Page 5 of Blake

Blake gripped his gun tighter. “I'd rather be out there on the streets, taking down the thugs who are hurting people right now.'"

Nash clapped a hand on Blake's shoulder. 'I know you're impatient. Look, taking down thugs is one thing, but to make a real difference, we have to go after the big fish."

“Yeah, I know. Don't worry, I’m in,” said Blake, though his voice lacked enthusiasm. "But let's not forget about the people suffering on the streets while we're chasing politicians."

"That's why we’re doing it, brother,” said Jax kindly. “And with your skills and our intel, we'll bring this bastard down and find out what’s going on with all these women."

Blake nodded, then fired another perfect shot. "Damn straight. For Chloe."

"For Chloe," Nash and Jax echoed, their voices filled with resolve.

At the very moment Blake hit the next bullseye, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, seeing an unfamiliar number. Intrigued, he removed his black ear defenders and answered the call, stepping away from the firing range.

It was a woman. She spoke urgently, with a tremor of fear. Her voice was like a little honeybee, small but full of energy and intensity. And then she told him her name.

“Savannah . . .Sweet?” he repeated as he looked back at his brother, Jax, finally getting a bullseye and fist-pumping the air.

“Yes,” said the honeybee. “That’s me.”

Blake couldn’t help himself from making a big deal out of her name. It was just so . . . cute. He had no idea if the girl on the end of the line was a Little or not, but with that voice and that name, his Daddy radar was already kicking into gear.

He interrogated Savannah about the reason for her call, making sure it wasn’t a hoax or someone trying to get information about Paladin Security, but she sounded truthful enough. The anxiety in her voice made something coil in the pit of his stomach.

Savannah told him she was an investigative journalist, which reassured him a little. If she was investigating his security firm, she wouldn’t have been upfront about her job like that. Then, when she mentioned that “bad people” were after her, he felt his jaw clench. He had to help her. She wouldn’t tell him where shewas, which pissed him off, but they arranged a meet at the beach tomorrow afternoon.

The second he came off the phone, he approached his younger brother.

"Jax, look up this woman for me—Savannah Sweet," Blake said after hanging up, his gut telling him there was something significant about her.

"Already on it," Jax replied, pulling out his phone and tapping away. Within moments, he looked up with a mix of concern and curiosity in his green eyes. "She's had a hard life, Blake. Grew up in foster care, has a history of suspicious injuries, and she's written a bunch of controversial articles exposing criminal activities in the city."

Blake’s spine stiffened. “Suspicious injuries?”

Jax nodded. “Several trips to the ER over the years. Bone fractures, bruising, a cracked rib.”

“Fuck,” said Blake, rubbing his temple. “I've got a bad feeling about this. I bet that girl’s in real trouble.”

“I’ll send you over the files I have on her,” said Jax. “Social security number, address, online footprints. It'll all be with you shortly.” His ability to hack into people’s lives at the few presses of a button never failed to astound Blake. In anyone else’s hands, this kind of power would be dangerous. Luckily, Jax had a sense of integrity that was so strong it couldn't be shaken. He always used his powers for good. “In the meantime,” his brother continued, “here’s her picture.”

A single photo on Nash's phone screen stopped Blake in his tracks. Savannah Sweet, her green eyes fierce and determined, stared back at him from beneath a tumble of curly auburn hair. A smattering of freckles danced across her nose, lending her an air of vulnerability that tugged at something deep within him. He felt an immediate, fierce protectiveness surge through him.

“She reminds me of someone . . .” he mused quietly, though he couldn’t remember who.

“All your ex-girlfriends, probably,” joked Nash.

“What a comedian,” said Blake, rolling his eyes.

Nash was right in one sense, though. Blake did have a thing for redheads. This girl here—Savannah—looked nothing like his exes, though. No offense to his exes, who all had their good points, but Savannah looked way deeper, way more complicated than any of them. And for some reason, Blake had always been drawn to complicated.

"Seems like she's been fighting battles her whole life," Nash said, picking up on Blake's fascination.

Blake nodded. He needed to make sure she was safe—starting right now.

"Guys, I need to go," Blake announced abruptly, pocketing his phone and picking up his gear. His brothers exchanged glances but didn't protest.

"Don’t forget tomorrow morning, Blake," Nash warned.

Blake stopped in his tracks, turning. “I’ll never forget,” he snapped. Then he strode toward the exit, thoughts churning.

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