Page 3 of Shamelessly Loyal

Then Adam and Ezra were trying to body slam him. All the blows they rained down and they looked more damaged than he did. The head butt he delivered to Ezra sent Ezra sprawling and then the pretty boy fell over the curb. Adam was going to kill him. He barely managed to dodge Adam’s next flurry of blows and I jumped in between them.

“What are you doing?” I shrieked.

“Get your ass back in the hotel,” Adam growled at me. Pretty Boy retreated behind me even as Adam kept cutting his gaze from me to behind me then back. They were all bruised and bleeding.

“No,” I said, folding my arms. What the hell was wrong with them? They follow me here and now they were beating some stranger up?

“Excuse me?” Adam took one step toward me then his attention snapped up to the guy who was behind me. This wasn’t the safest place for me to stand but it did keep Adam and Ezra from continuing to hurt this guy.

“You heard me,” I yelled at him. “Have you lost your mind? Fighting out here? Why are you guys beating this guy up? Do you want to get arrested? Cause if you want that, I’ll call the cops. Right. Now.”

Ezra snorted a laugh, the blood running down his face far from attractive. “Fuck me, Lainey don’t be such a little bitch.”

Adam swung around, only this time, he slammed his fist into Ezra and knock him on his ass. I almost wished I could take the time to enjoy that. Almost. Then Adam was glaring at me again.

“Fine. Get back in the hotel.”

“Not without you two. I apparently can’t trust you and I came down to thank you for Emersyn’s cake. I was going to actually ask if you wanted to join us but you’re not going up there all bloody and gross.” Not all of that was true.

But… it was true enough.

A half-laugh sounded behind me and I pivoted to face the idiot who wasstillstanding there. I had them distracted. Did he lack even basic survival skills?

“I don’t know who you are or where you came from. But now is the time you go—whileI have them distracted.” He shifted his stance and the light illuminated just how battered and reddened half of his beautiful face had become. “Oh my god, what did you do to his pretty face?”

Should I get him something for it? I barely took a step forward when Adam snarled all over again. “Lainey. On the count of three, if you aren’t moving in the direction of that hotel, I’m throwing your ass in our car and going home. One…”

He would do it too. I felt bad for Pretty Boy but I wasn’t losing the rest of Em’s birthday.

“Jerk.” I glared at Adam then glanced at their target. “Sorry, I never get to see my best friend.”

“Two.” Was he for real? Counting like I was a toddler or something.

“You really are period cramps,” I snapped at him and then stomped back inside. I glanced backonceto make sure that they left Pretty Boy alone. Ezra was still on his ass and out on the concrete.

Huh.

Adam must have really belted him. Good,

I stole a look toward Pretty Boy again. I hoped he was okay. Adam and Ezra were very dangerous people. No matter how they tried to play it. Grandfather reminded me, regularly, appreciate people for exactly who they were. Them being a threat? It would be a mistake to believe anything else.

With a sigh, I headed for the elevator and escaped back upstairs. I wanted to make the most of every moment we had left.

The next day would be here soon enough.

ChapterOne

LAINEY

The pair—Rome and Freddie—were equal parts fascinating and frustrating. Both blond, one far more stoic and literal than the other, and utterly different in their mannerisms and how they communicated. Rome said very little but meant every single word. Freddie never shut up and meant maybe one in ten.

They both wanted to help Emersyn. It was all I needed to know. Turning my head to the window, I studied the city we approached. Joining them in their vehicle had been an impulsive decision—one I didn’t usually allow myself. But I was worried about Em. She’d disappeared for months. The whole world hunted for her. Out of the blue, she messaged me for help.

Then, almost as abruptly, seemed to change her mind and stay where she was. Now? Now they said she’d gone home.

To her family.

If that were true, the Sharpes would close ranks, and I’d never get to her. But there was something about these men. Something about the risk they’d taken. I had a gun in my bag, but neither had lied to me. Neither had tried to dismiss my concern.