Shaking my head at him, I make my way to the kitchen. As I’m digging through the fridge, I hear Jimmy growl as he enters the kitchen. Looking over my shoulder, I take in his broad chest and watch his muscles ripple as he grasps my hips, pulling my ass back to rub on his unbuttoned jeans.

My eyes lock on the dark trail of hair that disappears into them.

“Eyes up here, Little Bit.”

Looking up into his eyes, humor and lust are as clear as day. He wants me again.

“Are you going to do something or am I making our food?”

Chuckling, Jimmy palms my pussy, keeping his eyes on mine. “Don’t burn the bacon.”

I shake my head as I watch him leave the kitchen. “Motherfucker,” I mumble.

“I heard that!”

“Shut your trap, or you're not getting shit to eat,” I yell back at him, I can picture the smile on his face. I wait for another smart-ass remark when nothing comes, I turn back toward the fridge and grab the ingredients I need for breakfast. I’m cooking pancakes, Jimmy’s favorite. Suddenly, there is a loud bang on the front door.

“Who the fuck...” Jimmy’s voice comes from somewhere in the house, but it’s cut off by the door banging open.

“EMMA!”

FUCK. He wouldn’t.

Justin comes barrelling into the apartment, just as Jimmy makes it to the kitchen with his gun loaded and ready to protect me.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” I scream at my brother.

“Me? You’re the one that ran off without so much as a backward glance! You could be dead, and I would have no idea!” Justin comes running over to me, scooping me up into a big bear hug.

“As if I would let something happen to her,” Jimmy mumbles from the doorway, lowering his weapon.

“Put me down and explain why the hell you felt the need to kick the damn door in.” Justin quickly lowers me to the floor, finally noticing my state of undress. I watch embarrassment creep into his features. He reaches up and begins to rub the back of his neck.

“I came by to apologize to you and Jimmy for being an asshole yesterday, but as I was walking up, I noticed a guy lurking out front that didn’t belong. I got paranoid your ‘friend’ had gotten in and done something to you.”

It took a minute for me to register what he had said, but before I could respond Jimmy is already headed for the door, pistol in hand.

“With me Justin, you carrying? We need to take out the trash. Little Bit, call Logan. Actually, call Charlie. Avery and Amber fucking owe me.”

“You gotta spare? I don’t have mine with me,” Justin says, and Jimmy pulls another pistol out of a kitchen drawer and hands it to my brother.

“You two don’t do anything stupid!” I yell as they close the door. Trying to get them to stop is out of the question, but I would hope they would at least not kill him in front of the bar. I noticed Jimmy’s cell sitting on the counter, and dial Avery’s number.

“What do I owe this pleasure,” she purrs into the phone.

“Cut the shit, Avery. Tell Charlie to get his ass to The Mission. My brother and Jimmy spotted one of Javier’s goons out front. They may need help hiding the body.”

Avery giggles into the phone before screaming for Charlie, “Snoochums! LT and Old Man need an accomplice. Grab the shovel and some gloves.” I hear a muffled response before she hops back on the line. “Alright hooker, we’ll be there in ten. Don’t do anything fun without us! Oh, and make sure to pop some popcorn. This shit is going to be good.”

I don’t even bother to respond, just hang up the phone. Breakfast is forgotten, I head over to the pantry and grab some popcorn. No sense arguing with Avery, as Katie always says, what Avery wants Avery gets. It’s easier to agree with her.

I can’t control the rage that boils in my veins as I make my way down the stairs from the apartment. LT is right behind me, at least I hope he is, I didn’t stop to check. If what he said was true, these fuckers have been waiting here for her to come back. I promised I would keep her safe and if that means killing this motherfucker once and for all, I’ll do it.

“Good morning, gentleman.” The slimy bastard came strolling up to us as if I didn’t just shoot him a few weeks ago. He looks very different than the last time I saw him, not bleeding for one. All gang tattoos covered, button-up blue collared shirt, and jeans. He looks just like any other college student, I can see why Emma would have fallen for his shit. Just thinking about the things he did to her has me gripping my gun tighter.

“What the fuck do you want, Javier?” I growl through clenched teeth.

“So, this is the fucker that abused my sister?” Justin says, lifting his gun.

Javier holds his hands up in surrender, trying to play innocent. “No need for violence, gentleman. I was just coming by to see how Emma was doing. She has missed a lot of school recently. I wanted to make sure she didn’t need any help.”

“Emma doesn’t need anything from you!” I snarl as I grab him by the collar, pushing him up against a nearby dumpster, out of sight of the street. I push the nose of my pistol to his temple.

“Cut the crap, what do you really want?”

The innocent schoolboy act instantly melts from his features, replaced by the stone cold drug dealer we all know him to be. “I want what’s mine.”

I bash him in the head with the butt of my gun, he yells out in pain before I cock the hammer, ready to fire, but Charlie immediately steps into view and forces me to back up.

“Now, Jimmy. I’m not dressed for hiding bodies today. Can’t we just rough him up a bit and drop him in the desert? I did just get out of the hospital, you know?”

“That won’t stop him, he’ll keep coming back. Won’t you?”

He doesn’t do anything but stare. I know that look, it’s the look of a man that believes someone owes him something and that someone happens to be Emma.

“Get the fuck off my property you piece of shit. Emma isn’t alone, not anymore. If we catch you or any of your thugs around her again, we will end you. Do you understand?”

He gives me a devious smirk before pushing past me and looking up at my windows as he heads back toward the street, but before he makes it out of the shadows, I can’t stop myself from fucking with him.

“Hey, how’s the leg?”

“Good as new. Doesn’t hurt a bit.” He gives it a pat for good measure.

Before he can take another step, I pop two rounds into his kneecap.

“Not so good anymore, is it?”

He howls in pain before reaching down to clutch his leg to slow the bleeding.

“I’m sure one of your boys can help you take care of that.” I chuckle before turning and heading back inside.

“That wasn’t really necessary, but I don’t blame you for it.” Justin smirks as we head back up the stairs.

“No, but it sure as hell made me feel better.”