Page 38 of Indulge
He lets out a shaky breath, like maybe he’s safe now. Poor bastard.
Rowan steps back, giving me room. “You want me to take the honors, or you feeling itchy, Reg?”
I don’t answer. I just draw my blade. The man’s eyes go wide, his breath coming fast, fast, faster.
“Please, I told you what you wanted?—”
The knife slides in under his jaw. His words choke into a gurgle. I twist, slowly, until the light fades from his eyes. His blood dripping onto my palm.
Conan grips the back of the chair and tips it, the now dead man’s body hitting the cabin floor with a dull thud.
Rowan wipes a hand over his face, muttering, “Well. That was dramatic.” He kicks the corpse lightly with his boot. “See, mate? Youcouldhave been useful. But you’re not.”
I wipe the blade on the man’s shirt, pocket it, and straighten.
“Crow in Phoenix,” I say, voice flat. “That’s where we go next?”
Rowan grins. “Road trip.”
Conan’s jaw twitches. “Let’s speak to Drago. See what intel we can get. Maybe pull Enzo in seeing as we’re moving into a new state. We might need permission.”
I rub my stubble.
“We have got ties in Arizona, haven’t we?” I ask.
Conan shrugs.
“Hunter Sterling apparently. Declan will know more, I know Drago was looking into expanding our ties. This has fallen into place rather poetically.” Conan tells us.
The fire pops in the grate, sparks flaring against the dark wood. Another body cooling on the floor, another lead dragging us deeper into The Preacher’s web.
And I know one thing for sure: Phoenix is about to bleed.
Yet, my mind is still stuck at home. Where Bella is. Wondering what she’s doing.
Thinking about how I can stop her from running into my brother’s bed. I’m the bad guy to her. The one who took her and made her become my wife.
And I’m feeding right into the narrative she’s given me. But is that really how I want to start this marriage?
I want her to fight me, but not in the way she thinks I do.
19
BELLA
I am bored out of my fucking mind, again. Reggie is busy working.
And I already feel like I’m losing it.
I’ve scrolled social media within an inch of its life. Pushing myself off the couch, I head to the kitchen and pull up my saved recipes that I’ve always wanted to try.
Last time I baked, I shoved a load of weed in the brownies and watched my brothers get high. They were furious. Especially my ex-military commander brother, Ryder. I found it rather amusing. They’ve been pranking me for years. A little payback was due.
Maybe I should lace Reggie’s cookies with something, it might lighten the mood. Or he might kill me.
I scour through his cupboards and find everything, except the chocolate chips. But I know who will have them. I race to the door that connects to Rowan’s house and knock. Waiting with butterflies in my stomach for him to answer.
“Afternoon, sweetness.” He smiles as he opens the door.
