business owner here in Miami. Listen, I know it’s dumb, but he seemed like a normal guy. More than normal, I believed every stupid line he sold me. I thought he was great. Like marriage material great.” She looks away, wiping a tear from her cheek before it has a chance to fall, and I feel like I should say something comforting. But she sucks in a ragged breath and continues, “He even flew out to see me a bunch in San Francisco. And he was there for me after my dad died, and when I had my appendix out. I had no idea he was selling drugs and… killing people.” She looks down and away and I feel a pang of guilt rush through me.

Fuck!She’s young, she’s lost her father, she’s out in Miami where the only fucking person she had was Brick, and I’ve been the biggest royal dick that ever was.

“It’s not your fault,” I say, dialing in on her gaze. “He does this. He did it to my sister, he was doing it to you, and god knows who the hell else he’ll do it to.”

“What happened between them Reaper?” she asks anxiously. I wonder if she wants to know because she’s interested in Julie’s story, or because that was most definitely her path had she not jumped from the boat.

I look toward Kane who’s holding his breath as though he knows the question is an ax to my heart. I hate talking about what Brick did to my sister. I more than hate it… I loathe the very existence of their names together at all. But I owe Lexi an answer, especially after all she’s just told Kane and I.

I take a ragged breath, “Brick tricked Julie into thinking he was a nice guy too. Then he used her as a drug mule. When she tried to leave, he tied her to a pillar under the pier, and let the water take her under.” I say the words blankly with no expression, though the lump in my throat is heavy and hard.

Lexi’s brows narrow softly, “He killed her like that?” She wipes the back of her hand across her lips as though to wipe away his disgusting crime and I don’t blame her. Saying his name makes me feel like spitting too.

“Killed her,” I choke. “We found a letter after she died; she was trying to leave him. I can only guess he figured it out and finished her off before she got the chance. You were lucky to have jumped when you did. But now, we’ve got to be careful, because I’m sure you know more than you think you do, and he’ll do what he has to do to make sure you’re not a liability.”

“I can’t let him hurt you guys to get to me. I can—”

“You’re not doing anything,” Kane says, squeezing her closer. “You’re going to stay here and we’ll keep you safe, right Reap?”

I nod as Hawk walks in juggling a carryout bag from Roberto’s and a carry out tray of coffees.

“Got breakfast!” he bubbles. “Looks like it’s about to pour. I think we made perfect timing coming back when we did.”

I uncross my arms and help him at the door.

“What happened here?” he asks, holding the door open with his knee to jiggle out the keys as I take the bag from his hand.

“Just straightening some things out. We’re good now.”

Hawk nods slowly as the door swings closed behind him. “Okay then… let’s eat.”

“You guys go ahead,” I say, dialing our Prez. “I’m going to make a few calls and set up a meeting with the Daggers. Maybe if we’re civil, they will be too. The last thing they need is more press, and all we really want is freedom for Lexi.”

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