Page 58 of Sniper

“Yeah, I said it. I’ve fallen for you, Katey, it’s as simple and as complicated as that. You’re grouchy as hell and you’re hardheaded and independent to a fault. But you’re also beautiful and kind, and so damn capable that I know you’re too fuckin’ good for me. I know it and I don’t care because I’m a selfish bastard and I want your beautiful, brilliant, grumpy ass for myself.”

She let out a shocked, strangled sound.

My heart pounded out of my chest while I waited for her to say something. Anything.

A knock on the door hard enough to shake the frame took us both out of the intense moment. “Church,” Gio shouted on the other side of the door. “Important shit to discuss.”

And just like that, my love life and my future would have to wait. “Gotta go.”

“I know.” Her cheeks flushed and she licked her lips, as if daring me to take what I wanted.

So I did. “Fuck,” I moaned and cupped the back of her neck, staring at her for a long minute before my mouth crashed down on hers. This was a continuation of everything I wanted to say to her but had no fucking clue how to say the words. The kiss saidI love youinstead ofI’ve fallen for you. This made explicit the words that, in hindsight, seemed so tepid.

Katey moaned into my mouth and pressed her chest against mine. The sensation of her hard nipples on my chest, her warm, capable hands on my forearms, it was too fuckin’ much.

“Katey,” I growled against her lips.

“You have to go,” she replied and flicked her tongue against the seam of my mouth. “You should go. Important biker business.”

Her words teased a laugh out of me, and I dove back in, hungry for just one more taste before we went to make a plan on how to handle a bunch of rich assholes who thought it was okay to fucking buy people. Her lush lips, plump and sweet, were enough to keep me here for hours.

But MC business came first. Always did. “Okay. Gotta go.”

Katey pulled back and leaned against the sofa, crossing her legs, and then folding her hands in her lap. “Go.”

I stood, adjusting my pants to hide my hard cock and smiled at my woman, because that was how I thought about her. “You’ll think about what I said?”

She nodded before nervously tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to think of anything else.”

“Good.”

Gio knocked one more time just as I yanked open the door. “Yeah, I fuckin’ heard ya!”

“Just makin’ sure lover boy. Let’s go.”

“Asshole,” I grumbled through a smile. “You know anything?”

“Some,” he shrugged and clapped his hands together. “We’re all about to find out.”

***

Church was more packed than usual today, which meant we had enough intel to make a real fucking plan to get these fuckwads. I leaned against a wall with the other prospects, and waited for Rocky, the lone straggler. Even though I couldn’t wait for my prospect period to be over, I didn’t mind not having a seat at the table. Yet.

“Sorry I’m late. Peyton’s not feeling well.” Rocky rushed in, closed the door, and took his seat, all without a smile which meant he was worried about his woman.

“Katey can take a look at her if you want. She’s still here.”

His expression relaxed along with his shoulders. “Pike, step out and tell Katey that Peyton isn’t feeling well, see if she wants to help.” His lips twisted as if he wasn’t sure Katey would help.

“She’ll want to. Trust me.”

“She’s your woman,” Pike said with a smile before he left the room.

“All right,” Slate began once we went through all the important club notes and Diesel turned the floor over to him. “These guys are into some major, major shit boys. They traffic humans of all ages, sexes, genders, and religions. They stick to the script with forgotten people, runaways, and transients, the only exception is good looking teenagers.”

“Slate,” Hawk groaned. “Get to it, brother.”

“Right. So I’ve laid a trap by hacking into their network and draining half the amount in a dozen different crypto accounts, leaving a cryptic note so they know who robbed them.”

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