Page 65 of Savage Reign

I could have lied to him then, but somehow, I thought he would be able to see right through me. So I said nothing.

His fist clenched.

Maverick and Killian came up close to us.

“What’s going on?” Maverick asked. I didn’t know how to answer him. I looked away from the brothers, but my eyes ended up clashing with Billy’s. I implored him to run away. Fuck, justrun away. His laughter slowly died on his lips, as if he finally sensed the danger aimed at him. A quick glance back told me all three brothers were staring him down. And even if he was on something, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he could sense danger, especially when it came from three predators.

I could see him swallow and take a step back.

Killian pressed his lips on the skin of my shoulder. “Get in the car, little firecracker.”

I nodded, letting him lead me away just as Billy turned and ran out of there.

I sat between Silas and Killian in the car while Maverick sat across from us. The car was spacious enough that the two back seats faced each other. My hands came down to the posh black leather seat, trying to get Billy out of my mind. Hopefully, he escaped before the brothers decided to hunt him down.

I took my time taking in each of their faces. Silas pressed his finger on my lips, stopping the words that were about to escape.

“Let’s not think about things that don't matter.”

He meant Billy. He meant… another life. I pulled away, but Killian had me turning toward him, pressing his lips against mine in an electric kiss that fried all of my good senses away.

His tongue pushed in for a quick play before he pulled away from me, leaving me feeling out of breath.

I took in a sharp inhale, and he smirked at me, his hand coming up and cupping my cheek. A thumb pressed down on my bottom lip, which I was sure was swollen. I blinked, my attention shifting slightly when Maverick grabbed my feet, pulling my heels off and placing them on his lap. He massaged my ankles, frowning a bit. I tried not to react so strongly, but my legs had been sore lately. My head fell back against the cushion as a small moan escaped.

“Do these look a little swollen?” Maverick asked, toying a bit with the anklet around my left ankle. Killian had put it on methe same night he tattooed me. I didn’t ask him why, and a part of me didn’t want to know. Especially since earlier, I realized it wasn’t easy to take off.

I shrugged, not answering him. God, if he could do this for the rest of the drive, I wouldn’t mind. Not one bit.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“We’re going to show you off. We’re heading to one of our restaurants downtown,” Killian answered.

“Yours?” I asked. He nodded. “How many businesses do you own?”

My father had owned various businesses while I was growing up. He never kept them for more than a few years at a time, and I knew it was because he used them as an avenue to launder his illegal money. In the last few years before his…impendingdeath, he filed bankruptcy on a lot of them.

“Quite a few,” Silas answered me. “Mostly downtown. And we own several buildings around there, renting out to other businesses as well.”

“Mostly restaurants?” I asked.

“As well as bars and nightclubs,” Silas said quietly, and I knew he was thinking back to when they brought me to their bar. And I ran.

“My dad used to own a few businesses. I don’t think they’re still standing,” I said, trying to change the subject.

Maverick confirmed it when he nodded. “Daniel had been getting himself into all sorts of debt these past years. On record, he had nothing to his name.”

A speculative look entered his eyes. I nodded, confirming what he was thinking. “My dad was a paranoid man. I have no doubt he hid his money all over the world. I took fifty grand from his safe when I ran.”

“We know, little monster.”

Of course they did. They took it when they took me from New Orleans. I didn’t know what they had done with that money, and I couldn’t really bring myself to care anymore.

“Before I forget,” Maverick said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the familiar oval pendant necklace. My eyes widened in surprise. I didn’t think I would ever see this again. It was the same one I had pawned when I ran away. I had no doubt he also had the bracelet, earrings, and matching anklet.

Sure enough, Silas pulled out another box and opened it for me, showing off the earrings with the flat, heart-shaped gold face. Killian helped me with the necklace as Silas handed the earrings over to me.

“You got them back from the pawnshop,” I said softly, taking in the earrings.

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