Page 34 of Waging War
“Tell me you hate me, baby.”
With that, I shatter into all those pieces I’d been desperately trying to hold together. Every minuscule inch of my body bursts into tiny particles of pleasure as I orgasm around him.
“I hate you,” I finally murmur into the scratchy couch covering. “Dammit, Ben, I wish I’d never even met you.”
Ben holds me tight as he pumps his hips through his release, trembling from the force behind it. He grabs the back of the couch beside my hand and hooks his arm around my middle, whispering little ramblings against my dampened skin that I can’t quite make out.
Cold air slides between our bodies as he withdraws, and he surprises me with three tiny kisses down the center of my spine.
I sag against the couch, thinking about all the lies taking up space between where we started and where we’ve now ended.
And the biggest lie of all is the one I was just forced to tell.
CHAPTERTEN
Ben
The ground is slick and icy where I halt, signaling for Jackie. The sound of tires rolling through the empty parking lot behind Red’s tattoo shop snags my attention. We watch a black SUV pull to a stop several paces from where we stand.
“How much time do we have until the rally starts?” Jackie asks.
“It’s at three.” I glance at my phone for the time. “We’ve got about an hour. Are the Wolves ready?”
He stuffs his hands inside the pockets of his gray suede coat. “They’re going to meet us at Moe’s once the rally begins. Their pack usually finishes up with a final ride through.” The driver’s-side door opens. “We’ll make the exchange at the garage.”
Moe’s Auto is nearly as ancient as Mackville, and I’m amazed that the old garage is still standing. It’s survived two tornados and a car fire that sparked from an old Camaro twenty years ago, but it’s the only other auto shop in town besides Kenneth’s.
A tall uniformed black man exits the vehicle and strides toward us. Chief Barron removes his shades, looking the two of us up and down, and I feel an uncomfortable twinge low in my abdomen.
The chief is menacing, with a tightly trimmed buzz cut, piercing eyes, and lips that are mashed into a tight line. Everything about him says,Fuck with me, I dare you.
Yeah, I’d rather not.
“Chief,” I say, extending my hand.
He stares at it for a moment before bridging the gap and offering me a shake.
The same courtesy is not extended to the mayor.
“Fellas. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting this.”
Jackie brushes his shoulder before resting his hands in the pockets of his coat. For the first time since I’ve known him, he loses a touch of arrogance when he faces the chief. “I take it you got my message?”
A muscle jumps in Barron’s jaw. “I’m agreeing to this for the sole purpose of protecting the women I love.” He pauses. “Something you know very little about.”
“It’s been years, Barron. At some point, you’ve got to let it go.”
I glance between the men, mulling over Barron’s comment curiously. Everyone in town knows Jackie’s a womanizer, but something about their exchange feels oddly personal.
I expect him to lash out the way I’ve witnessed many times before, but he surprises me by keeping his composure.
“Your girls and your wife will be well taken care of,” Jackie assures him.
“You’re sending them with a bunch of ex-cons on muscled motorbikes.” Barron scoffs. “Not exactly reassuring.”
“Well, it’s that or risk them being kidnapped and tortured to keep you compliant,” I interrupt.
Jackie cuts his eyes to mine, and I raise my palms.
