Page 78 of The Stallion
Mick and Natalie shared the love seat across from us as we talked, drank, and grazed over a large, half-assed charcuterie board. Everything was deliciously cheap, tying it all together with a generous pile of cheese whiz in the center.
“For the record, Ididlose my way to the restroom. That wasn’t a lie—”
“And instead of a toilet, you found Dallas,” Mick interjected.
“You could say that…” I bit my lower lip as the memory of that night came flooding back—the burning heat, desire, and lust that ignited between us so quickly.
A first meeting like that was one I would never forget—not in a million years.
“Okay, but how does that even happen? It was a meet-and-greet, not a meet-and-fuck—or did I get the wrong ticket? Ash?!” Mick shot her an incredulous look as if she had been denied a good time on purpose.
“There were definitely no‘fuck’options when I purchased our tickets.” Asher teased before taking a sip of her wine. “Besides, Mick, we both know that if that were an option, you would’vecreated your own harem of men in one of the back rooms and refused to leave—or share.”
“You say that like it’s a problem?”
The three of us laughed and shook our heads at her candid response.
I missed these nights—the four of us hanging out together, and even just the nights where it was only Asher and me.
“Anyway, back to Bria… So, is this it? You’re leaving us for good?” Asher’s eyes softened, and her smile dropped at the thought of me never returning—leaving the place I once called home for another.
“I’m afraid so. I can still justify the drive maybe once a month, but I can’t do this every weekend long-term… Which means that after Regionals, I’m officially passing my position on to you.”
“What about nationals?”
“Unless something big comes up, I can finish the season with Nationals, but after that, I will officially retire from the team.” It broke my heart to say those words. All those long years with the Savage Sirens were coming to an end as I paved the way for a new life with Dallas. “I’m going to miss this… all of it.”
“But you worked so hard…” Natalie chimed in, setting down her glass and coming over to squish herself onto the couch next to me.
“I know, but I can’t do this forever, and as much as I’d love to, eventually, I’d outgrow the team. No one is competing past thirty…”
We were only in our twenties, but the past month had been an eye-opener as to where I saw myself in the next ten years, and I realized that it wouldn’t be in Phoenix. I no longer belonged here.
“Well, Dallas is one lucky asshole if you ask me. Stealing away my best friend and our fearless leader. What the hell are we going to do without you?” Asher wrapped her arm around my shoulders, pulling me in for a hug as she pressed her forehead against the side of mine.
I shrugged in response with a soft sigh, my lips pressed together in thought.
Find your own path to forever, I suppose…
Chapter 31
Dallas
Shortlyafterrequestingit,Dustin emailed the video file from the camera that had recorded Bria’s test. He even took the time to compliment how impressive my sweet girl’s performance was, not displaying a hint of indecision in her bold actions.
I waited until she’d left for Phoenix to view the video.
While I had the utmost faith in my wife, I still begged the question of how she handled it without so much as needing my help. Rarely did any of the wives complete their tests independently, always needing the extra encouragement or assistance to make the kill itself.
I sat behind my desk at Isla, finishing the last of my in-house work before pulling up Dustin’s email and downloading the file for viewing. I don’t know why I started feeling anxious as the progression bar increased, but my heart raced even faster the closer it approached completion.
Once the file was ready, I braced myself before pressing play, unsure of what to expect—if it would be nothing of concern or something much more.
As I studied the recording closely, I watched Bria enter the room, followed closely by her target,Leroy. I could hear everything that was said between them, even though I remember listening to it first hand through the earpiece as if it were yesterday.
Hearing his fucking voice and the way he spoke to her had my blood boiling. I wanted to kill the motherfucker all over again—slowly, painfully—as I saw him skulk toward my wife, backing her against the headboard of the bed with nowhere to run.
Before we left for Stardust, I briefed Bria on the layout of the illusion suite—where most of the weapons were located, and how to access them if she found herself in need. There were various types available, everything from a simple butcher’s knife to a standard handgun—already loaded, of course.
