Page 92 of Darling Psycho

With Rider and Hawk’s help, they’d handed over a truck full of stolen women headed for Mexico to Charlie boy. He rolled a thumb over his busted knuckles. Bad fish never went into the great beyond lightly. If Wonder Cop wanted to know why the truck full of stolen girls was without a driver, then that was his investigation to figure out.

He’d never know the fella was burning in a makeshift crematorium right about now.

As cold as the truth was, Lawless didn’t care what happened to those women after the fact. Counseling, rehabilitation back to society, whatever. He was no white hat, no knight in shining armor. He’d set out to do a job for his reasons, not because he cared about helping sex crime victims.

Only one victim mattered to him, and she was laughing at a customer sitting at the bar.

From behind him, he heard. “Get the drinks, Law, I’m gonna call Icy.”

Lawless acknowledged Rider, but kept his eyes on Angela.

Snake, Preacher, and Reaper piled in after him, cracking jokes about whatever; he wasn’t listening until a meaty arm slung over his shoulder, the creak of Snake’s leather jacket making himself known. “You gonna stand in the middle of the bar all day mooning like an idiot, or you going to buy the drinks?”

Without glancing at his buddy, he said, “I’ve already killed today. So I can make it two easily.”

Snake started cackling. “Man, I love seeing this look on you; it’s like the juiciest fucking steak I’ve ever eaten.”

He was an idiot, and Lawless smirked, knocked his arm away, and sauntered over to the bar, taking a seat as far away from any mouth breathers as he could.

She’d clocked him and theSoulsboys walking in, and now her eyes flitted back and forth to him while she worked.

Skin-tight jeans, a top low and tight enough to accentuate her perfect handful tits. And her glossy black hair fluttering around that stop traffic face of hers. No fucking wonder every maggot in the bar was staring at Angela like she was serving hand-jobs.

He couldn’t blame their enthusiasm for thinking they had a chance with her. She was a fucking knock-out without even trying to be. With enough sass to make a man blue balled and a woman cream her panties.

But would he kill them if they so much as reached across the bar and touched her? Without a second’s thought.

He was patient like goddamn Garfield, waiting for lasagna.

What kind of imbecile drank from the Holy Grail and then handed it back?

Not Lawless.

So far, he’d only taken small sips. There was plenty of time to gulp her down.

She was every piece of good that there was for him to slurp up and savor in his mouth.

And as innocent as he was, culpable. For the first time in his life, his impulses were stronger than his logic.

He wanted her for himself.

She had him behaving like a blue-balling virgin, and he hadn’t been that inept for a very long time. He could pretend to be a man, but that was only until there was raw meat around, and then he turned into the animal he was.

His intentions were obvious to Angela now. So, there was no need for him to behave like anything other than his criminal self.

She sent him a smile from the other end of the bar, mouthing “sorry” while she arranged drinks on a tray for the wait staff to carry to outside tables.

It was upmarket for a biker joint, and Lawless’ first time seeing Zara’s new place since he got out. He was impressed.

“Hey! I didn’t know you guys were coming in. It’s been pretty manic since I started, but I think I have a handle on it now. Tanya, she’s the manager. She’s been showing me the ropes. Are you checking up on me? I bet that’s why Rider is here; he already called me this morning.” Her run-on sentences continued as he observed her nervously chewing on her bottom lip. Only when she saw his knuckles, she sobered and grabbed his right hand, running a thumb against the torn skin. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“Snake tried to make out with me. I had to put him down.”

She snorted, but met his eyes. “You’re okay?” she asked quieter for his ears only, and he nodded. Then she leaned over the bar, and she gave him a delightful glimpse down her shirt. Naughty little thing. “Hey, I was thinking in bed this morning. Ruiz must have a VP, or whatever a pimp cartel guy calls it. Someone you can crack for info.”

Lawless listened to her passionate thoughts and lifted an eyebrow when she finished speaking. “Thinking of another man while you’re in bed? We’ll circle back around to that.” If they’d been further along in their relationship, he would have put her over his knee for that, but seeing her eyes widen and then drift lower with lustful thoughts was enough to appease him for now. “Do you want to do some digital digging around tonight to see what you can find out?”

“Really? Yeah, I’d love to.”

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