A reel of dark, cruel images hitting me.
Frame after frame.
In that second, the only thing my mind could process was the memory of the evil glaring out from under that mask.
Lyrik stared down at me with stark brotherly concern.
All black hair and even darker eyes.
“Don’t you dare apologize, Mia. There isn’t one goddamn thing for you to be sorry for. None of this is your fault.” His brow drew tight in emphasis, like he’d somehow taken on some of the blame.
A self-conscious breath huffed from between my lips. “Are you joking, Lyrik? I’ve become nothing but a burden to you and Tamar. You’re constantly on edge, and I know you haven’t been sleeping.”
His expression darkened. “Yeah, well that bastard is still out there. Loose. Not gonna rest until he’s behind bars. Or dead.”
Grief grasped me by the throat.
This sticky, heavy sensation that made it close to impossible to breathe.
“And you know the detective has concluded it was random. A botched robbery. I’m not in any danger,” I choked out around the clot of devastation.
Wishing there was some way to accept that conclusion. To find peace that wouldn’t seem to come. I didn’t know if it ever would.
“Not a chance I’m willing to take,” he grunted, gritting his jaw.
My big brother was tall and thin. Wiry, even. Oh, but he left no illusion the he was one to be toyed with.
He was nothing but rippling, lean, packed muscle. Exuding a vibe that promised he’d strike faster than any ill-intention someone might have.
I’d seen it plenty of times.
Lyrik West wasn’t talk. He was straight—I-will-fuck-you-up-and-I-won’t-apologize-later—action.
He’d ridded himself of his tux jacket and rolled up the sleeves. Every inch of skin it revealed was covered in the gruesome designs he’d permanently etched on his flesh. I knew he’d done it because he thought he needed the reminder of the evil that lived within.
Only I knew better.
He had angel’s wings hiding under all that brash, hard exterior.
And it wasn’t like I could hold his looks against him. If it weren’t for the handful of years separating us, we probably could have passed as fraternal twins.
“And I’m staying here with you. Just like you asked me to.” In emphasis, I touched his arm. “So you need to rest in that. Tonight is supposed to be fun. Your entire band is here. Your best friends. Your brothers. And the only thing you’re doing is worrying about me.”
“You think I care about the party?” he demanded, his face angling down close to mine. “You think I give a flying fuck about any of these pricks roaming around here like they are better than the rest of the world? Only thing I care about is my crew. My family. Tamar and Brendon and Adia. You and Penny and Greyson. Rest can burn. So, don’t give me this bullshit that you’re some kind of burden, yeah? Because I would gladly die before I let someone get to you.”
Lyrik edged back, shoved his hands in his pockets, and smirked. “But that won’t be necessary. I will raze the whole fuckin’ city before anyone gets between me and you or my family. You understand what I’m sayin’?”
A quirk of a smile edged my mouth. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re a badass. I get it,” I teased.
Only thing it did was cause his smirk to expand. “Hey. Everyone needs a badass on their side.”
“Like I said—ridiculous.” I tried to shove off the rush of emotions. My heart expanding with the love I had for him.
Lyrik had always taken the time to make sure I knew I was something important in the middle of his great big world.
I forced some levity into my tone. “And newsflash, Lyrik. I don’t need you to go around thinking you need to protect me the way you used to do. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
So maybe he’d tried to chase off every boyfriend I’d ever had.
He touched my cheek. “Yeah, well you’ll always be my baby sister. Get used to it.”
“I’m going to survive this, you know.” It came out a whisper.
Chest trembling with grief and the hope I refused to let go.
His smile was soft. “You’re the strongest person I know. Most wouldn’t be standing here right now. You’re going to be okay, Mia. I promise you that.”
“I have too much good to fight for not to be.” A fresh round of emotion crawled my throat.
I beat it down, refusing to feel it.
I felt desperate for a reprieve.
To forget.
Just for tonight.
I forced a bright smile to my face. It was a wonder that it was only half-faked. “Let’s just forget about it all right now. Okay? You have important people here to entertain.”
My attention drifted to the right, to the main room of his gorgeous Hollywood Hills home. It was crawling with guests for the fundraiser he and his wife, Tamar, hosted each year.