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My phone vibrates against my thigh, and I pull it from the pocket of my combat trousers without taking my attention off the two brawling men.

“Hey,” I grin as I answer. “I treated myself to an early birthday present.”

“Oh yeah?” My brother Gideon’s chuckle comes down the line. “Did you cut out Tallon’s heart for giving ya stitches?”

Rafe catches Callum’s next swing and drives his shoulder into the center of his chest, forcing him backward through sheets of rain.

My head cocks and I make a face beneath my mask. Not bad for a low-life criminal.

“Not yet.” I draw my favorite Japanese boning knife strapped to my thigh and angle the blade into the floodlight, clocking my non-descript reflection. “I brought him back to base, though.”

Gideon laughs under his breath. “You’ve always had a knack for getting revenge in your own sweet way, sugarpuff.”

Fractured light cuts across Rafe as he circles Callum. It casts shadows beneath the carved lines of his abdomen and clings to the black ink covering his arms and chest.

Callum fires another punch. Rafe keeps his guard high, absorbs it, then drives his knee into Callum’s gut hard enough to fold him.

I resist the urge to applaud.

Damn it. I should’ve microwaved popcorn, poured lemon soda over ice and brought a blanket outside for the show.

“He’s earning the right to sleep indoors.” I roll the knife once through my fingers before sliding it back into the sheath. “Believe it or not, Callum’s met his match.”

Rafe knocks Callum’s hand aside, traps his arm behind his back and uses his momentum to drive him face-first into the stone wall.

A grunt carries across the yard.

“Make him suffer but don’t put him down just yet.” Gideon’s order tugs my attention back to the call. “We could get intel out of him.”

“Oh, I won’t.” I push away from the wall and walk towards the edge of the shelter as rain spits through the security light beam. “I’m owed some fun first.”

Rafe releases Callum and inches away, dragging air into his lungs while water streams from his dark hair onto his face. His hand jerks to his shoulder before he catches himself, curls it into a fist and stands that little bit taller.

Blood gathers at the corner of his mouth, and he thumbs it off before lifting his head.

His stare finds mine immediately.

I take a step closer and stop beneath the edge of the overhang.

Even with the mask between us, Rafe watches me with the steady concentration of a man trying to figure out what my next move is.

Good luck with that.

My pulse gives one inconvenient kick beneath my ribs, which I blame entirely on the fresh blood staining his lips and the excellent plans I have for the rest of him.

“Jude and I will be with you before lunch time tomorrow,” Gideon reminds me. “We’ll talk more then.”

Callum tries a roundhouse kick, and I nearly choke on muted laughter. The poor bastard needs a bed, painkillers, and possibly a new career in being useless.

“Okey dokes, G. See ya soon.”

Rafe yanks him off balance and follows with a brutal right hook that sends him sprawling across the concrete.

Fuck. He won.

“Are you bringing my presents?” I ask my big brother. “Or will I wait until we’re home?”

“As if you’d wait.”