Forbidden (Blood Ties #7)

“Helene?” His eyes widened with terror. “What thehellare you doing here?”

FIFTEEN

Helene

My breath burneda hole through the center of my chest. All I saw was Riven's dark eyes as they narrowed on me.

“Wait,” he jerked a dangerous glare at his brother. “Youknowher?”

Kane stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from my face, and like all the times when he’d made a move before, I fought the need to flinch. “Know her?” he answered, searching my stare. “You could say that. She’s one of my clients.”

I swallowed hard, aware of Riven’s every move.

“Your fucking client?”he snarled.

Jealousy rippled from him as he curled his lip and clenched his fists. I saw the moment that fragile hold cracked, and Kane felt it too. He turned to meet his brother’s murderous stare.

Goosebumps rose along my arms, making my hair stand on end. In an instant, Riven lunged, grabbing his brother by the shirt to yank him backwards and drive him against the wall. “You better not fucking lie to me,” he barked. “How thefuckdo you know her?”

But Kane was just as savage, pushing him away with a punch to the shoulder. “Get the fuckoffme.”

They fought, right in front of me, grappling each other with grunts and snarls in attempts to get the upper hand. This was no sibling rivalry, this was cold, barely controlled rage.

“You fucking bastard,” Riven growled, punching Kane’s shoulder.“You motherfucking bastard.”

But he was angry at the wrong person. The moment he realized that he froze, staring into his brother’s eyes, then turned to me as he sucked in hard breaths.

Beep.

His phone chimed. With a clench of his jaw, he snatched it up and scowled at the screen before muttering, “Fuck.”

“What is it?” Kane sucked in a hard breath and tugged down his creased shirt, risking a glance my way before fixing on his brother once more.

“We have a problem.” Riven tore his focus from his cell. “Harmon’s men are taking over the compound…and right now, his goddamn commander is moving into Hale’s office.”

“His men?” Kane snapped. “What fucking men?”

But Riven never answered, just glanced my way. “This…this isn’t over. Not by a fucking long shot. I’ll deal with this…then, Helene Montgomery, I’m coming back to deal with you.”

I swallowed, watching him turn. “Kane, with me,” he commanded as he headed for the door.

But his brother didn’t move, confusion and pain etched in his stare as he jerked his focus my way.

“Now, brother,” Riven insisted.

They left, closing the door behind them…and taking all the oxygen in the room. My knees trembled the moment the lock clicked, and my pulse raced until all I could hear was the thrashing sound in my ears.

What the fuck have I done?

I closed my eyes.

WHAT THE FUCK HAVE I DONE?

The scream resounded. My knees gave way, buckling under me. I wrenched my eyes open as I hit the floor, bruising my shins before I slammed my palms against the cold tiles. But I didn’t get up, I couldn’t move. My hair fell in a curtain, hiding my face as a terrified sound escaped my lips.

One shake of my head and panic took hold.

I’d failed.