“Step away from her.”

The words were soft, almost polite, but Raven felt them hit like a punch. They came from the man at the end of the hall, Jaxon's brother.

Jaxon didn’t move. His arm stayed in front of her, a living barrier, his body radiating that volatile heat she’d come to recognize as the moment before violence.

“Still giving orders like you own the room, aren’t you?” Jaxon’s voice was calm, almost lazy, but his jaw was locked tight.

“I do own the room,” the man ...