things were going to light up the sky. I didn’t light them, as they would’ve seen it coming from inside the gate, but I tossed ’em and hoped they landed close to the soon-to-be-bombs.
After that, fuck being quiet. I sprinted back toward Taylor. I was halfway there when the first car exploded. The air filled with shouting. Taylor saw me coming, and I gestured to the gate.
She unlocked it and pulled it back as I raced to the Escalade, diving in and starting the engine. She threw herself into the passenger seat just as I hit the accelerator.
The only two still outside were Delray and the leader fucker—Rankin, I think Delray had called him that name. I pushed Taylor down. I didn’t want the leader to see her face as I braked between him and Delray.
“Get the fuck in!” I yelled.
Delray’s eyes were wide, but he wasn’t in shock. The street behind him was filled with smoke, different colored smoke, too. It was covering up his guys, but it was helping us, too. They couldn’t see us. That meant it was only Rankin to fight and he knew it at the same time I did. Delray threw himself into the backseat as Rankin came charging and tried to open Taylor’s door.
“Fuck no!” Delray’s boss growled.
Delray slammed the door shut behind him, but his boss had Taylor’s door open.
I reached for her and yelled, “Don’t look at him!”
She grabbed my arm as the guy caught her leg and started to pull her out. He was yelling over his shoulder, “Get back here! It was these guys! No one’s down there!”
“Fuck!” someone yelled.
Delray lunged forward, and I shouted at him, “Don’t you say her name!”
He bit down on whatever he’d been about to say. I punched the guy manhandling Taylor as hard as I could. His head whipped back, but he didn’t let go of her. His face twisted in an ugly snarl. His assholes were coming back, and they were coming fast.
I punched him again, but he still didn’t let go.
Then Mason appeared behind him and ripped him away. The guy fell to the ground. Mason whacked the guy with the bat in his hand, and he fell unconscious.
“Get in!” I yelled at him.
He jumped in Taylor’s seat, covering her with his body, and I hit the gas.
HERE. SAFE. MINE.
LOGAN
I took a crazy path to be sure we weren’t followed, but I drove us to the house. We all trooped inside, and Sam, who’d been lying on the couch in the living room, jerked upright.
“Holy shit. What happened to you guys?” Her nose wrinkled. “And why do you smell like fire? Is that what I’m smelling?”
Mason went over and dropped a light kiss on her forehead. He brushed a hand down her face, tucking her hair behind her ear. “We’re fine, and kinda.” He straightened and gave me a look. “Logan went back to his roots.”
My insides were roaring, but I grinned. “Hey, any time I can set a car on fire, I’m all for it.”
Sam didn’t seem to think this was funny. A worried look came into her eyes. She looked to Taylor and Delray, her gaze lingering the longest on Taylor. Then she sighed and pointed upstairs. “Nate got home a second ago. He rushed upstairs. I asked him what was wrong, and he said something about needing a second bat.” She looked up toward Mason. “Did you guys fight someone?”
Mason laughed and sat next to her, pulling her to rest against his chest. His arm dangled over her shoulder, their hands laced together. “Only one guy, and it was to get him off of Taylor.”
Taylor let out a shaky laugh, sinking down into one of the other chairs. “Thanks for that, by the way.”
This was awkward. The entire scene. Moments like these, after a fight, I was the joker. That was what I did. Nate was usually cursing, and Mason planned how to make things right, but he was holding off this time. This was my girl, and my problem. As if sensing my thoughts, my brother lifted his head and motioned to the back. I nodded. We needed to talk, then maybe I’d take my anger out on Delray.
“Hey.” I touched Taylor’s shoulder. “Mason and I are going to talk in the back, okay?”
Delray stood up. “I should be there.” His face was locked down. There was no readable expression, but his voice was low and foreboding.
My anger flared at him. “You.” I growled. “That was your