Page 53 of Savage King

“So are you, baby,” he gritted out, his clipped tone telling her there was more he wanted to say.

She gave a sharp nod. “Of course. Go. Tessa and I will be fine.”

His gaze skimmed her face, taking in her expression, her eyes, the way her lips were pulled into a fake smile. But she refused to cave. Finally, he sighed and stepped back. “I’ll call later, probably drop by the condo.”

“We’ll probably make a night of it—a girl’s night complete with sleepover. I haven’t seen my girl in weeks, I need Sky-High time,” Tessa interjected, offering Skathi an escape she grabbed with both hands. She could kiss her right then. Obviously, her friend knew she was scrabbling for a way to put some distance between herself, her emotions, and the man who’d so callously shut her out.

Odin’s eyebrows shot up, his darkening gaze flicking from Tessa to Skathi. He crossed his arms over his wide chest and stared down at her. Damn him for being a giant even compared to her!

He leaned down, cupping her face, holding her in place for a piercing look that would have made lesser women squirm. She had never been lesser.

“Oh? You gonna run and hide from me, Goddess?” Well, Odin wasn’t fooled, he knew Tessa’s words for what they were. Smoke and mirrors. “I know I fucked up somehow but I’m not gonna let you sit around overthinking and getting’ yourself worked up.” He brushed a soft kiss against her lips, nearly breaking her resolve to give herself some space to think. After a moment of not responding to his kiss, Odin pulled back, his expression thunderous, his eyes burning with furious fire.

“When I kiss you, you kiss me back, Skathi. You never deny your man what belongs to him,” he growled, sending shivers of both arousal and rage through her blood.

She opened her mouth to tell him whereelsehe could kiss her, but another loud, booming voice interrupted them.

“Yo!” Hound called as he strode into the room, his leather kutte moving as he swung his massive arms in agitation. “We doin’ this or what?”

Skathi, taking the interruption as an opportunity to escape from the tenuous situation, spun on her heel and headed for the door, Tessa right beside her.

“You can’t hide from me, Goddess. Once all this shit is dealt with, you and me are having a heart to heart. And you better fucking believe I’ll get what I want.” The promise of pain and pleasure in his voice tore at her, ripping away the bandage holding her heart together.

She couldn’t keep this up. As strong as she was on the outside, she was still human on the inside, and her insides were shredding, throbbing, bleeding out.

“Come on, Skathi, we’ll grab some burgers and tequila on the way,” Tessa proclaimed softly, showing her support with the offer of comfort food and mind-numbing booze.

Skathi gave a single wave over her shoulder, refusing to turn back and look, knowinghewas standing there, a statue of flesh wearing a kutte and the thunderous presence of power, staring at her with penetrating icy blue eyes as she walked away.

Alfanzo re-read the report in front of him, rage simmering beneath his calm façade. He read it again. And again. Each time the words stabbing holes into his carefully woven plans. Plans that were at risk of failure.

And Alfanzo Madrigal didn’t do motherfucking failure!

“You mean to tell me that there has been no progress in getting me my gun range?” he snarled, losing the tight hold on his temper for just long enough to pull the handgun from his desk drawer. Biting back the urge to put a bullet in Pedro’s head, he waited for the man to offer his explanation. A dead man couldn’t give him what he wanted.

“Despite the fire—which they’ve already filed a claim for—none of our men can get close. They amped up the security. Cameras, motion sensors, biometric locks, and they have three armed men roaming the property every night.

“You can’t take three armed men?” Alfanzo scoffed, already wondering if he should have put a bullet in Jose years ago.

“The men are also trained, probably former military. They work for Savage Protection.”

So, thependejoswere using their own company to secure the property, which meant they were hyper vigilant. Which meant, unless they went in, guns blazing with enough firepower to attractpolicia—who were in the Raiders’ pocket, they weren’t getting their hands on the gun range soon enough to complete the smuggling operation set up before Manuello Chavez started asking for operational reports…and his cut of the profits. As the Jefe over them all, theputowould get 60% off the top—for doing none of the fucking work.

Which was why, when the cocksucker made his next trip to Las Vegas, he would meet with an unfortunate accident. But the fucker wouldn’t come to Vegas to lord his power over a failing operation!

Failure I don’t do failure!

Pulling his Beretta from his side holster, he pointed it at Jose, who’s gaze dropped to the gun, even though his expression remained unchanged. Thecabroneknew he was safe, that Alfanzo couldn’t kill him. Despite his deviant sexual tastes, the man was indispensable. He liked the wet work, the wetter the better. And he had whispers in ears all over North and South America. Too bad those whispers do him no good in Las Vegas where the motherfucking Savage Raiders hold court.

Jose’s cell buzzed, indicating a notification. A cruel smile curled the paper-thin lips on his hideous face.

“What is it?”

Jose met his gaze and nodded in affirmation.

“We have the girls,” he answered, pleased as punch at his report. “Pedro and Octavio are bringing them in now. They’re five minutes out.”

Five minutes? He could wait five minutes.

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