Micah (Damage Control 1)

“To break Blake’s neck.”

Rafe grins at me. He’s still in his jacket. He didn’t even bother to take it off. “I see. Feeling better alrea

dy?”

“He hurt her.” The words are like nails in my mouth.

“He’ll get what he deserves. Don’t worry about it.” His eyes go cold. “Now rest. We didn’t get you home, so you could go chasing that bastard.”

Ev comes inside before I can try getting up a second time. Without a word, she comes and sits by my side. She takes my hand and studies my bandaged knuckles.

Anger chokes me but her touch is soothing, her skin warm on mine.

“Joel, my brother, taped Blake’s confession on his phone,” Ev says. “I’m pressing assault charges. He will go to jail.”

That sounds like a good plan, but Rafe chuckles.

“That fucker isn’t going to jail,” he says. “How rich did you say his parents are?”

“Pretty rich,” Ev says with a wince. “They own hotels and restaurants.”

“Right. Well, if they care at all about their business, they’ll pay good money to prove him innocent, and money can get you anything you need.”

My fingers curls into a fist under Ev’s hand. Her eyes are wide, and I fucking hate the fear flickering in their depths.

“One more reason for me to bust his chops,” I growl.

“Calm down, cowboy. I’ve got this.” Rafe’s gaze is distant. “Nobody fucks with the Damage Boyz. I’ll take care of it.”

“How?” Ev asks.

“I’ve got connections. The asshat won’t bother any of you again.”

“You’ll kill him?” Ev’s eyes have gone rounder than before.

Rafe goes pale. “I don’t kill people. I don’t…” He sucks a deep breath. I wonder why he looks so shaken. “I’ll only make sure the jury and judge aren’t paid off at his trial. Let justice do the rest.”

Doesn’t sound good enough to me. Bastard deserves to have his balls chopped off and fed to him, but Rafe sends me a warning look, and I curse under my breath. I won’t let him down. If Zane is my god, Rafe is my fucking commander.

But if Blake comes anywhere near Seth or Ev again…

“I’ll be on my way now.” Rafe glances at me and nods. “Will you be okay for now, man?”

“Yeah, fine,” I bite out.

“Evangeline says she’s staying in case you need anything.”

“He means a doctor,” she says darkly. “Can I just call—?”

“No doctors. I’m okay.” I really am. That bastard who jumped me was an amateur. Rafe and Zane trained us well in self-defense. I bet he limped home in a much worse state than me. “It’s just my ribs. Nothing they can do about it anyway.”

“Those painkillers any good?” Rafe asks.

Taking stock, I realize they are. “Yeah.” The pain is muted, and as I relax a little, the world seems to slow. I take a deep breath, surprised my ribs aren’t killing me, and some of the tension seeps out of me.

“Only the best for you.” Rafe grins wolfishly, winks at Ev and leaves.

Somehow I don’t think he’s talking about the painkillers anymore, and that’s fine with me. I drag Ev down for a kiss before the door even closes and she kisses me back, smiling against my lips.