Page 39 of The Union
“How do you know? You haven’t been around since my dad died. You don’t know anything about me anymore, Granny,” Layla said through a sneer, pressing her back to my front.
I grasped her hips, guiding her away from the old lady.
Harriet’s jaw hardened. “Think really hard about your next move, Layla. This is your only warning.”
Layla laughed, albeit a crazed one, inching into her grandmother’s personal space. “Or what, Granny? Do you intend to hurt me too? Or keep me prisoner until you can knock some sense into me? Well, news flash. I’m not yours to control. And in case no one has told you, I have supernatural blood running through my veins. My mom made that shocking announcement on her deathbed.”
Harriet’s thin lips parted. “You’re lying. My sons would’ve told me.”
Layla straightened. “Maybe if you were around more, they might have. But that’s beside the point. Before you start down a path that will only lead to your demise, think really hard, Granny. You won’t win.”
Harriet narrowed her blue eyes. “Are you threatening me, young lady?”
“If the shoe fits,” Layla volleyed back.
A cunning smile washed over Harriet’s weathered face as she flicked her chin at me. “By the time we’re done with him, you’ll be running for your life.”
I had enough. I stepped in front of Layla, shielding her with my big body. “Old lady, you’ll never control me. If you so much as come near Layla again, I’ll snap your neck in two.”
“Son,” Dad warned.
I swung my gaze to Emery. “Don’t think for a second that you have the upper hand because you have my uncle’s research.”
A deep rumble belted out of my father. “You knew my brother?”
Sawyer had been researching Camden Industries and Intech, and he probably was still compiling data on Adam Emery. I was certain when he had a full workup on Emery, it would reveal that he’d known my uncle.
Emery nodded, confident and brave as he regarded me, then my father. The fuckwad should be pissing his pants unless he had backup hiding in the shadows.
I sniffed, and the only aroma floating around was… I wrinkled my nose. Dane’s wet-dog scent flooded my nostrils before he leapt on all fours from the grassy incline on the right of the driveway, bloody saliva dripping from his canines.
Harriet and Emery stiffened.
“Layla, in the car, please.” My voice was teetering on the edge of destruction.
She started for the vehicle when heavy breathing and footsteps filtered into my ears, growing louder by the second.
I glanced at my father, who tossed a look over his shoulder.
I didn’t want to take my eyes off Harriet or Emery.
The car door opened before Webb said, “Layla, get behind the wheel.” Like me, he had to have heard someone running hard toward us.
My father could handle Harriet and Emery, and with Dane behind them, they weren’t going anywhere.
I spun on my heel to make sure Layla obeyed Webb as my heart jackhammered against my sternum. I might not leave here, but she would if it was the last thing I did before I went down. Not that I was planning on becoming a lab specimen again.
She was about to climb into the driver’s seat when Rianne launched herself through the gaping hole of the loading dock door with a semiautomatic aimed at me.
“The party has begun.” My heart flipped out of control as happiness ballooned inside me. Now I could murder the bitch.
14
LAYLA
Iglanced in the side mirror to see what had Sam ecstatic. Rianne was sporting a grin like she’d won an Olympic gold medal. She aimed the gun at Sam, and the blood in my veins gelled. But this wasn’t his fight. She was mine to do with as I pleased. I was ninety percent sure she wouldn’t shoot based on everything my grandmother had said in that viewing room. If she did, though, Sam’s reflexes were too fast. She wouldn’t have time to pull the trigger.
Sam stiffened—his muscles were corded, his jaw tight, and his arms open and primed to unleash his elemental powers. There was no mistaking the hatred stringing him and Rianne together.
