The Price We Pay by Alora Kate Page A

and looked behind her at Jaxon. “Jaxon and I ended up in the same home.” She turned back towards me and took a step back. “He’s my brother.”
    I tilted my head at her. “He’s also a kidnapper.”
    Her jaw dropped and she turned back around, with fists at her side.
    I grinned at Jaxon and he raised an eyebrow at me silently flipping me off. It only made my grin larger.
    “You did what!?”
    “It’s not what you think,” he ground out and then Latch took over.
    “We’re protecting these women.”
    “You kidnapped me!” I said pushing off the wall.
    “Latch!” Laken yelled.
    “ Marvey , Sofia, Harper, and Laken,” he swung his arm out towards the couch, “sit.”
    Oh, the nerve! He said my name just to piss me off.
    “We aren’t dogs,” Laken said, not moving.
    At this point, a guy said something that came from the front door and everyone swung their head to him.
    “What the fuck is he doing here?” Latch yelled at Laken and she walked to the man and stood at his side, to defend him.
    “We pinky swore,” she told him matter-of-factly.
    “That wasn’t the deal, Laken. How many times do I have to repeat myself? This shit is out of control. You’ve put yourself, and him, in danger now. You’re all in fucking danger!”
    “Latch, man,” Jaxon gripped his shoulder, “chill.”
    “Fuck off.” He stormed outside passed Laken and her friend, and she walked over to Jaxon.
    “I’m sorry Jax, I didn’t think it was that serious.”
    “It is that serious. Just give him some time to cool off.”
    I felt bad, Latch was really pissed off and it was all my fault. It all started with me. It was time to tell him this was all just a silly mistake.
    “It’s my fault,” I confessed, not looking at anyone in particular. “I’ll go tell him what it is he needs to know.”
    He wasn’t on the porch, so I walked down the steps and around the house. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining bright with the perfect temperature. I wasn’t sure how much land Latch’s house sat on, but I could see far out and noticed a barn off to the right of the house and tree behind it. As I came around the back of the house I heard him grunting.
    “Dear God,” I muttered as soon as I saw him. He had taken his shirt off and was picking up a large tire and flipping it over. The tire was at least three times his size, but he flipped it over like it was nothing. There was a small patio on the back of the house but I leaned against the house to watch him flex his muscles as he continued to abuse that damn tire. I didn’t want to interrupt him. Not yet. He needed to get that shit out and be calm and collected by the time I told him what was going on because I knew it just might make him even more upset with me.
    Hopefully, he took the news well, but I was afraid since Sofia’s life was in danger that we’d be stuck out here. This situation wasn’t going to work out for me because I had three jobs to get back to tomorrow. I can’t afford to get fired.
    “Marvey.” His voice pulled me back to him and he was walking towards me. He ran his blue shirt over his face, wiping the sweat off and tucked it into his back pocket.
    “I’m ready to talk,” I said quietly trying to keep my eyes focused on his and not his delicious body.
    He said nothing, but walked towards the small patio and I followed. There were two wood chairs that looked like they were made from hand sitting next to a small wood table that matched.
    “These are nice.”
    “Made them,” he said staring off into the field.
    I sat down and ran my hand over the smooth arm of the chair. “You’re good with your hands.”
    He huffed, and I looked over at him. He was trying not to smile. I knew that wasn’t going to last long.
    “This whole thing has been a huge misunderstanding. I should have told you from the beginning but I had never been in that kind of a situation before.” He said nothing and I continued, “Regardless of what you think, I was