Broken Wings (Dark Legacy #1)(63)

Evan was acting like we could be taken out at any moment, and a trill of fear raced along my skin.

This time though, it was only Dante, dressed all in black and wearing a fucked off expression. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, getting right in Evan’s face. “If you step in front of Riley one more time, I’m going to end you. I don’t even care who your family is.”

Evan was a few inches shorter than Dante, but he didn’t look remotely intimidated. The memory of the boys stealth missioning it in the forest was strong in my mind, and I feared for my best friend. He had no idea how dangerous Delta was.

Edging around, I tried to slip in between Dante and Evan, but before I could, strong hands wrapped around my biceps and lifted me full bodily out of there. Beck’s face was awash in fury as he maneuvered me behind him.

“What the hell?” I shouted, slamming my hands on his back, and getting … stinging palms in return. I legitimately wanted to hurt Beck, but he didn’t even turn his head.

“What are you doing here, gangbanger?” he said, his voice low.

I’d heard this sort of lethal tone from him one other time, and it turned my blood to ice, because I knew Beck was pissed. I glared and edged toward Dante. “Leave him alone, he did nothing to you.”

Dante was smirking at them, taunting them, because that was his style. But he had no idea how dangerous they were. Especially Beck.

Dylan, who I hadn’t even noticed until now, stepped forward. “I think it’s time you left town. Permanently,” he advised Dante. “We’d hate to have to send you back … in pieces.”

The look in his eyes was making me nervous. Sucking up as much courage as I had, I met each of their dark stares. “If you touch one hair on Dante’s head, I will hunt you assholes down and cut your balls off. Right the fuck off!”

I waved my hands to emphasize my point.

For the briefest moment, it almost looked like the corner of Beck’s lips twitched, but I knew I was wrong when he turned those dark as sin eyes on me, because I could see nothing but pissed.

“Did Evan tell you not to leave the building?”

I blinked. “Well, yes. He said there was danger.”

Beck stepped into me, and I fought against an urge to back up. “And you decided not to listen?”

Crossing my arms, I scoffed to hide my nerves. “You don’t own me. I’m my own person. I take my own risks.”

Beck just shook his head, one hand wrapping around the back of my neck as he pulled me into him. “That’s where you’re wrong, Butterfly. You’re in the circle now, and once you’re in, there’s no way out.”

“We have rules, Riley,” Dylan added, backing up his best friend.

Dante made a rumbling sound from where he’d been edged out. “What the fuck do you mean she’s in and can’t get out? You bastards are involved in some dangerous shit! Why the hell would you drag Riley into that?”

My head was starting to ache, and my body was starting to ache, because Beck still held me captive. And all I could think about was him … the strength in his hands and body as he fucked me.

Beck didn’t turn from me when he replied. “Riley was dragged in long before she met us. Her birth dictated the rest of her life. Now she has to fall into line.”

Sucking in a deep breath, I jerked my head out of Beck’s hand, and he let me go. Two steps to the left, and I was standing with Dante. “What if I just take off now?” I said, sounding desperate and devastated all in the same tone. “Can I run?”

Evan snorted. “Maybe if you run to Mars. Otherwise Delta’s reach is too far.”

Dante’s huge hand cupped my shoulder, and he pulled me closer to him. My side ached as he did, and I tried not to flinch. Beck’s eyes followed that movement, and I shivered at his dark stare.

Dante saw the same thing, and that only made him hold me even tighter. “You’re hurting me,” I bit out quietly, hoping the others didn’t hear.

His grip loosened a little, and it must have been the opening Beck was waiting for, because he moved then. Faster than I’d ever seen a person move. I was in his hands and then passed off to Evan before I could blink. Beck went at Dante, and my tough as nails, highly trained, badass best friend, was knocked to the ground in about a tenth of a second.

Dante got back up quickly, and even managed to get two swings in. Both of which Beck dodged before he stepped in and punched Dante so hard I heard bone crack.

“No,” I screamed, struggling against Evan, my pulse racing as I frantically ran my eyes across Dante. “Leave him alone. Please.”

Beck swung around, and I shrank back. “Make him leave. Now. Before I lose my fucking mind.”

He turned and strode away, and I was shaking as Evan lowered me back to the ground. “Say your goodbyes,” he said, giving me a little nudge forward.

I stumbled to Dante, wrapping my arms around him. “I love you,” I said softly, “But it’s too dangerous here for you. You have to go.”

He groaned before hugging me back. “If you need me, Riles, I’ll be here so fast their heads will roll. And I mean that literally. I can have a lot of very bad people here...”

It’d be war if that happened, and I was so scared that I might lose one of the guys I cared about. Which unfortunately also included the stubborn assholes in Delta.