“Sucks all those warrants went away like that? All disappearing in the wind like ash.” Shetland was eyeing Brock, the end of his mouth curved down.

Brock growled. “Can’t do anything about that.” He found me again. “You’re going to get another slew of arrivals in a couple hours. Your brother was on the way here, and he set the call in to your boyfriend. They shared notes. Neither was happy about how your crew got called away.”

Crap. I had called Cross as soon Derrick left, but only hearing a savage exclamation from him that he was glad I was okay, he hung up and I knew they were heading back right away. They’d been on the road for a full hour by the time I called.

But I hadn’t had time to process the Red Demons trick to get them away either.

“Shit.” From me.

“Yeah.” From Brock.

“It sounds wicked, though.” Hawk was looking at Brock. “Something maybe we could use in the future, if we got our hands on whatever they designed.”

Brock sent her a look saying ‘yeah right.’ And I agreed. “I doubt the Red Demons are going to hand that over.”

I became aware of a body sidling up next to me, then Veronica’s elbow nudged my arm. She said in a hushed voice, openly trying to eye-fuck Brock now, “Um. Introductions? Don’t be rude here.” She winked at me. Twice.

Right. Subtle.

But I did the introductions.

“Hey, there.” Zeke was now sounding like Joey from Friends.

Hawk was eyeing him back, but with disdain. “Don’t. I eat little boys like you for breakfast. I am not the one to hit on.”

“Oh.” He eased back.

Aspen had turned so her back was to Blaise’s chest. His arms were hugging her, locked around the front of her chest and her hands were resting on them. She gave me a small smile, a whole dreamy look in her eyes. “I don’t know what happened before we all got here, but we’re all here and I’m thinking none of us are leaving until we’re all reassured you’re okay. Even though you obviously are. Bear with us and our anxieties here.”

Veronica snorted. “Speak for yourself. I want to know what other hotties are showing up—”

And like clockwork, as if Veronica had summoned them, another screeching sound happened. This time from farther away, so I was guessing they had to park on the street.

We heard the sounds of swift sprinting, but they were quieted.

I was primed. I was ready.

I knew who was coming.

They were coming in from the grass, and I turned around, knowing they weren’t going to come through the driveway’s entrance. And then there they were.

Cross was first. He was always the fastest, and the few who were in the way stepped back. He had a clear path, and then he was in front of me, he was sweeping me up, and he was walking me away from the group. His head was buried in my neck, but he just kept going.

All the way.

I gave up and just wrapped my legs around his waist and I held on.

This boy. This guy. This man. I was going to marry him. I was going to have his babies. I would fight him, with him, and for him forever. He was mine, all mine, and I was going to savor that he came into my life.

His hand pressed against the back of my head and finally he stopped. We were inside the house. How we got there, I had no clue, but we were in total privacy.

“God.” He lifted his head, setting me on the kitchen counter.

My legs remained wrapped around his waist. He didn’t step back, just his head moved so he could see me.

“I was so fucking scared. That call—” he choked off. The terror was still in him. One of his hands pressed to my leg and he closed his eyes, needing a minute to control himself. “I couldn’t even talk to you on the phone. You called, said you were fine—and I wanted to kill someone. The need to rip their heads off, it was just like when you were arrested.”

I wound my arms around his neck and pulled him back in.

“It was the Red Demons.”

His hand went up my back and he grabbed fistfuls of my shirt. His head buried into my neck. “I know.” His voice was muffled. “I want to kill them. I want to—”

“No.” I eased back again, leaning back on the counter.

His head tipped back to see me. I framed his face with my hands, trying to wipe that fear from him if I could’ve. “It’s done. Everything is done. They know I recognized Heckler—” Oh, yeah. I already told Cross, and Zellman, and Jordan, besides Channing. They all knew. The Red Demons didn’t need to know that part. “I promised not to say a word, and promised not to hunt them as a bounty hunter later, but it’s done. It’s done. They’re out of our lives. I think my Dad, too. He told me he wanted everything from me, but he’d ask for nothing. I know what that means. That means he’s gone unless I reach out. It’s over, Cross.”

He searched me, then drew in a shuddering breath. His gaze fell to my mouth and he cupped the side of my face in his. “If they had done something to you—”

The Red Demons knew what I promised to do to them if they had hurt someone I loved, but they didn’t know Cross. They had no idea. Cross flipped his shit when I was arrested. I shuddered myself at what he’d do if something happened to me.

Drawing in one more harsh breath, he framed my face back and tipped my forehead to his. “I love you.”

I whispered back, my hands falling to his arms, “I love you, too.”

We took a few more minutes before there was a discreet knock.

The patio door slipped open.

Cross tensed, cursing under his breath, but our time was up.

Zellman swept in next, the same fierce hug that I got last night.

Jordan joined.

After a full minute, when it became obvious they weren’t going to let me go, Cross joined us and I lost track of time as my guys held me.

Two hours later, it was a full-on party.

Aspen and her friends went to get food and drinks. The grill was turned on and Zellman and Jordan were in charge of the meats. I’m pretty sure they had plans to grill a pizza, or two of them. If they could grill water, they would’ve.

By this time, Tabatha and Jessinda had joined us, too, but they came in at a slower pace.

Tabatha came over, gave me a tight hug, and she stepped back, flicking away some tears. She couldn’t look at me so she was half-turned away, but her hand was on my arm. She gave me a squeeze. “Just be safe, Bren. Please be safe from now on.”

I grinned. “Right. Because I invited them here.”

She looked then, more tears spilling as she did, and a small laugh slipped out. “You know what I mean.” Then her eyes trailed past my shoulder, to the backyard. “He’s back there?’

Jessinda waited for us to have our moment, then gave me a nod and went to the backyard.

That honesty I could handle. She knew she and I were never going to be friends, but there was a small moment of decency where she gave me the nod, glad I was good. Then, off to the true reason she was here.

“That’s going to be interesting.”

The words came from me as both Tabatha and I watched her go. The doors slid open, and when they closed, we saw that Jordan wasn’t alone. Jade was standing next to him and he was grinning down at her. Oh yeah. Jordan was full-on flirting with Aspen’s roommate.

Tabatha stiffened. “I didn’t know about her.”

“I think it’s a new development.”

I eyed Tab, not knowing what my place was here.

Then she sighed and stepped back from me. “Whoever he ends up with, I just hope he’s happy.”

I nodded. “I think he will be.”

She blinked away some more tears, then gave me another reassuring smile. It was forced, but it was there. She looked at my hands. “You should have something to drink. What do you want? I’ll go and get it for you. Or I can run to the store?” She was now seeing everyone else and her eyes got big. “You’ve got a whole party happening. What about little sandwiches? There’s a deli not far. I’ll run and grab some.”

“No, there’s already—”

Didn’t matter.

She was gone.

And this time, I had no idea if she’d come back.

Then, the arrival I’d been primed and waiting for.

I heard his truck stop on the street.

I had a full view of them, and he stopped smack-dab in the middle of the street, not giving a fuck, and launched himself out of his driver’s seat. He rounded the back and I was standing. I was moving to the door.

He was clearing the front lawn in record time.

I was opening the door.

The door was caught and wrenched open, and then my brother was there and I was once again caught in a tight hold and I was being pulled back outside.

A ripple went through Channing as he just held me.

“I’m ok—”

“Shut up. I need this.” His tone came out strangled and rough.

I let myself be held, and held, and held.

Another ripple went through my brother before he growled, shaking his head. “I’m going to rip his head off. I’m going to—”

I just let him say the threats. He needed to spew them out.

After my moment with Cross, I called my brother and told him everything that happened. I wanted him to know, but it hadn’t mattered. He still wanted to murder our dad. I knew he wouldn’t, but I was letting my brother have his feelings. Super healthy of me, right?