Page 68 of Roses Are Dead
It was from the same store I shopped at only a few days ago. My shoulders stiffened as yet another reminder of Carl intruded on my life.
KC felt along the bag and handed it off to Bear, glancing down the hallway as he did. “I’m going to make sure no one sees this.” He took a few steps and blocked the hallway, both arms crossed, feet planted wide.
Bear ripped the bag open.
Cash. Banded in the same fashion as the bundles I’d stolen from Carl. And just about as much. I sucked in a breath.
Bear’s head tipped, acknowledging I was behind him, but not breaking his tense control over the situation.
“It’s the payment. Carl said he wasn’t going to be home, and he didn’t want it late… or stolen.”
His eyes slid to me. He stared at my face as he said the last two words. A subtle reminder that I’d done just that. And by this point, Carl had to know I’d taken his money.
Bear wrapped it back up and stuffed it in his vest. “Tell him, thanks.”
Fish smiled, finally paying attention to Bear. “Will do.” He held there, something else on the tip of his tongue.
“What?” Bear’s gruffness should have been a warning to stay quiet, but Fish was clueless.
“One more thing.” His attention shifted toward me.
Bear reached behind and found my hip. I slid closer to stand behind him and put my hands on his belt so he’d know where I was.
“Spit it out.”
“Carl wants to know how you’re enjoying his offering.” His voice slid into the same sticky leer he’d vulgarly used on me.
“I’d be enjoying it more if you’d get the fuck out of here. That all you got?”
Fish’s reply was short, followed by his retreat. KC was still at the end of the hall, arms crossed, feet planted wide.
Bear turned on me.
He was not happy. And he certainly was not the teasing man who’d carried me back here. His eyes caught a flare of the dim light and it glowed a reddish hue. “Rose?”
It. I was only an it to him. “A vow is a vow.” I’d promised to pretend.
His nostrils flared and his fingers curled inward. His words gritted through his teeth. “No, it ain’t. Not like this.”
I took a step closer. My fingers touched his vest. I violated his rule to prove I could.
He blinked and stared at where I’d intruded. His much larger hand engulfed mine. Instead of removing it, he pressed it flat. “But since you insist, I vow?—”
I shushed him. This was a public place, guarded hallway or not. Someone could overhear. The Gods could overhear. “Don’t. Not here.”
He twisted his head until his neck cracked. First one side, then the other. “No one tells me what to do except Wolf or Jackson.”
I slipped my hand free. “Then I’m suggesting you don’t do something you’ll regret.”
His knuckles went white as he clenched his fists harder this time. “I’m trying my damnedest to do just that. But you’re tempting the fuck out of me. And I know KC has the hall guarded. Right KC?”
“That’s right. No one gets past me until you say so.” KC’s voice was muffled slightly by the wall between us.
I frowned and directed my question to Bear. I desperately needed this answer. “What’s stopping you?”
His jaw worked as he weighed his words. “Honor, Rose. I did vow that.”
That I could admire and respect. Adore, even.
