Page 10 of Property of Heart

Red clouds my vision and with my next breath I have the fucker by the throat, and snarl, “Touching her will end your fucking life.”

“Heart, fucking hell, back off, man,” Fatal grits and shoves me back.

I glare at them both when Kepner says, “Let’s all sit down and talk.I assume Karev knows you claimed her?”

We all walk to the table and take a seat.

The corner of my mouth twitches when I remember how Lina became mine.“I believe his exact words were ‘you’re going to claim Lina as your old lady.’He did mention I should respect and treat her the way Prez handles Norie.”

Fatal grins at me and I give him a nod, knowing he appreciates the mention.Especially since he claimed Norie to keep her here so Sevrin couldn’t take her with him.

I continue with the fact, “Claiming her also means the shit she’s wrapped in is mine to deal with.Karev buried one body; you guys handled the other.There were a few guys who ran off and one of them was Digby Lancer, you know, the fucker’s father owns the Lancer’s pawn shop one town over.”

“Digby,” Fatal muses.“Didn’t that fucker come by the clubhouse last year asking to prospect?”

Lumos barks out a laugh.“I remember.We were standing in the parking lot and Prez told him to pick up the fallen leaves one by one to show how much he wanted to become a prospect.Fucker ran back to his cage as if his ass was on fire and drove away as fast as he could.”

I chuckle, remembering the moment as well.The parking lot was filled with a thick layer of fallen leaves.We ran a check on the fucker and discovered he works at his father’s business and spends the rest of his time hanging out with his friends.Works being a big word since the fucker doesn’t do shit and wouldn’t even lift a finger to help someone.

“I heard you killed two fuckers?Do you know why they were after her?”Fatal asks.

Shaking my head, I correct him, “Nah, I didn’t kill anyone.Those fuckers killed Lina’s friend, and while I was fighting off three idiots who thought they could take her from me...Lina took out one with a knife I gave her.Oh, and for the record?Make sure no one gives my old lady a knife.”

“Why not?”Remus asks, intrigued.

Fucker.

I sigh and rub a hand over my face.“It was the first thing Karev told me when he asked for a favor.Apparently, he’s right because she doesn’t blink twice before using it.”

“So, Karev asked you a favor and you ended up with an old lady?”Remus snickers.“Remind me not to do the Lexmore Beach chapter a favor.For fucking sure I don’t want to end up with an old lady anytime soon.”

“Stay focused,” Fatal grunts.“I ask again, why were they after her?”

I shrug.“That’s what she’d like to know as well.I do know she owns a vintage shop.”

Fatal leans back in his chair.“Sounds like she obtained something the Lancer’s wanted.Something valuable.”

“Something worth killing for,” Kepner grits.

We all fall silent for a few heartbeats, until Fatal gets up, stalks to the door and bellows, “Norie, get your sweet ass in here and bring your new friend.”

Kepner leans in and whispers, “I wonder if this is the way Karev means treat with respect like Prez handles Norie.”

“Excuse you,” Norie snaps and goes toe-to-toe with Fatal.“Don’t yell at me.”

He leans in so their noses almost touch.“I said sweet ass, didn’t I?”

Norie purses her lips.“Still.Yelling isn’t nice, and I should...”

Fatal cuts her off with a grin and the words, “I threw out your stun gun.”

She huffs.“Great.I have to buy another one.”

Now I’m the one stating, “Stay focused,” and wave Lina over to come closer.

She comes to a stop next to me and looks a bit nervous.I take her hand and rub my thumb over the back of her hand.My gaze lands on our joined hands and I notice the tiny cuts from handling the knife already look good, as if they started to heal.I pull her hand closer and check the other one as well.

Lina shifts uneasily and whispers, “Not feeling any pain luckily comes with healing better than anyone else.I guess it’s a good side effect, right?”