Page 48 of Shamelessly Loyal

The genuine concern in his tone dried up my sarcasm and irritation. Ezra really did care about Em. Maybe not like me, but he wanted to help herforme and that counted—

“Get your fucking hands off my sister.” There was no mistaking the warning in Pretty Boy’s voice. “Who the hell invited you here, anyway?”

Ezra suddenly pulled Em to us and shoved her back with me.

Pretty Boy wasn’t alone; there were more Vandals.

“Ezra, stop,” I said, gripping his jacket and tugging. “I mean it. I want to go now. We need to leave.”

I didn’t dare look at Pretty Boy. “You called him?”

“Yes,” I said. “You have things to do, and I have a life to return to. So, I suggest both of you boys put your dicks away. I’ll be in the car.” I dropped my hand to Ezra’s pocket and slid his keys out. I could not stand here in the middle of this. I didn’t want to see the regret or the hurt on Pretty Boy’s face.

When I looked at Em, she grabbed my fallen bag. “Freddie, can you walk us out? I’ll be right back.”

I didn’t turn around to look at the standoff. I wasn’t a coward, but I’d been fighting myself all week. I couldn’t fight all of us.

“Go on, Sparrow, walk your friend out. We’ll take care of this.”

Freddie glided out ahead of us, holding the door. The cold air washed over me as I headed straight for the black Mercedes. Popping the trunk, I took my bag from Em and put it in there before starting the engine with the remote. When I reached for her, she collided with me.

The hug was everything I needed.

“Be careful,” she whispered.

“You, too.”

Then the door slammed open, and Ezra stalked toward us. I let Em go, and it was a good thing, because he scooped me right up and over his shoulder. Fucking boys.

When he put me down next to the passenger side, I slammed my elbow into his stomach. He grunted. But the heat in his eyes left very little room for argument.

After he opened the door, I slid inside on my own. He looked down at me, relief softening his expression before he glanced back to where Em stood.

“Still time to come…”

“I meant it. This is my home now.”

“If that changes, you just have to call.”

“Just look after Lainey, please,” she told him.

“Ialwaysdo.” He closed my door then circled around to the driver’s seat. I’d just snapped my seatbelt on when Freddie leaned sideways to wave at me.

“See ya, Ball-Cracker!”

I really didn’t have a chance to say anything because Ezra was already accelerating before his door fully closed. The engine purred as he raced out of the alley and onto the street. When I glanced at him, he cut his head in a hard shake.

“Not one word, Lainey,” he said. “Not one word.”

I snorted. “Or what?”

The dark look he shot sent me the first real shiver of apprehension. I usually only saw that side of him when he was drunk.

“You’re going to find out.”

Epilogue

EZRA