Page 59 of Bleed Me

“Yes, sir.”

Understanding my hesitation, he explained, “Saph becoming an official member of this club is family business. Once this is done, we would all protect her with our lives. Therefore, all present have a right to know what they’re protectin’. Feel me?”

My chest pinged. That is something Diesel would say. “I feel you.”

“Good.” Relaxing a hair, he took a seat next to his supermodel Old Lady. “Speak.”

Brat took a step forward. “Lynx—”

Lynx was back to his feet, gun pointed at Brat so fucking fast, it was mindboggling. The members behind Brat stepped aside, totally confident Lynx would back up his threat.

Not lowering his gun or relaxing his impressively tense arm, our Prez growled, “Listen here, you snot-nosed dumb-shit, I ain’t no fuckin’ fool. If I’m gonna be taken from my Elle while protectin’ yours, I want to know what I’m laying down for. If you go down for my Old Lady, you went down for the oxygen in your President’s lungs. The blood that keeps his heart beating.” Air crackled in the heated moment as our Prez summed up Elle as literally his life force. “Brat, can you say the same?”

Elle didn’t move or react. She only observed Brat as if studying his next move. She didn’t seem fazed by her man’s commitment to her. It was nothing she didn’t already know or offer him in return.

Maybe Brat was worried about getting shot, but he just stood there. He didn’t declare what Saph was to him. I felt so bad when she cringed, wiping more tears.

“Saph, you okay?”

Lynx didn’t scold me for talking. In fact, after she shyly shrugged, he lowered his gun and demanded, “Answer the only one inquiring about you.”

She hiccupped a cry, appearing so scared and confused. “G-Giver, I don’t know what I did wrong. I-I thought I was being so careful.”

Saph’s tiny little body was trembling, and that pissed me off, so I kissed Justice to make it clear where my heart was to all watching me, but then went to the little girl who didn’t deserve any of this. As soon as I was close enough, I shoved at Brat’s chest, called him a pussy, then took Saph in my arms. “I’m so sorry, girl. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Her arms wrapped around me so fast, I knew I had made the right move. “Brat had me take a test. I don’t understand how it happened.”

Lynx took a seat next to Elle and propped his boots on the table. “Now we’re gettin’' somewhere.”

Exhaling, in preparation for how angry everyone might be with me, I faced my Officers, who had conjured together, except for Justice, who was still where I had left her.

Still holding Saph, I said, “This does not change what Justice is to me. She’s my Old Lady.”

Saph’s wet puffy eyes peered up to me. “Oh my gosh!” With her arm still around me, Saph wiped her nose. “Justice, I’m so happy for you.”

Even though she was in dismay, Justice was kind and smiled. “Thank you, Saph.”

Lynx pointed to Saph. “You’re wantin’ Captain, yet holdin’ another.”

I darkly chuckled. “Oh, Prez, that’s just me fucking up as usual.”

Dagger went to say something, probably to tell me I was wrong, that he didn’t believe I was a fuck-up, but Lynx lifted his hand to stop him. “So, whatever the fuck is going on here is your fault?”

Not exactly. “Yes.”

“Giver—” tried Justice, only to be silenced by her brother.

Lynx asked me, “How did you fuck up this time?”

I lifted my chin. “I had sex with Sapphire.”

He shrugged. “She’s your bunny. You can fuck her, even if you have an Old Lady.”

My eyes popped from their sockets. “And get killed? No thanks.”

Laughter finally broke the tension. Even Justice laughed, nodding in agreement. She would’ve chopped my dick into pieces. End of story.

Lynx gestured between us. “So, you fuckin’ Saph wasn’t even a cheat?”