Page 37 of Ethan's Sky

I recognize Cash’s voice first. He’s arguing with someone. Just as I place my hand on the screen to open it, the door to the house opens, startling me.

“What the hell?” I yell, taking a step back preparing to strike if needed.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Ethan roars through the screen at me.

The fuck is he doing here?

My first instinct is someone could be hurt or worse. My worry for the others overrides my frustration with Ethan’s gruffness and his demands.

“Why? What’s wrong? Who’s hurt?”

“No one…yet.”

“What does that mean?” My eyes narrow at his obvious threat. I’m not afraid of him, not physically anyway.

“Let her get inside the house, dickhead,” Cash says pushing Ethan out of the way to swing the screen door open and allow me to pass. Cash stays close, with his hand on my lower back. “And don’t fucking threaten her.” I don’t miss the quizzical look on Ethan’s face as we pass him. Once I’m inside, Ethan slams the door and moves until there’s only a foot of space between us. Cash grabs my hips pulling my back into his chest, but I don’t relax into him. My instincts tell me to always keep my ass on guard with Ethan.

“Where? The Fuck. Were you?” Ethan’s chest is heaving, his nostrils flared. I have no idea what has him so pissed off other than my mere presence, but he can aim his attitude at someone else, because I’ve had enough of his shit.

“This is my house. How about you tell me what the fuck you’re doing in it?” I taunt, using the same gruff attitude and sarcasm he did. I’m poking the bear, but you know what? Fuck the bear.

“Whoa! You need to back the fuck up out of her space, Anderson.” Cash moves around me, placing himself between us as a barricade, just like at the clubhouse. I’m so tired of their caveman bullshit. I’m not the wilting flower and they need to get over themselves.

What’s worse, is Cash knows this about me. But his protective instincts are getting the better of him now. I’ll take my opportunity to give him shit about it later. Right now, I need to calm these two idiots and find out why everyone is in my living room ready to go to blows with each other…again.

I run my hand along Cash’s back, up to his shoulder until he side-glances to meet my eyes. He doesn’t backdown from Ethan, but he does take a step to the side allowing me to speak for myself.

“Prospect came in to talk to you, couldn’t find you anywhere so he called Gabe. He and Eli sent us here and others to run the streets looking for you,” Cash says with a shrug of his shoulder. “You didn’t answer your phone, Pres got worried. Sent the calvary.”

I groan, exasperated. My hands go to the top of my head, fighting frustration. It’s my own fault. I know not to leave without my phone or at least telling someone I was headed out on my own and with all this shit with Daddy’s death and who’s behind it being up in the air.

I fucked up.

“Shit. I needed some air. I went for a run. I should’ve called. I’m sorry,” I tell Cash honestly.

I take the opportunity to see everyone in the room.

Jake, Cash, Ethan, Walker, and the prospect. No Presidents. No Hawk to lighten the mood. Only Cash to stir the pot.

Double shit.

“You didn’t tell anyone where you were going. The prospect didn’t even know you left. We all showed up here expecting you to be home, like you weresupposedto be, onlyyou weren’t.” Ethan snarls. “Since we already have one dead person to deal with, you can see how everyone would lose their shit, right?”

“IsaidI was sorry,” I toss back. “I forgot the prospect was even here. I’m not used to having to check in with a babysitter. So, you’ll excuse me if I struggle to answer to someone with my whereabouts,” I snap. “He was on the front porch, and I left out the back to run the trails. I forgot he was here.” I make eye contact with Walker since he’s the highest ranking in the room. He smirks, and his arms are crossed over his chest. He shrugs a shoulder not giving me any indication this is such a big deal. He knows I can handle myself. Even Jake seems confused by what’s happening. So, I direct my conversation to him. “I’m sorry. Was I supposed to check in and tell everyone what my plans were today?” My lack of care and obvious dismissal of Ethan’s anger pushes his buttons. “Eli didn’t tell me anything.”

“No, sweetheart. You weren’t.” Jake says, “But maybe next time letsomeoneknow, yeah?”

“Apparently.”

“Yes, the fuck you were!”

Walker and Ethan speak at the same time. Walker’s words are said sweetly while Ethan shouts his.

“It would’ve been helpful if you’d called someone, babe,” Cash adds with a smirk. I shoot him a glare.

Ethan’s eyes widen, bouncing between me, Cash and Walker. I don’t know if it’s their nonchalance or the endearments twisting up Ethan’s panties, but I know Cash. He’s doing this shit on purpose. He loves getting people riled up.

I, however, am not in the mood to play Cash’s games or listen to Ethan as he throws his weight around. I force myself to take a deep breath and fight the urge to slap them both. Ethan for being an asshole and Cash for his obvious plan to make Ethan snap. No doubt wanting to irritate the shit out of him for the way he’s been treating me.

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