Page 32 of Girl Like Me

“She’s eight. She’s at risk if your enemies find out who she is.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, you were helping me and your father at the same age. Why should it be any different for her?”

“Because she’s my baby sister. I’ll do anything, just keep her out of this life. Let her be spoiled and marry some rich kid and live that kind of lifestyle.”

“Nothing comes without a price Milo.”

“I know uncle and I’ll do whatever it is you want.”

“Fine, we can make a deal but if she wants in, that's on her.”

“Earth to Bristol.” Echo says standing in front of me now clicking his finger in my face.

“Sorry, what?”

“I said I hope you’re prepared for this. Nothing comes without a price and trust me when I say if you take that deal nothing good can come from it.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, he’s my uncle.”

We step further into the foyer and Echo again takes my hand. I hear laughter coming from behind the red door looming in the distance. Red seems so out of place amongst all the white but who am I to judge when I know absolutely nothing about design. If it’s meant to make a statement, I suppose it works.

As we step up to the door Echo knocks before a tall wiry looking man opens the door letting us inside. Again laughter fills the air and something in the pit of my stomach makes me feel ill.

Echo pulls me into the large open lounge room where I’m stunned speechless. All of my guys are laughing with my uncle. They all turn to look at me with smiles on their faces exceptMercer who’s fists ball up. I realise I still have a hold of Echo’s hand as Mercer moves forward, extremely quickly for a guy of his build. I let go quickly and take a step in front of Echo, holding my hand out.

“What the hell is going on here?” I say a little louder than I had intended. Mercer stops dead in his tracks but doesn’t say anything. I look past him at the others. Maximus is the only one to maintain eye contact but he is so out of his comfort zone right now. I can see how close he stands to Levi, his arm rests against his and that contact grounds him. I find myself moving around Mercer and closing the gap between us. I can feel my uncle and the others watching me. When I reach Maximus I hold out my hands and he takes them in his.

“Are you okay?” he nods and pulls me into his body, wrapping his arms tightly around me. I wish I could stay in his embrace forever but I have bigger fish to fry right now. I pull away but make sure his hand stays in mine while I turn to face everyone.

“Someone better start talking.”

My uncle smiles. “I wanted to get to know the boys who have entranced my niece and make sure their motives are honourable."

“Bullshit. You’ve been watching me since I was in that hospital. So you would’ve seen how they’ve been treating me.”

This makes him bellow out an obnoxious laugh. “I’m glad to see you’re still in there. I was beginning to think you had lost your fire. Echo, take the boys on a quick tour while I talk to my niece.”

Rory looks at me for confirmation and I nod. Maximus lets go of my hand and everyone follows Echo out of the room. I grab Mercer by the back of his shirt as he tries to walk past. He turns to look at me with a raised brow. “Play nice, Echo is a good guy.” He doesn't look convinced but nods his head and follows them out.

My uncle gestures for the couch and I take a seat.

“I like them. That Rocky kid is hilarious.”

“Why are they here?” I ask cutting to the chase.

“Partly because I wanted to meet them and because in the world we live in you can never be too careful. One of them lives with cops and they’re the same ones trying to take me down.”

“Leave them out of this, they saved my life. That has to count for something.”

The man who opened the door walks into the room with a tray and two drinks. He places one in front of me and the other in front of my uncle before leaving us alone again.

“It does count for something and it's why they’re not dead. But let's talk about why you’re here.”

“I don’t want to marry that piece of trash. I would end up killing him, he is so disgusting.”

“Agreed, but his family has something that could benefit ours. And if I was to find a way out for you, I would expect something in return.”

“And what’s that?”

---