incident with a truck. It seemed like it was trying to run me off the road.”
“Why didn’t you come to us?” Cole asked. His tone wasn’t accusatory, more affronted because I hadn’t reached out for help.
I shrugged sheepishly. “Honestly, part of me hoped it was a coincidence. I know it sounds stupid now. But I didn’t want you all to worry.”
“And last night?” Sal pressed, his tone low and laced with barely controlled fury.
I nodded, knowing I needed to continue. “I was coming home from work. He attacked me from behind,” I began, fidgeting with the lining of my hoodie. “He told me my ma owes him money. That he knew the Knights could pay it back. He asked if I was Sal’s girl. I said not anymore,” I forged on, ignoring the static which had started zapping throughout the room as they all got a feel for where this was going. “He said it didn’t matter, that he had a message.” I risked a glance and cringed as the three sets of eyes were so narrowed they were now just slits glaring out at me. “He said there were new players in town, that no one was safe, not your women or…children,” I gulped out the last bit as Cole turned so red I thought he’d explode. I figured it best to get it all out of the way. “Then he said he was looking forward to seeing me again,” I finished, absolutely exhausted at the replay of last night’s events.
“Motherfucker,” Mack growled.
Sal stood abruptly and began to pace. “You’re tellin’ me when I followed you home, you were being attacked as I drove away?” he demanded, his voice so low I could barely make out the words.
“You couldn’t have known,” I shook my head.
“Fuck,” Sal swore before his eyes narrowed. “You’re leaving something out,” he accused. I didn’t know how he knew, but I looked to the side guiltily. “Kat?” he prompted, his patience thin.
“He made some comments about my body,” I said, feeling beyond embarrassed. “Said you wouldn’t know what to do with me anyway, insinuating he would,” I answered him.
He continued to pace the small space, looking as though he was ready to hurl the nearest object across the room. Cole was staring at the ceiling, and I knew he was desperately trying to collect himself so he didn’t completely lose it.
“Um, could you guys try to tone down the aggression a bit?” I hedged. “I know this is all hard to take in, but I nearly had the life choked out of me,” I pointed out. “Maybe you need a walk around the block,” I suggested helpfully.
“More like a loaded gun,” Mack muttered.
Sal shot him a look and took a deep breath, trying to do as I asked.
Cole seemed to pull himself out of his rage and got right to business, his steely blue-eyed gaze locking with mine. “Right, you’re with Sal for the foreseeable future. Mack, we’re rolling out,” he directed.
Um, what ?
“No way,” I said firmly, shooting daggers at Sal. “I’m not his responsibility,” I added swiftly.
“You’re mine,” Sal interrupted calmly.
Was he insane? My blood boiled at his casual claim after what he’d put me through.
“You made a decision to break it off and leave town. I’m sure you had your reasons, whatever the fuck those were, and I’ve moved on,” I lied. “You’re off the hook.” I glared at him.
“There was never a fucking hook,” he growled. “And if there was, I was never off the damn thing to begin with.”
I mentally slapped the part of me that was thrilled with those words.
“Not your decision to make anymore.” I shook my head adamantly and turned back to Cole who appeared a bit frustrated.
Cole cleared his throat, “Clearly you two have some shit to sort out.”
I made a scoffing noise at his understatement of the century .
“But, Kat, I need you to be reasonable here. Until we figure out what the fuck is going on, you can’t stay here. And you know I’d let you stay with us, but with the baby and Scarlet, I can’t risk their safety,”