was opening the floor for a pleasant discussion between her and I. Had she not gotten so upset—”
My phone rings from the same number as the missed calls. Leaning against the banister, I accept. Chevelle’s friend, Justice, speaks in a rush. She tells me that my wife is okay, but she was in a car crash. I’ve been smacked with a new feeling. Run over with it. A profound feeling that I’ve never felt in my entire life.
Fear.
“Where?” I ask. When Justice mentions a street near my home, I reply, “I’m on my way.”
After hanging up, my Adam’s apple lobs in my throat. Like a rising tide, fury overcomes me. I curl my hands into fists, breathing through gritted teeth. Wit happened? She wouldn’t jeopardize her life, driving crazy. Did my blackmailer set off this chain of events?
Erika catches my eye, an offer of help in hers.
I shake my head.
As I’ve said, I’m good at minding things. Maybe I hold grudges. Piss off my hen or my bairn, and the bridge burns down. Hurt my hen or my bairn . . . well, someone just made the biggest mistake of their life.
As I make my way out of the house, I think about how “feck it” once was the deciding factor of every decision I made. That was before Chevelle. It’s been ages since that was my guiding light. Maybe it’s time for me to stop fighting my inner demons.
Chapter 15
Leith
My older brathair, Brody, catches me on the way out of the door.
“Och, brathair, wit’s wrong? Ye’re peely-wally again.” When I say nothing in response, he nudges his chin to his truck. “I’ll drive.” He knows when I’m quiet, not to test me.
Camdyn’s outside, polishing a lime green Ducati that Da forbade him to drive. He casually drops the microfiber cloth he’s using on the ground. At the last second, the bastard climbs into the back of Brody’s gray Silverado.
By the time we make it home, I’ve already spoken to Chevelle. On the phone, she seemed angrier than hurt. She said that it probably scared Justice more than anything. Since Chevelle had to talk to the highway patrol, she’d asked Justice to call Leith and let him know what happened.
Brody pulls the keys from the ignition. “This got anything to do with the deid lad?”
“Better not.” I slam the passenger door, stalking up to the entrance.
“And if it does, Leith?” Brody follows suit.
“Then I handle it,” I sneer.
My auld brathair has more to say, but Camdyn cuts in. “Leith said he’ll handle it. Chill, bro.”
“Shut up, American,” Brody snaps. “That’s not the clan way. The two of ya know it!”
Brody’s still hemming and hawing when I grip his collar. We issue each other a few pops, neither of us the type to back down when provoked.
Camdyn comes between us, arms locked, as he shoves our chests. He snaps, “Cool, the fuck, down!”
“I dinna have time for this!” I give my wee brathair one final shove and open the door to the house. I growl for the AI to tell me my hen’s location when she comes into view from the corner of my eye. Chevelle’s seated on the couch in the den, legs wide. She’s a hunner lightyears away. Nae fear, nae emotion on her face. I’m tempted to ask my wife her thoughts. Instead, my eyes roam over her body, assessing her for any damage. The thunder of my heart’s the only sound, beating so feckin’ loud as I take inventory of her curves. I’ve tallied up how many times I’ll murder and resurrect my enemy if the arsehole orchestrated this. Though she appears safe, I plan to murder him a million times over.
Finally looking up to meet my eye, Chevelle places on a hesitant smile. Her voice is barely audible. “Hey, baby.”
With one look in Chevelle’s eyes, I note an unsettled look. She’s on a razor’s edge. While the rest of her has bottled up the shock, her gorgeous, molten brown gaze hasn’t. There’s nae controlling the anxious bite in my voice as I look down at her. “Who did this!”
“Baby, I’m okay. Look at me, Leith. Don’t start thinking about retaliation.”
Chevelle’s beginning to stand, but my voice booms, “Wit? Ye want me to walk around like everything’s good!”
It takes everything out of me to not ask what the motherfecker looked like. Bloody promise be damned. My true nature, my corrupt character, is coming out. While her soft voice attempts to calm me, I fall to my knees,