Fatal (Portland Street Kings Book 2) (15 page)

“If you try to keep me away from my brother, I’ll leave you, Mackson.”
 

That does it. A flicker of fear flashes quickly over his features before he schools them back to possessive and serious. “You could try. Even if you wanted to, which I know you don’t, you forget
you’re mine,
Lana. You love me. Have for a long time. I know, me protecting you will piss you off, but you won’t hate me and I won’t ever let you leave me.”

“Well, shit, I think the petrol fumes have finally gone to your head. ‘Cause
baby
, I’m walking out that door and you can watch my ass sway side to side as I say goodbye.”
 

Mack’s lips tip up into a smirk as if the idea of physically restraining me is something he’s going to enjoy.
 

“Baby, that attitude is cute, but you’re still not going.”

Instead of continuing this silly war of words I spin around and head straight for the front door.
 

I sense Mack behind me, but he’s not telling me to stop nor is he rushing to beat me to the door.
 

I swear. Shit’s about to go down if he tries to restrain me.
 

As I’m approaching the front door I spot Slater on the porch, his back to me, hand up waving. Slater glances over his shoulder, probably from hearing the quick clicks of my ankle boots on the wooden floors. He spots Mack and me, breathes in deeply and then looks to the sky with closed eyes.

“Lana,” Mack growls just as Slater slips into the house and shuts the front screen door behind him.

I come to a halt, almost crashing into Slater who widens his stance and folds his arms over his chest. “Move Slater,” I state firmly.
 

“Last thing I want to do is get in the middle of this shit storm, but I agree with Mack. Right now Rex isn’t the brother you grew up with. He’s living off the highs and lows of drugs and that shit is unforgiving when you try to come between them and it. You can’t help your brother until he’s ready to fight for himself, then and
maybe
only then, might you be able to save him.”

With a heavy heart I try to explain, “I know what you’re going to say, but I feel as if he’s over a cliff’s edge, and I’m the only one who can pull him back safely because I’m part of the reason he got there.”

Slater’s features soften and his body relaxes.
 

Mack steps around me and into my view. “Lana…” his voice is gentle and his tone sounds as if what I said hurt him badly “…you have to know, you did nothing wrong. Rex let the pressure get to him.” Mack shakes his head. “No, that’s not right. He stumbled and couldn’t find his footing again. It could happen to any of us. Your father died. He lost his best friends. He learned his father raped the girl he was in love with. As much as Rex has always refused to believe that, doubt must have been there, eating away at him. Denial can live on the surface of anything, but truth, it festers and keeps eating away until it’s set free. Living becomes the hard part.”
 

“Rex chose a path many have before, thinking they can conquer it,” Slater states. “So far he’s losing, and I know the man he used to be. He wouldn’t want you to see him like that, he’d hate himself if he took you down with him.”
 

I lower my hands beside my body and calm my breathing. I understand everything they’re saying. They’re talking complete sense. If Rex were a friend or an acquaintance, I’d warn people against putting themselves on the line as well.
 

But they didn’t watch Rex pull a chair to the sink when he was five to fill up ice-block molds with my favorite red cordial, when all my father would make was lemonade ones—Rex’s favorite. They weren’t there when my mother left and my father refused to leave the hall light on for me. I was scared of the dark, always had been and then scared of my father’s angry shouts at me for no reason. Rex snuck into my room where he’d lie on the floor, on the side hidden from my door and hold my hand. After a few times my father caught him and then Rex gave me his flashlight, so if I needed to I could find my way to his room.
 

“You don’t get it. Neither of you do. You didn’t even see the best of him,” I choke out.
 

I lost my brother in small increments through the years because of our father and the asshole he was. He shaped Rex to be this weak, angry person. I’ll be damned if I let Jae Scavello win.
 

“We do,” Mack replies. “I have brothers, a sister.”

I nod. “Yeah, and I know you’d never sit back and let this just play out. You’d tie them to a chair, a bed, and lock them in a room before you’d ever considered giving up.”
 

Mack opens and closes his mouth as if he’s lost for words. Slater lowers his chin and doesn’t look me in the eyes. They both know what I’m saying is true.
 

“You’re right,” Slater confirms and steps aside from the door.
 

Mack quickly takes his place.
 

Slater mutters, “Good luck, Mack, you got your hands full with this one,” and he walks away.
 

I place my hands on my hips, glance up at Mack and tilt my head, waiting for him to either move or to come up with more excuses that I will also ignore.
 

Mack breathes in deep, relaxes his body and loosely folds his arms against his chest. “It’s gonna go down like this. I’m not going to restrain you to keep you here. However, I will follow you and carry you back here, if by some miracle you actually walk all the way to Parkland.” A small smile appears on his lips.

He thinks he’s so smart. I’m going to outwit him today, but
holy hell
he looks hot right now. Smugness actually suits Mackson. Legs apart, grin and arms folded.
 

His biceps are huge, smooth, so strong…
Focus, Lana.
 

I straighten my arms and fist my hands and stomp my foot. “Fine. Now move so I can get a move on.” I feign annoyance, but deep down I’m smiling. I can’t wait to watch Mack’s face as I’m driving away.
 

I had a feeling Mack wouldn’t want me to see Rex, but I also wasn’t going to lie or go behind his back. But just in case, I grabbed Mack’s keys to his red Nissan Skyline from his dresser earlier. I pat my back pocket quickly to assure myself they’re still there, and when I feel the bumps of metal I have that assurance.
 

Mack steps away from the door. “Sure you don’t want a water bottle for that long walk?”
 

I narrow my eyes. “You know that’s the one helpful thing you’ve said all morning. That would be wonderful,” I reply with a sweet smile.
 

Mack laughs out loud. “That sassy tone is fucking hot, Lana. We need to do some role-playing tonight.” He gives me a wink.
 

“We should add some ropes and whips as well. I think you need to be taught a lesson.” I mimic his wink.

“Fuck,” Mack breathes out. His eyes darken and he steps toward me. “I got ropes and whips, baby. We can go upstairs right now and you can teach me a lesson or two.”
 

My body warms all over and I swallow roughly. I stumble back a step and in an embarrassingly husky voice, I say, “Got somewhere to be.” I almost added
but definitely tonight
, to make sure we book that in. However, after I steal Mack’s car and actually see my brother, I’m not sure he is going to be in the mood. Or maybe it will be me getting taught the lesson? I shrug.
Win-win for me.
 

Mack looks at me strangely, so I quickly turn and walk down the porch steps toward the front gate.
 

“I’ll fetch you that water, let you get a head start,” Mack calls out and while I’m not looking at him as I only have eyes for his Skyline parked out the front of the house, I can however, hear the laughter in his voice.
 

My palms begin to sweat from anticipation as I approach the car. So close to finally seeing my brother after our longest time apart, and also being able to show Mackson up.
Not sure which one is more important to me right now.
 

The familiar sound of the screen door hitting the frame lets me know Mackson has walked inside. Glancing over my shoulder, it’s confirmed. He’s no longer in sight. With a pounding heart, I race to the red Nissan and pull the keys from my back pocket. I get to the driver’s side, push the key in and unlock the door.
 

I jump inside and start Fang
.
A laugh bubbles up at the nickname Mack has for his car. What is it with guys and nicknaming their cars? I have a beat up Nissan Altima, and while she has been around for a long time and been good to me, I’ve never felt the need to name it anything other than ‘she’ or ‘her.’
 

I reach across and buckle myself in while the engine continues to growl to life. The vibration of the powerful motor flows through me and it feels fucking fantastic. I press down on two buttons on the center console, which lowers both front windows. The instant breeze from outside is heaven compared to the stuffy heat inside the car and the blistering hot leather seats.
 

From the corner of my eye, I notice a large figure come out through the front door. A quick glance shows me it’s Mack and he’s running straight for me and his precious Fang
.
 

I release the handbrake, glide the stick into first and push down on the accelerator. The wheels spin as I’m taking off. Mack jumps his front fence and attempts to get to the car, but he’s too late, I’m gone. And as I’m going, I raise my left hand and wiggle my fingers as a goodbye with a wide smile gracing my face.
I’ve always wanted to do that.
 

Autumn’s cool, crisp air blows in through my window, tousling my hair and relaxing my tense body. Gliding through the gears, I push the car faster, but stay close to the speed limit.
 

I know I don’t have long before Mack gets to one of his brothers’ cars and comes after me. I love him for taking care of me and trying to protect me, but this is something that I have to do, something that has been coming for a long time now. I hope I have enough time to talk to my brother alone before the chaos ensues. And I pray Rex has seen the error of his ways and sees me for what I am. The sister who loves him more than anything else in this world and will do anything to save his life.
 

Chapter Eleven

Lana

Parking behind Corey’s blue Mazda I jump out of Fang
,
keys in hand. I slam her door closed and take swift steps toward my home. I’m approaching the front screen as it flies open and Corey appears. His eyes are wide and his mouth hangs open. The same surprise flashes through me quickly before I straighten my posture and change my expression to stony.
 

“Is Rex home?”
 

Corey’s features soften, but he still doesn’t let go of the screen’s door handle or move aside so I can walk into my own house.
 

“It’s good to see you, Lana.” His voice is welcoming and pleading all at the same time.
 

“I don’t have time for this Corey. Is my brother home or not?” I demand, stepping from foot to foot trying to look around Corey’s big body.
 

“Yeah, but Lana, right now is not a good time.”
 

I stop fidgeting and freeze. “This is my home Corey and that’s my brother. I’ll decide for myself if I’ll stay or go. Now move your ass before I get a run-up and move you myself.”
 

Corey grimaces, glances over his shoulder into the house and then back to me. “Seriously, Lana, he’s not having a good day.”
 

Done with this conversation, and knowing Mack will be here any minute, I search for a weak spot on Corey so I can push my way past him. Using all my strength, and with two hands, I shove Corey’s right shoulder and he stumbles back a step and when he does I slip straight past him into the living room.
 

“Fuck, Lana,” Corey bellows.
 

I spin on my heel, point my finger at Corey and glare. “If you ever try to keep me out of my own home again, my boot will end up your ass. Got it.”

Corey’s face falls. “You’re gonna wish I tried harder.” He gestures to the right. “He’s in there.”
 

My chest tightens as I stare toward Rex’s bedroom door.

“Lana,” Corey calls and the sadness in his voice compels me to look his way. “I swear, I tried. Kodi, Reed and I, we thought we could help him.”
 

I swallow roughly. “What am I going to see, Corey?”
 

Exhausted and anguished, Corey rubs his hands up and down his face. “I don’t know, but I can tell you, you’re not going to see your brother.” Breathing becomes difficult and I grasp onto the sofa for support. “Kodi and Reed are on their way over. We’re taking him to the hospital today, he needs more help than we can give him.”
 

My chin trembles.
I’m scared.
My first reaction is to wait for Mack. I need his warmth and the feeling that comes with being near him, the sense of knowing everything will be okay. But I know that’s a terrible idea. No matter Rex’s state, he’s never going to like seeing his sister with a King.

 
“Mackson is on his way. I don’t want any trouble when he gets here.”

Corey’s eyes widen and he goes to speak, but I beat him to it.
 

“I mean it, Corey. Mack’s only coming to make sure I’m safe. No fighting or accusations. Peace… even if it’s only this once, I will have it today.”

Corey reluctantly nods. “I’ll let the other guys know.”
 

“Thank you. I appreciate that,” I reply softly.
 

“You’re really one of them now?” Corey questions with a frown and a bitter tone.
 

“I’m not with them and I’m not with you guys. I’m
me,
Lana, sister to Rex, daughter to… a monster. If you or my brother had taken one-second in all these years to truly know me, then you’d both realize this war was never mine. That I would never fight for a man who treated me so badly. The fact that you guys have fought so hard for him has broken my heart a million times.”