Page 32 of Shielding Lexi (Temptation)

“What’s going on?” Reaper growls, sitting down on the ottoman in front of the couch. His large body is heaving air deeply as though he’s frustrated to be talking to me and I nearly lose my gumption. I don’t get it, he seemed to be softening earlier.

“Well,” I say, handing him Kane’s phone. “Brick posted a picture on social media and I think it’s a herring.”

“It’s a pit-bull. There are pit-bulls everywhere. This is Miami.” He hands the phone back to me with a look of disdain but I won’t let him put me off.

“No, not the pit-bull, the message under the picture.”

Reaper looks at me, then takes the phone back, and glances down at the screen, pulling it close then further away from his face as though he can’t see it clearly. He smirks, “What does Angel’s Trumpet mean?”

“It’s a quote Brick used to say to me. He called me his angel’s trumpet and when he was calling for me, he’d yell ‘Come here my little trumpet.’ Look,” I say, pointing to the time stamp on the post. “It’s from this morning. He is looking for me.”

“And he knows you didn’t drown,” Hawk adds.

“Why do you say that?” I ask, my stomach churning as I wait for the answer.

Hawk sucks in a deep breath. “Isn’t that our boat… in the background?”

Reaper zooms the photo in, and takes a long deep breath. “It is. Look, it’s Queens Lips.” He hands the phone back to me, pointing to the yacht we just got off a few days ago. It’s the same dock, the same palm tree, the same little coffee shop next to the pier, the same boat.

My heart sinks and my head begins to pound. I can’t stay here. I’m only putting everyone in danger.

I stand from the couch and go through the bag of clothes Hawk brought in for me, peeling through until I find something easy to slip on. When I see a pink and yellow sundress, I pull it from the bag, rip off the tag and throw it over top my bikini, taking off the bottoms once the dress is covering my privates.

“Lexi, what are you doing?” Hawk asks, as he follows me to the living room.

“I’m leaving,” I say, pulling off the bikini top through the side of the dress. I could go in the bathroom and do this properly, but suddenly, I’m in a hurry.

“What do you mean you’re leaving?” Reaper asks, moving toward me. “You’re not going anywhere.”

I ignore him and look toward Hawk, “Thank you for the clothes. I’ll find a way to repay you.” I make eyes at Kane, “All of you.” It’s not about the clothes and we all know it. It kills me to think I have to leave them but if I don’t, well, the consequences could be worse.

I sweep my hair up into a messy bun, using a hair tie Hawk bought me, holding back tears as hard as I can, but they’re edging their way onto my face.

“Lexi,” Hawk sighs. “What are you doing?”

The waterworks are a full Niagara Falls now. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry to leave like this. I love you both,” I say, kissing Hawk tenderly before moving to Kane. He grips my waist and pulls me close to his core as Hawk’s hand stays on my shoulder.

“I love you too, Lexi.”

Hawk twists me toward him. “Me too, and we’re not letting you leave.”

“If you three are done playingTwilight, maybe we could get back to reality here?” Reaper barks. “Lexi, we’re all in agreement, you’re not going anywhere.”

I wipe the tears from my face. “I’ll stay hidden, don’t worry. I have a friend in Wyoming. She has a little ranch. Brick won’t think to find me there.”

Reaper closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. “He’ll think to find you there, Lexi. He found you in the middle of the ocean. He for sure has guys on the house right now.”

“I don’t know why you always look so annoyed then!” I yell. “I stay and you’re angry. I leave and you’re angry. I forget and your angry. I remember and you’re angry. What do you want me to do, Reaper?” I’m shouting. Hawk pulls me into his side, trying to calm me, but I can’t relax. “I get you lost Julie, but you’ve got to hear me when I say I didn’t mean for this to happen. I didn’t know Brick was so bad. I’m sorry! I’m really fucking sorry!”

Kane takes a step toward me, but Reaper stops him. Instead, he steps forward, his gaze heavy on mine, his face narrowed in on me until he’s nearly touching my lips, his breath heavy and stretched with the same bourbon I’d drank earlier.

“You say my sister’s name again and I’ll drive you to that fucker’s house myself. Do you hear me?”

“Reap, what the—”

“What?” Reaper growls, his eyes heavy on Kane. “You have something you want to say?”

Kane pauses, letting a deep breath cycle through his lungs.

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