Page 124 of Full Throttle

“What do you mean let?” I pressed.

Dontell turned to me then. “That bull rider can hold his own, we all know that, but,” he jerked his thumb to the men, “that bounty hunter is a fucking menace.”

“Who? Grayson?” We both turned to find Leon walking to us.

“Yeah. I was just telling Cain about the one and only time we’ve met the fucker,” D said.

Lee looked over his shoulder, my eyes following his. The bounty hunter, Grayson, was staring at us now, his dark eyes unwavering.

“How in the fuck does a bounty hunter have access to a government plane?” I muttered so only the boys could hear.

“Fuck if I know,” D answered, staring at Grayson now.

“Alright,” I sighed. “Look at me. Both of you.”

The men turned their backs to Grayson and the other two, their eyes focusing on me. “Is he solid?”

Lee nodding. “He’s solid.”

I looked at Dontell, and after a moment, he nodded once. “Grayson’s solid.”

“That’s all I fucking care about. We’ve got other things to worry about, and I don’t want him anywhere near Mina and Nik. Got that?”

Lee’s lips twitched. “Awfully protective of my sister, aren’t you?”

“What’s wrong with that?” D asked. “More protection for the woman I love, the better.”

“I’m protective of all of them,” I clipped. Lee’s eyes flashed as I continued, “Amara included. They’re my fucking family.” I pointed in Grayson’s direction. “He’s not. I don’t give a shit about him, but what we’re about to walk into…” I trailed off as I heard Nik’s voice. My head twisted to find her, Amara, and Mina at the mouth of the plane, huddled up.

“I hear you,” Lee murmured.

“Loud and fucking clear,” D added.

I looked back to my friends—my brothers. “If you trust him, then I’ll manage.”

Lee clapped my shoulder. “He’s a good fucking man, that much I know. He went back to Hallow Ranch to help…resolve that fucking pipeline bastard.”

“Is that the word we’re using now? Resolve?” D asked, laughing.

“Yeah, and if you don’t fucking shut it, I’ll resolve your little bitch ass,” Lee threatened.

Dontell lost it, bursting out laughing as his head flew back. My lips twitched and as my shoulders started shaking with laugher, I bent my head, pinching the bridge of the nose. “Leave it to Dontell to make me laugh at a time like this,” I said, chuckling.

“Fucker could have a gun pointed to his head and that won’t stop him from cracking a fucking joke,” Lee muttered, shaking his head.

Dontell was coming down from his laughter as he shrugged a shoulder. “Collin says I’m the funny one. Might as well live up to the reputation.”

“Or you’re just bat shit crazy,” Lee barked.

That was true. Dontell Michaelson was fucking insane, but he made it work.

“Donnie, this is no time to be cracking jokes,” Mina hissed, pushing her way through between Lee and I. Amara and Nik followed. Lee grabbed Amara’s hand and led her away, rounding the other side of SUV so they were out of sight. Pulling Nik to my side, I veered us away from Dontell and Mina as their bickering morphed into soft promises.

Not stopping, I walked us into the plane, weaving us between the five cars, all the way to the back before guiding her against the wall, red nets draped behind her. My hand cupped her jaw, lifting her chin so I could assess her. She was wearing a black, long-sleeved thermal and black cargo pants that hugged her ass in a way that drove me mad. Her hair was braided over her right shoulder and came down past her breasts, a few strays of it framing her face. With that in mind, I curled a few of them behind her ear as I whispered, “You doing okay?”

She nodded. I braced my free hand beside her head as my other went back to her jaw. “Don’t want you to see this,” I murmured.

She opened her mouth to speak, but I shook my head. “Let me get this out, Dominique.”

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