Page 21 of Unveiled Wounds

He looked good. I didn’t want to admit I wanted to do bad things to him, but my body had other plans. There was a roaring ache between my legs that I knew he could easily satisfy. The room seemed to disappear as he crooked his finger again at me.

I wouldn’t make it easy on him. Pointing at my chest, I sassed him.Who? Me?I mouthed.

He smiled, honing in on me, and if we had been anywhere else, my ass would have been over the arm of the couch.Now,he mouthed.

I slid my legs to the floor, stood from the couch, and climbed the stairs where he waited for me. Once I cleared the top stair, he pulled me against the wall, bracketing me with his enormous body.

“You know what happens when you sass me.” His eyes had darkened, and I swore his nostrils were flaring.

“I might need a refresher.” I pushed off the wall, rubbing my body against his. A groan escaped both of us at the contact.

“Your timing sucks,” he growled in my ear.

“No, you just want me to do that tongue thing you like.” I grabbed his biceps and held myself close enough to reach his ear. Sucking the lobe into my mouth, I tongued it with everything I had. The groans vibrating against my neck weren’t disappointing.

“You’re killing me.” He pulled away, looking me in the eye. “I’m serious. You’re it for me, so we have to come out stronger on the other side.”

I wrapped my arms around him, not saying anything. I didn’t want to tell him I was trying, in case my efforts were in vain.

When we pulled apart, he held my hand as we walked back into the main room. His foot hit the bottom step, and the rest ofthe men stood as a flurry of activity blew through the room. No one said anything as they all headed for church.

***

Grizz

The brothers were talking over each other, but all I heard was the prospect closing the door.

“Alright, settle down.” Sabre smacked his hand on the edge of the table. “I don’t even know where to fucking start.” The brothers settled back into their chairs, the intensity increasing as they waited for the news. If they’d had their way, they would have already been hunting cartel members.

“Before we start, I need to make something very clear. When my father was president, we were a one percent club. Thunder, Slate, and some of the older wise men can attest to this. I remember it being an uncertain time. Brothers ended up dead or in jail. A three-letter agency was always patrolling the street outside our gates.” He rubbed at his eyes and pinched his nose.

“We’re going to have to go back to our roots. Believe me, I’m not looking forward to it, so I’m going to offer you a one-time deal. Death has always been the only way out, but if you don’t want to live like that, now’s your chance. We’ll burn off any club tattoos you have, and you can turn in your club cut.”

The brothers started talking over each other again.

“I’m serious,” Sabre said. “Now’s your chance to leave, without fear of retaliation.” He looked each brother in the eye until he reached me. I held his gaze for longer than anyone else.

He nodded. “Alright. There’s no other way to say this. Diego Lopez is out for revenge. He thinks we made him look like a fool over Matt, so he’s taking it out on the women. There’s a bounty among his men for Grace, JR, Meredith, and a third woman. We haven’t figured out who she is, but it’s not Aunt E.”

“How much is he paying?” Op asked.

“What the fuck does that matter?” I growled.

“They don’t know, do they, Op?” How chimed in.

“Let’s just say I have experience in bounty hunting.” Op rolled his eyes and flicked How off. “Anything under ten thousand isn’t worth the trouble, but if word gets out, the lowlifes will try. They need to score their next fix, and they’re delusional enough to think it will be easy.”

“The soldier that talked didn’t say how much. He just said Diego was offering a bounty, but the information was only circulating among the cartel soldiers for now,” I answered.

“If they haven’t talked already, they will. Trust me on that. I never went looking for a bounty. The talk always found me.” Op drummed his fingers against the table.

“I’ll check the dark web when we’re done, but I doubt I’ll find anything. I cracked the burner phone we found in the SUV. It’s clean, and I’d bet it’s brand new. I still have it connected, in case anyone calls or texts,” Cyph said.

There was a hum of chatter.

“At least we have some answers. Our friend downstairs let it slip that El Sombra Roja has a protection order for Grace and Meredith. Remember the black SUVs that followed them? I’d bet that’s a gift from him.” Sabre ran a hand through his hair. The nervous energy in the room was affecting him.

“I have a direct connection to him, but he either ignores me or just doesn’t respond,” Cyph said, the irritation clear in his voice.

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