Page 6 of Fearless
“We will be in a position to negotiate to our advantage,” I pointed out. “How much depends on if Tash simply goes back on his promise of land or actually moves to invade Colora—I mean, Jerriton. If my uncle’s back is pushed against a wall, it could work out very well for us.”
In all honesty, I actually hoped General Tash moved his army into Uncle Jerry’s territory and set the whole fucking thing on fire. The vineyards on rolling hills, our gaudy Youngblood family crest engraved onto every gate and set of doors. The manicured topiaries, marble statues, and high-arching ceilings of his mansion—all built on the backs of slaves. I couldn’t get that girl out of my head, the skinny blonde who’d been servicing him under his desk when I arrived. The poor thing was already dead inside. She’d probably willingly jump into the flames if an invading army came.
Uncle Jerry just couldn’t be satisfied with the title of General. Like most others in my wretched family, he sought power and prestige at any cost. In his eyes, he saw a lavish lifestyle just like that of his ancestors before they left Hollywood. The price tag? Free labor, now that he didn’t have pesky laws and concepts such as human rights to keep him in check.
“And he’ll keep his word?” Reaper lifted a skeptical eyebrow.
“Honestly, I dunno,” I sighed, leaning back in my chair. Horus hopped off my shoulder and fluttered to my leg to avoid smashing his tail feathers into the chair back. “He rose to power by being a fucking backstabber, just like Tash. He’s manipulated his citizens and kept them prisoner. But if he’s desperate enough, he might be forced to keep his word.”
“So we should use him, but not trust him.”
“That’s what I suggest.” I massaged the back of Horus’s head with my thumb and forefinger. “After that gigantic waste of time of a visit, I don’t think I can even pull the family card with him anymore. He’ll always do what’s in his own best interest.”
“You didn’t completely waste your time.” Reaper slid off the table and headed for the door, indicating our meeting was over. “We’re slightly less in the dark and learned valuable information because of you. And we did catch a snitch.”
“Aw, shucks. Thanks, Reap,” I laughed, rising from my chair. Horus returned to my shoulder and nipped at a lock of my hair, his signal that he was hungry and needed to get outside to hunt.
“I’m just stating a fact, not complimenting you.” Reaper rolled his eyes. “But really, good work, Gun.”
“Thank you, President,” I said in a more formal tone, but couldn’t help the smirk that followed. “I do think Mariposa is softening you up, though.”
“Get the fuck out of here before I take it back,” he snarled. But the hidden smile as he opened the door said he didn’t disagree.
Hades was in his spot just over the threshold, but rather than sitting guarded and alert, he laid on his belly with his head in Mariposa’s lap. She looked up at us with a smile, and I resisted the impulse to grin back. She wasn’t mine and never would be.
“Some guard dog you are.” Reaper reached down to pull Mariposa to her feet, his hand immediately transferring to around her waist. “You didn’t have to sit on the floor out here, sugar.”
“I didn’t mind.” She looked at my president like the sun rose and set on him. “And I didn’t want to interrupt anything important.”
“Nothing’s too important for you,” he murmured, lowering his face to hers.
I tried to slip out behind him into the hall. Not that I was trying to avoid Mari, but just keep a respectful distance. I didn’t want to give anyone the idea that I wanted to join their weird harem arrangement. Plus, it was just too fucking awkward to stand around while those two sucked face.
But of course, I wasn’t fast enough.
“Where you off to, Gunner?”
Plastering a smile on my face, I whipped back around on my foot. Horus flapped at the sudden change in direction and puffed up with annoyance. He was hungry and hated flying indoors.
“Grabbing something to eat before I relieve Dallas on guard duty.” I stroked the feathers on Horus’s chest to calm him. “This little guy needs to catch some food too before it gets dark.”
Mari gave me a challenging, playful look that made my heart skip a beat. “You owe me more swimming lessons, remember?”
Of course I did. It was all I could think about. The way she held onto me in that pool. The fear in her eyes, but her determination to overcome it. Not only was it sexy, I found it brave and admirable as hell. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t consider making a move then. A wayward touch or a kiss would have been easy.
But she trusted me. And right after that shitty church session where Big G all but straight out accusedmeof being a traitor, I wasn’t about to stomp all over that trust. Hell, it felt like she was the only person in the world in that moment who didn’t look at me with suspicion and accusation. That swim lesson allowed me to calm the hell down.
She had no idea, but she'd already started talking me out of seeing red after making sure I didn’t break my hand on the pool wall. It was just what I needed after feeling like I’d just been punched in the gut. Once she started floating on her back all by herself, I felt like myself again. More than that—she made me feel like I was needed and valued.
Mariposa needed to learn how to swim. It was an important skill. But I couldn’t be the one to teach her. Because the next time we were alone in a pool, I might not be able to stop myself.
There was no way I could tell her all that. So I grinned sheepishly down at the floor, unable to look her in the eye. “I sure do, baby girl. We’ll get around to it, okay? Once all this other bullshit is taken care of.”
“Sure. See you, Gun.”
I tried to ignore how sad she sounded as my motorcycle boots stomped down the hall, putting as much distance between me and her as possible.
Three
