Page 26 of Shielding Lexi (Temptation)

I pull back my head. I get that they’re all friends and that I was the outsider coming in to make everything complicated, but making them promise not to have sex with me? That’s a little much.

“We’ll talk to him in the morning and sort everything out. It’s not as bad as you think it is, I promise,” Kane says, snuggling down into the king bed.

I lay my head on Kane’s chest as Hawk holds his large body close to mine, intertwining our legs with one another as my breath becomes steadier and my heart starts to relax.

So far, Reaper has had the upper hand, but I’m about to take the power back.

12

Lexi

The following day, I wake to an empty bed and the sound of laughter in the kitchen.

I throw on a t-shirt from one of the dressers and slink out into the kitchen, trying to tame my hair as I walk. The humidity is still bad here in Miami. That, and I really need some fresh clothes. I can only sink wash these so many times.

“Hey,” Hawk says, inhaling what looks to be empanadas. “There’s a coffee for you on the table. I wasn’t sure how you took it, so I went with black. There’s sugar and milk if you need it.”

I smile and make my way to the large paper coffee cup sitting on the end of the kitchen counter. I have to give them credit. The house is very nice. It’s a mid-century modern design, but they’ve gutted the insides and remodeled everything from top to bottom. The floors are a dark hardwood, the walls are a misty gray, and the countertops look like nearly new quartz. They’ve even tastefully decorated with framed photos of motorcycles in various places around Miami. It feels good to have some time to look around and absorb the environment. I don’t feel as rushed or as stressed as I did when we arrived yesterday. A small ripple of pleasure courses through my body but I drop my gaze to hide my satisfied grin.

“Thanks,” I say, sipping the black coffee slow. It’s still warm. “I haven’t had coffee in forever!” I savor the bitter taste as it slides down my throat and into my belly, warming me immediately. The aroma of the rich brew fills me with happiness and for a moment I feel normal. It’s funny how simple things end up being the most important.

Reaper pushes a pastry bag toward me, with a folded breakfast empanada inside. He’s gone back to being quiet and distant, which is fine. I can’t imagine what must be going through his head. What happened to his sister is horrendous. And thinking about myself being in that same spot nearly makes me sick.

I hate myself for trusting Brick, for believing him when he told me he loved me, for believing him when he told me how great life would be out here in the ‘sun and sand’. I take a bite of my pastry and set it down, chewing slowly as I try to push Brick from my head. He was probably dating Julie while he was dating me. He probably killed her, then called me. We probably talked about the weather or about my college courses, because that’s all I talked about until graduation. A chill runs up my spine.

A murderer touched my skin.

I run both hands over my eyes and take another sip of coffee, hoping it will calm me down, but it doesn’t help.

“What did that Prez guy say when you talked to him yesterday?” I ask Reaper, who’s taking a big bite of some kind of breakfast sandwich.

He finishes chewing, then wipes his mouth clean with the back of his hand. “He doesn’t want to talk over the phone. I’m going to see him this afternoon.”

“Should we go with you?” Hawk asks, taking the lid off his coffee cup to add more sugar. Makes sense he likes it sweet, he’s that kind of guy.

Reaper shakes his head. “We’ve got a thousand things to do here, and someone has to watch over Lexi. I’ll be there and back in less than an hour.”

Guilt hits at my chest from the inside and a wave of worry bubbles up inside of me. If Brick killed Julie… a young, sweet, innocent girl, then he wouldn’t think twice about hurting Hawk, Kane, or Reaper. He may even relish in it if Reaper put the spotlight on him after Julie’s death.

“Why isn’t he in prison?” I blurt, my stomach spinning into knots. Suddenly the coffee tastes bitter, and the empanada feels like cotton wool in my mouth.

Hawk and Kane look at each other before looking toward Reaper, as though they’re waiting for him to speak.

“I turned him in,” Reaper says with a groan. “I saw the police photos. But someone on the force owed the Daggers a favor and that’s it… case closed.”

“What do you mean, that’s it?” I don’t know why, but I can’t wrap my head around what he’s saying. “If he murdered your sister, and they have proof, how can they just forget it like it didn’t happen?”Is it true the Daggers have the cops in their pocket? Is that shit for real?

Reaper looks away, tossing his food into the trash, but he doesn’t respond. I don’t need him to, he’s saying what he’s said since I met him and suddenly the way he is makes sense.

No one can be trusted. Not even the cops. And with his military background, I bet it hurts twice as much.

“I’m so sorry,” I say, an ache in my voice. “I didn’t mean to bring you so much shit to deal with.”

“It’s not your fault, Lexi,” Reaper says, as he steps back from the table and eyes the others. “I’m heading out. One of you has to stay home with Lexi.”

“I can go get some groceries today,” I say. “Plus, I need some clean clothes. I was—”

“No way!” Kane barks. “You can’t leave. If Brick or his people see you anywhere, you’re fucked. We all are. Hawk can run out. I think he was planning to get some food anyway.”

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