Page 93 of Bleed Me

Justice, heavily outsized, shoved against Lynx’s chest. “I fucking trusted you!”

Lynx stumbled two steps back into his bedroom. “As you should, crazy bitch! What the fuck is this all about?”

Justice stormed into his room. “You swore an oath to me!”

As brothers came to stand next to me in the doorway, I stared at Justice unraveling and Lynx getting pissed. I had never seen them act this way or speak like this to each other. All my brothers seemed as disturbed as me, except for Dagger. He was very focused as he took the front row spot, right next to me. It was almost as if he was preparing to interfere, very aware this brother and sister had the temperaments that could easily get out of hand. My suspicions were confirmed when he put his fist in the air—the silent call for our Enforcer: Vice.

The three of us entered the room, giving space, but clearly ready to step in if needed.

I noticed Elle in a white silky nightgown, her back to a wall as if wanting to disappear. That told me she’d seen this shit before and wanted no part of the siblings’ hostile ways.

Fire spittin’ mad, Lynx grabbed Justice’s right hand and slammed their palms together. “Blood fucking oath!”

The scar…

And the ghost rose…

My girl screamed, “He fucking died and you betrayed me!”

I was confused as to who she was speaking of. It was amazing how many questions had never been asked. Stallions didn’t like to revisit their pasts. They—we—lived in the moment, hoping to find a way to survive the next.

“I didn’t!” roared Lynx.

Then he did the unthinkable. He turned his back to Justice, grabbed a knife from his nightstand, dragged Elle from her terrible hiding spot, then yanked her back to his chest.

“Goddamnit, Lynx!” yelled Dagger as he rushed forward, Vice right behind him.

But they were too late. The blade was already to Elle’s throat.

I ran for Justice—who was now charging toward her brother, screaming, “You fucking coward!” My arm snaked around her little waist, and I hoisted her off the ground so she would lose traction. Her legs kicked in the air. “How dare you hide behind her again!”

Again?

I had once told Lynx that I wasn’t right in the head when I found out Dagger had vouched for me. Lynx’s only response had been there wasn’t a man or woman here who was. Looking at him now, seeing his own style of crazy, I knew he hadn’t been lying.

Elle’s eyes were wide with alarm as Lynx thundered over her head at Justice, “May God take her from me now if I’ve betrayed you!”

At the same time, Dagger, now in front of Elle, was in Prez’s face. “Put the fucking knife down! Put the goddamn knife down!”

All the while, Vice stood behind Lynx, looking haunted. “Prez! Don’t make me do this! Do what Dagger says!”

It was mounting mayhem that had to be stopped before someone was gravely injured. The last time I’d been in this room was to learn how to rescue Elle if ever needed. That time had come, just in an unexpected form. She was with a knife to her delicate skin, by the man who loved her most. On the top of my lungs, I shouted, “Stallions for life!”

The room fell quiet.

Lynx’s face—that had been full of psychotic rage—was now extinguished and replaced with shock. He blinked, then removed the blade from Elle with a gasp of horror. Dagger quickly grasped the weapon while Elle spun in Lynx’s arms, pleading, “Look at me. Look at me. I’m fine. Not hurt, babe. Look at me.”

“Oh God, I’m sorry.” He snatched that beautiful woman into his arms as if she was his saving grace. “I’m so sorry. I… blacked out.”

“I’m okay. I’m okay. No harm. No foul.”

Justice’s rage dissipated, too. Still not touching the ground due to my firm embrace, her limbs hung. “Was I right?” When Lynx didn’t answer her, her lungs sighed under my arms. “Is he coming for me, Lynx?”

“Justice,” her sibling choked out, “I have men searching for him.”

“Is Art a part of that search? Does he even know what’s happening?”

Lynx was regretting his deception. “I don’t know if Diesel has told him.”