Page 44 of Zero
I nodded.
“Does Justice know you’re sleeping with his sister?”
I quirked a brow. “He doesn’t know we’re sleeping together but he knows I’ve been hitting on her.”’
“Really?” Dude asked. “What’d he say?”
“He said Bailey is going to kick my ass one day and to make sure he was around when that happens.” I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I think he wants to see her take me down.”
Dude laughed and picked up his phone. “I think she could take you.”
“Hey! Shouldn’t you be on my side?” I asked incredulously.
“She’s a pretty lady.” Dude winked at me. “And I’m always on the side of a pretty lady.”
“You’re an ass.” I smirked. “But wanna know a secret? If she ever tried kicking my ass, I’d let her.”
Dude lifted the phone to his ear and laughed out loud.
“Wait a minute!” A thought hit me. “Why don’t we let someone from Morena’s crew tell us where Justice is?”
Dude paused then hung up. “Go on.”
“We have Ortega.” I replied. “With all the craziness I forgot. We have Ortega. We tell him we’re going to let it be known that he was very helpful to our investigation. Then we offer to let him go.”
“I like the way you think.”
“Take Eton with you.” I told him. “You and Ortega should get—reacquainted.”
Dude smirked.
Chapter 10
Bailey
Another night roamed by without my brother. We’d narrowed down the locations but until Dude and Eton returned, we didn’t really have a pot to piss in. There were too many places for us to hit. I spent the night alone. While the others doubled up, Rei offered to remain awake and take first watch.
He’d wanted to stay with me, to comfort me but I didn’t want to be touched.
As I laid awake thinking about it, I realized I hadn’t handled that bit of it very well. When he tried holding my hand, I jerked away and left the room.
I should have used my words. Flinching away was the wrong thing to have done.
“Shit.” I mumbled in the dark, covering my face and rolling to face the wall. “Shit. Shit. Shit! Nitro, where the hell are you?”
Dating had never been my strong point. I couldn’t navigate the appropriate and the inappropriate. I had no patience for the men of the world, and I wasn’t exactly the most down to earth. I said things that came to my mind and reacted without thinking of what it would mean for those around me. I’d done so twice in one day with Rei and all he wanted to do was be there for me.
The only other men who’d had my back were my brother and Sarge. I wasn’t used to a lover holding my hand, being soft with me, taking care of me.
I sighed and faced the clock.
Tick.
Tock.
Slow like molasses.
The clock mocked me by dragging time slowly across reality.
