Claimed (Blood Ties #6)

I leaned close. “It means he is…” my mind raced, trying to work out how the fuck to convey what he was about to find. “He’s fragile. That’s what it means.”

He glanced at the door, steadied himself, then gave a slow nod. “Understood. Now, let me do my job. Let me help him.”

I fucking prayed he could, pushing away from the doorway and taking a step back. “I’ll be right here.”

“Fine.” He turned the handle, then stepped in, closing the door behind him.

I hovered, making sure Colt didn’t kill anyone right off, then turned and headed for the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee was sharp and pungent as I filled my lungs with a deep breath.

Guild was waiting for me, just like I knew he would be. He stood beside the counter, nursing a steaming cup of coffee which he pushed away as I neared.

He thought I was going to hit him. I winced, guessing I deserved that. But as hurt as I was about this whole fucking thing, I was also desperate to keep us all together. A family divided was a family in danger and right now…that was the last thing I wanted.

I poured a cup and turned, meeting his stare. “Want to tell me what happened?”

He gave a shrug. “Depends. Am I going to get punched in the face for it?”

I scowled, then shook my head.

“Good. She came to me as a friend, and as her friend, I helped her.”

“And you couldn’t come to me?”

“And betray her trust? No, London. I couldn’t.”

Anger flared, making me push off the counter. The thought of her going to any other male but me or the sons made me feel violent. I clenched my jaw, meeting his stare. He held his breath, waiting for me to react.

I lifted my hand and gripped his shoulder. “Thank you for being there, even though you knew it’d piss me the hell off.”

“Do you even want to know what she asked for?”

I met his stare, then gave a shake of my head. “No. When she comes to me, that will be good enough.”

“Jesus,” he exhaled hard. “Who the fuck are you and what have you done with London?”

I gave a chuckle, dropped my hand and turned to grab my coffee. “Keep that up and you will get socked in the jaw.”

He let out a grunt of distaste, one I knew accompanied a shit-eating grin. I left him, making my way to the study. The moment I stepped inside, any fleeting hint of amusement left me…because now I had my family back, my attention turned to the new nagging problem.

Haelstrom Hale’s dead body.

I placed the cup down and sat behind my desk.

Beep.

I looked down.

Baron: Did you hear the fucking news? Hale is dead? Tell me this is true.

Footsteps came before I even responded. I lifted my gaze as the doctor hesitated in the doorway, peering in before entering.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep…beep…beep.

I pressed the button, switching it off. I didn’t need to read the goddamn messages to know what it was. It seemed word had gotten out. The soulless bastard was dead. My gut clenched as I narrowed in on the doctor. “How is he?”