Page 86 of A Trial By Blood

“You want money?” Mags said, pulling out a wad of cash and shoving several bills in his hand.

His brows shot up, then he looked up to a massive window high above the club. A viewing window of some kind? It was dark.

The bar guy leaned in. “Fine, but if someone asks how you got in, you tell them you snuck in. My name stays out of it.”

Mags rolled her eyes. “Well, that’ll be easy since we don’t actually know your name.”

He frowned, then scowled, then headed across the club.

“Where did you get all that money?” I asked Mags as we followed.

Her mouth twisted. “A loan from Bram. He has more than enough. Wads of the stuff, as a matter fact, stashed all over the tree house.”

“Where did he get that kind of money?”

She shrugged. “How the hell would I know? He doesn’t tell me a damned thing, remember?”

“Only you can go down,” the barman said and pointed at me.

Mags planted her hands on her hips. “Now hang on a minute.”

“One or none,” the guy said.

Mags’s eyes darkened. “I gave you a nice chunk of change, asshole…” Her eyes sliced to the side.

I followed her gaze. Bram was striding across the club, making a beeline for my baby sister. He was dressed all in black, his glossy black hair was longer on top and hanging forward, making it hard to see his black eyes, but there was no mistaking they were locked on Mags, and going by his clenched teeth, he wasn’t happy.

Her back stiffened, and she crossed her arms, her attitude skyrocketing, but I sensed her relief at the same time. Wherever he’d been, he was back.

He strode up to us, took in the male next to us, and Bram was…well, terrifying. The barman took a step back, quickly looking down before Bram turned to me. “You have protection? This place is dangerous,” Bram asked in his deep but quiet voice.

“Oh, um, yeah.” I guess, I did. No matter what was about to happen, Ronan would protect me. “Ronan’s here…downstairs.”

Bram’s hard stare immediately sliced to my sister.

He said nothing, but it was like Mags could read his mind and responded accordingly. “Really? You’ve been gone for two days, not a damned word—”

“I texted you,” he said low.

“You texted me? You’re my familiar. Where the hell have you been?”

His black eyes broadcast just how he felt about Mags calling him that. Of course, he was her familiar, but he was also her best friend, and he was family to us. He said nothing.

“Well?”

He lifted his gaze from Mags to me. “If you’re covered, I’m taking Mags home.”

I didn’t dare tell him no, and if this place was dangerous, I didn’t want Mags here anyway.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Mags bit out. Bram reached for her, and she stepped back. “I said no.”

The muscles in his forearms bunched. “Come here.”

“No,” Mags said again. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Being a good familiar and keeping my witch safe.”

Mags flinched.