Page 79 of Creed

When we stop, Bane hops out, and Army hides his mouth into his shoulder and says, “Remember, quiet and out of sight.” Then he’s gone with a slam of his door.

“What the hell are you two doing in a cage? I thought you lived for the open road and wind through your hair,” a voice says outside.

“Hog trouble, and we need to get back to San Fran immediately,” Bane says.

“That club pussy calling you home?”

“Can we do this so we can get on the fucking road, Virgil?” Army snarls.

“Geez, Army, you’re always such a grumpy cunt. Lighten up, will ya.”

I can’t hear what Army says, but the other guy laughs like a hyena.

A shadow appears on the back of the seat, and my breathing halts. If someone walks close to the window, they’ll see me lying here.

“What the fuck you doing?” Bane barks. A shiver ripples through me at the vicious sound of his voice. The shadow falls back, and I hear a grunt, then a howl.

“For fuck’s sakes, Bane, what are you doing?” Virgil shouts.

It sounds like scuffling and more grunting, then Army says cool and calm, “Just lower your weapons, and your boss Virgil here gets to keep all his blood in his body. Don’t lower your weapons, and I’ll slice his carotid open, and he’ll be dead in under ten seconds.”

Jesus Christ.

I’ve been driving around with these two for an hour, and they can promise violence with deadly calm. And it sounds like the situation escalated because they’re trying to stop someone from coming to the truck. To protect me.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I whisper, pushing the button to open the knife.

“That’s fucking better,” Bane snaps. “Now, can we get on with it?”

I can’t hear much after that, and no more shadows indicate someone approaching the truck. When Army and Bane get back in, they don’t even glance in the back until we’ve left and are well away. Only then does Bane turn, and his eyes skate over my face, then flick to the knife in my hand.

“Pushing the button on the side makes the blade suck back in. That way, you don’t stab yourself when you put it in your pocket.” He inclines his chin at me, implying he’s fine with me keeping the knife.

Maybe he sees the fear on my face, knowing I overheard whatever had gone down, and takes pity on me. Probably because he knows I don’t stand a chance at mortally wounding either of them.

But I close the knife, then pocket it, somehow feeling safe.

Bane smiles lightly. “Let’s get you to your man, sugar.”

Chapter 24

Creed

My security team, alongwith one from my family’s San Diego operations, had secured the area for our landing. Even if no enemies waited for us, we couldn’t linger here. I need to get Sophie back to my family’s estate, which is a fortress.

Sophie hasn’t arrived yet, and I’m antsy, even though we’ve just come to a stop. Before I can call her, though, the pilot comes over the intercom.

“Sir, your brother Vito needs to talk to you.”

Gut in my throat, I turn on my burner phone and call Vito. Had something happened to Sophie while I was in the air?Papá?

“Baby brother, glad you arrived safe and sound,” Vito says.

“This feels like the easy part.”

“Triple S isn’t there yet?”

The door opens, but only Greer from my security team and Benny, the San Diego Capo, walk onto the plane.

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