He doesn’t look at me when he says it, but I hear the emotion straining his words.
After spending so long with a club that does nothing but rot and ruin anyone who comes in the vicinity of them, I’m still wrapping my mind around how the Twisted Kings protect their own. How they’ve latched on and protected me simply because Levi cares. It’s that loyaltythat has Chaos here, willing to lay his life on the line if it comes down to it.
I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that’s not necessary.
Chaos lifts off the wall, and he pulls his hands from his pockets. The air around us shifts, and I feel Titan before I see him.
Whispers travel down the street until a horde of bodies cuts through the crowd. Titan is at the center, with at least five of his men on either side of him. There are too many of them when there are only two of us. It makes me wish Chaos hadn’t offered to put himself in the middle of this mess.
Titan won’t hurt me here and now. He still wants too much from me to kill me that easily. But he doesn’t need anything from Chaos.
What was I thinking, asking Levi to agree to this?
I should have come alone.
Titan’s eyes lock on me, and I reach for my finger to soothe myself. But the ring Levi gave me isn’t there. It’s just one more missing piece, while the man responsible for the rest of them walks toward me.
He’s a few feet away when he grins, but there’s no kindness in it. Titan has always been a predator, and for too long, I acted like his prey. Which is why I shove my chin up and face off with him, refusing to let him see my glare so much as falter.
In the decade I’ve known him, he hasn’t changed much besides the fact that his jet-black hair is now constantlyshaved to show off the tattoos on the side of his head. He still reeks of cigarettes, spilled beer, and sin.
“Beautiful as ever, baby.” He reaches for my hand, but I pull away.
Chaos shoves closer to my side, moving a step between us. “Keep your hands off her.”
Titan grins. “Interesting choice of a guard dog today, Aimee. Havoc tired of you already?”
“Where’s my father?” I ignore Titan’s taunts and cut to the chase.
It’s probably not smart to piss him off when I’m supposed to be stalling as long as possible while the Twisted Kings get into position, but Titan sets me on edge.
“We can talk about your father after you’ve agreed to my terms.” Titan glances at his men. “Give us room.”
They all back up instantly. The sweep of movement is more obedience than loyalty. The Iron Sinners are nothing like the Twisted Kings. While Steel’s men follow him out of respect, Titan’s serve him for entirely different reasons.
Either because they’re as sick as he is or because he has the right leverage over them.
“You too.” Titan narrows his gaze on Chaos.
Chaos shifts farther in front of me. “Not happening.”
Titan smirks, glancing at me. “Tell him to stand down if you know what’s good for dear old Dad.”
My throat thickens as I rest a hand on Chaos’s arm. “It’s fine. I’ll be right here. Just give me a minute to talk tohim.”
Chaos’s hands are in fists at his sides. He refuses to let his gaze wander off Titan, but he does step aside. The moment he moves, Titan takes a few steps to his right, dragging me farther from the group.
The number of eyes on us has the hair on the back of my neck prickling. Titan’s men stare us down, and Chaos looks ready to pull a gun any second. But Titan’s shoulders are as relaxed as ever.
He leans against the brick wall, boxing me out of view from everyone else.
“That little stunt you pulled cost me.” Titan’s glare sweeps my body in a way that has bile rising in my throat. “Your dad paid for it. I’m assuming you got my present.”
“If you kill him—”
“That’s up to you,” Titan cuts me off. “It’s always been up to you, Aimee. When are you going to realize that? Anderson was fine until you ran. But now…” He scrubs his hand over his face. “What am I going to do with you now?”
“That’s not your decision.”