Page 64 of Four Fiances & I

“I’m sorry,” Christian whispers but stops when I shake my head.

“I don’t want to hear it,” I say louder than I expected. “I don’t want to hear you’ve been protecting us, how you don’t want us worrying. Because I, for one, am sick of it.” The venom in my voice spills from my mouth like acid, words burning their way out of me. “Did you really think we would let anything happen to you? Do you believe that you are on your own in this world? Because you're not.” I step back and try to ignore how my head is pounding in time to my heart.

“You are part of the glue that holds this family together, but you are not all of it. We all work together to keep this family what it is, and the rest of us deserve to know when one of us is in danger. How can we protect you when you don’t tell us you need protecting?”

“I don’t need protecting I have-”

“The only thing you have is a stubborn streak that’s going to kill you, literally,” Jason yells beside me before storming away.

“Who took out the hit?” Sean asks, placing a hand on the bottom of my back. I hadn’t realised how much I needed that slight touch until that moment. He always knows what I need and never fails to provide it.

“I don’t know for sure, but I know it's for me alone. No one else's name is on it nor is there another.” Christian looks down at the floor and sighs. “They want me and only me.”

“Well, they can’t fucking have you,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest. “If they think they can take you from me, they can think again.” Taking a step forward, I look up to Christian and he has no choice but to tip his head to look down at me. “You promised me a lifetime. How can you fulfil that promise if you are not here?” Christian’s eyes stay on mine, even though he has no idea what to say.

“Does Terry know?” Jason asks behind me. Christian nods but doesn’t take his eyes off me when I step back.

“The whole security team does, it’s why Layton’s been so on edge recently,” I point out, shaking my head, wondering why I didn’t think of this sooner. It was bound to happen one day; someone would put a price on one of my men’s heads. But they can take it off because my man is going nowhere.

Jason and Christian stare at each other. For a moment, I can’t work out whether Jason wants to deck him or hug him. I know exactly how he feels.

“How long have you known?” Maximus asks.

“Four weeks. Someone tried to set a booby trap in a property I was going to see. Terry realised before we set it off.” My chest threatens to tighten again as I realise we have already come close to losing him. “He did some digging and found the contract. He wanted to tell you all, but I told him no. I don’t want you guys trying to get involved.” Christian looks to each of us before continuing. “I won’t risk your names being added to the contract.” Maximus and Sean walk away, their heads in their hands, as Jason stares at his brother. “When I left the other day before Jasmine's therapy session, I had word that someone knew who had taken out the hit, and I went to confront them. I ended the threat. Or I thought I had.”

“Last night?” Jason asks as I frown.

“Could have been arranged as a way to take me out. I don’t know. But from all we learnt from what the arseholes who stormed the place said, I have a better idea of who set it up.”

“Who?” I ask, keeping my arms crossed over my chest, and I tighten my hold, keeping my anxiety from taking over again.

“Mitchell,” Sean says behind me as Christian nods.

“What the fuck did you do to piss him off?” Jason asks.

“I killed Flint, remember? They were lovers; it all came out after Flint was dead.”

“How did they find out you killed him?” I ask. “Surely no one goes around boasting about who they killed,” I remember how lost and broken he had looked after that. I had washed him in the shower and held him as he recovered. People may think he is a heartless bastard; it’s a reputation he has worked hard to achieve. But so much of it is a show that sometimes I think even he forgets where Christian, the loving, protective man finishes, and the highly feared man, starts.

“They don’t,” Jason sighs. “But there will always be speculation. There will be someone somewhere that knows Flint was pissed with Christian and planned on having it out with him.” The room falls into silence as we all try to take in the fact that there is a hit contract for one of us.

“So, what do we do?” I ask, chewing on my nail. I feel all four men look at me.

“We?Shorty, you’re not getting involved. I’m shipping your ass off to a safe house or at least your little friend’s where the Donavons can keep you safe,” Maximus declares next to me. My head whips to the side so fast I’m surprised I don’t end up with whiplash.

“I would like to see you try!” I snap back.

“Watch me,” he growls, stepping closer so I have no choice but to look up at him. I know he means to intimidate me, but I stand firm.

“I’m not hiding when one of my men is in danger.”

“If one of us is in danger, we all are,” Sean says behind me. “We stay together; we are stronger that way.”

“Sean’s right,” Jason adds from where he is standing. “If we send Jazzy away, we will be so busy worrying about her that we could miss a real threat.”

“I’ll go.”

We all turn to see Christian rubbing the back of his head.

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