Prologue
Nora
Five Months Ago
“Nora, what the hell have you gone and done now?” Levi snaps as he storms into the salon. It’s a good thing the customers here are used to this kind of antic considering it happens a lot. Well not normally with me. Usually it’s my best friend Emerson’s husband or ol’ man, whatever you want to call him, storming in when Emerson does something that gets on his nerves. What do you expect, she’s a pure redhead spitfire and has a mind of her own?
Me, on the other hand, I never have anything like this going on so the fact he’s coming in here pissed off is something new.
Rolling my eyes, I lean the broom I’d been using to sweep up the mess on the floor against the wall, I turn to face my outraged brother, ready for a stand-off. It’s nothing unusual with us. When you grow up with three older brothers you learn quickly how to avoid them being in your business all the time. Well, I should say try to avoid them being in your business. Doesn’t always work when two are in the military, the other retired and works for an investigation company.
“What did I do now?” I ask, snarkily while crossing my arms over my chest.
“You know what the hell you did,” he accuses, making it all the way to me, his hands planted on his waist.
“I do a lot of things, so you might want to enlighten me on what it is you seem to be pissed about now.” I’m pretty sure it has to do with the fact I’d finally decided to date after what happened a year ago. Having been shot and then knowing the man you were falling for was killed puts a damper on the idea of putting yourself out there.
Last night I’d gone out for the first time and had a great time with Miles Granger. I’d met him a few times when I’d gone to the coffee shop down the street that my friend, Carson, owns and has some of the best coffee in the world. When he asked me to dinner, I agreed without hesitation. I mean who would decline a date with Miles. He’s gorgeous. Built like a linebacker with blond hair, gray eyes, and, hello, the confidence he has is alluring.
“Don’t test me, Nora. I have no problem taking you to the office and locking your ass down until you come to your senses. Do you have any idea who the fuck you went out with last night?” Levi snarls and my spine straightens at the tone in his voice.
“One, stop following my every move and two, what is wrong with me going out with Miles. He was nice. We had a great time, what’s wrong with that?” More than annoyed at this point, I uncross my arms and step closer to my brother ready to throw down, like we’ve done on more than one occasion.
“First off, Nora, Miles Granger is not a good person. The fact you called him nice is a joke. Second, you need to never see him again. He’s a killer and will not hesitate to kill you. And third, little sis, no way in hell would I not follow up on what you do. It’s my fucking job to protect you. Mine, Flynn, and Dash’s. Get over it.” My blood pressure, I swear, is going to blow through the roof.
“I won’t get over it Levi. It’s my life and I’ll date whoever the hell I want to. Now, you need to get the hell over it and leave me the hell alone,” I snap, pissed as hell at Levi for acting as if I were a child.
“I’m not gonna leave you alone, Nora, not when it comes to your safety. I’m telling you, if you don’t get smart and end things with Miles Granger now, it could mean your fuckin’ life. And I for one am not ready to see my little sister in a fuckin’ box,” Levi snarls before turning away and stalking out of the salon slamming the door behind him.
Stunned by the anger that radiated off my brother, I let his words sink in.
Miles isn’t a good person.
He’s a killer.
Won’t hesitate to kill you.
Could he just be overreacting?
“Nora, I’d suggest you listen to your brother.” Whipping my head around to face the man the voice belongs to, I groan. Hades is standing there in the doorway to the backroom. He’s known for popping in and always here to hear shit that he shouldn’t.
“Not you too,” I mutter.
“Don’t discount what Levi said about Miles Granger, Nora. I know what this man is capable of and have seen first-hand the results to the victims that have had the unfortunate privilege of being in his company,” Hades states, his arms crossed over his chest as he stares at me.
Hades has this way about him that’s easy, yet at the same time difficult because it reminds me of Mac. Granted, it’s not his fault Mac is gone, and I’ll never know what I could have had with him, but it still hurts all the same.
Nodding my head, I go back to sweeping the floors. Once I’m done, I put the broom away and start cleaning up around my chair when my phone rings. I pick it up off the counter. Miles’ name pops up and I bite my lip as I swipe my finger across the screen to answer.
“Hey, Miles.” I hope he doesn’t hear the nervousness in my tone.
“Hi, sweetheart. Look I wanted to see if you would allow me to take you out to dinner again tonight. Maybe take in a movie,” Miles says, politely.
“I’m sorry, I can’t tonight,” I state as I try to come up with an excuse to not go out with him.
“Alright, I know it’s last minute. If you don’t want to go out maybe I can bring dinner to your house,” he offers.
Licking my lips, I sit in my chair that I use for my customers.
“Not tonight, Miles, I’m sorry. I already have plans.” What a lame ass excuse to use. Way to go Nora, now he’s going to really know something’s up.
“I see. Well maybe another night. How about I call you tomorrow and we work something out for tomorrow evening?” I can sense a hint of irritation in his voice.
“That sounds good,” I say, smiling.
“Good, then I’ll call you in the morning. Have a good evening, sweetheart,” he murmurs before disconnecting.
Sighing I put my phone back down on the counter. Sitting back in the chair I think of what I’ll say to him tomorrow. I have the night to get my wits about me.
Little did I know the nightmare tomorrow would bring and that I should never have let myself become a target for Miles Granger.
Chapter One
Breaker
Present Day
“Why the hell did we fuckin’ agree to this shit again?” I grumble, standing off to the side of the hospital room. I’ve barely left this room and it’s starting to get to me; however, I won’t leave my Prez and his ol’ lady unprotected.
Chains may have woken up from the coma he’d been in after being shot and almost dying, but he still needs someone to watch his back. Not just as my Prez, but as my flesh in blood. Cousins who are more like brothers than anything else. We were raised together by Ryder when Chains’ parents died, and my mom and aunt disappeared.
Thank fuck, they did too. Aunt Irène and my mom are two hateful women who should never have taken their first breaths. Not only did they sell my cousin, Victoria, to be vindictive, they’d both been abusive to not just me but my cousins, Tyres and Brake. If not for Ryder taking us away from them and having them disappear, we probably would not have made it growing up. Or we would all have ended up on the streets. It definitely would have been a lot easier than living in their home.