Page 21 of Devil's Due: Sarge

I nod slowly. “Yes.”

“Not a lot of people… Not a lot of places to hide… The Outcasts are close by. Let me call Duke,” he says. “You pack. Let her keep thinking it’s just you and her, but call in. Keep me informed all the way so the brothers can be ready to jump in when the shit hits the fan, like we both know it will.” Outcasts are good men. They were the ones to help extract Greer and Nicola from Halfway and got them safe until the Lords were able to get to them. I wouldn’t mind their help in this.

“Roger that. I’m going to pack, then.”

As I walked past him, Vlad lays a hand on my shoulder. “For God’s sake, be careful, brother, and call me if you need me.”

“Will do.” Vlad pats my back and lets me go. I slip out of the room first, heading to go join Greer back in the bedroom.

The woman looks up from the bed, where she’s been packing some clothing for the both of us. “Got a plan?” she asks.

“Everything’s good. Let’s go. We need to fill up the truck and get some provisions before we hit the highway.” She picks up the backpack, zips it, then tries to swing it over her shoulder, but I catch it and swing it over mine, pulling her against me. I place both hands on each of her cheeks, then lean in and take one more kiss. When I pull back, I look her dead in the eye. “Woman, you better be worth it.”

9

Greer

He has me safely in the front seat of his truck buckled in, and passing through the gates of the compound before he finally talks to me again.

“Where we headed?” he asks.

I take a few moments considering the interior of the truck. The soft, black leather seats and the comfortable arrangement of the dashboard draw my attention as I figure out what to tell him.

While the memories come to me, I lightly drag my finger over the knobs and buttons on the radio just to give myself something to concentrate on. Finally, I exhale, ready to explain. “I zigzagged across the country trying to throw them off,” I say, remembering the fear that followed me on that ride. Always looking in the rearview mirror. Always checking for a car that might’ve been following mine a bit too long. That had been a horrible time. I felt betrayed and utterly alone. I cut a glance over to Sarge to remind myself that I’m not alone this time. “The artwork is still in the trunk of my car parked in long-term parking at the Tulsa International Airport.”

“You know how expensive that’s going to be?”

“We don’t have to get the car, just the artwork. We can leave the car sitting for all I care. But I had to park it somewhere it wouldn’t be noticed but would still be safe.”

“Jesus, woman.” He shakes his head at me. “You actually did good.”

“Don’t sound so surprised. I know I’m just awomanand all – ”

“Don’t go putting words in my mouth. You know that’s not what I meant. Most people who haven’t found themselves in that type of situation before wouldn’t have handled themselves so well.”

Oh. He was complimenting me. It felt great to get a compliment from someone like Sarge.

And that makes me smile. I think because I have him as a captive audience, now is a safe enough time to ask him the questions I feel I need to get to know him better. He claimed me, and I’ve agreed to being claimed, but I want it to mean more than just a protection detail. I don’t know why I want it to mean more… That’s totally a lie. Every time I look at him, feel his arms around me, his body pressed next to mine and those kisses… That manknowshow to kiss. Those are definitely some of the reasons why I want it to mean more. But then when he told me about his wife and son… No one’s ever trusted me with so heavy a burden before. That’s the crux of this situation, isn’t it? Why I want it to mean more. Because I could actually fall for this guy.

“What parts of the world would you like to see?” I ask.

He glances down at me. One bent elbow he has resting next to the truck window as he keeps control of the vehicle with the opposite wrist at the bottom of the steering wheel. “Already seen too many parts of the world.”

“But those were the seedier parts. The underbelly of society, where regular folks don’t dawdle. I’m talking just to get away. Where would youwantto go?”

“For starters, when this is over, I fully intend on putting you on the back of my bike and heading out west. Maybe Sedona. Pack a tent and sleeping bags. I’ll fuck you out underneath the stars.”

I suck in a breath, excited by the sudden quiver in my loins. Apparently, my vagina likes the sound of that. Sarge smiles at me. He totally knows.

“You’ve been camping in the desert, baby?”

“I’ve never been camping. But now I want to go.”

He switches hands to take the wheel so he can reach over to lace our fingers together. “I’ll make sure you love every second of it.” This time, my stomach dips because I know he’s not talking about the camping. Even though he has the air conditioner on, the cab of the truck becomes stifling. I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on in my life. Sarge gets me alone and I become this wanton woman.

“Okay.” I’m forced to clear my throat to get rid of the lusty frog that seems to be stuck there. “So Sedona. Where else?”

“From there, we’ll probably ride up to Joshua Tree. That’s some gorgeous country.”

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