Page 103 of Rise of the King (Checkmate 5)

23

Good Old Boys Club

Sophia

The women were left upstairs in the Checkmate offices despite Angelo’s big speech about equality. But I’m not one of those girls, and I don’t sit and roll over just because a guy promised a pat on the head.

Well, Jess and Laine didn’t sit or roll either, but they didn’t win their wars with Angelo and Kane, and sisterhood or not, my loyalties lie with Ellie. Which means I’m not staying behind.

I’m in a basement – a dungeon – filled to the brim with masculinity and adrenaline, but I don’t back down. I’m blood in, too. This whole fucking mission is about making things right for my sister, so I scan the wall of devices one might use to fix their car – or torture a man – and I turn back to study the bleeding man shackled on the opposite wall.

This isn’t your regular interrogation room, and it sure as shit isn’t legal. But I still find myself here with Jay and Kane Bishop, Spence, Angelo, and Eric as they study the same man I do.

Spence carries a fifteen-inch wrench, and Eric carries something much more discreet – a long-bladed hunting knife. Angelo carries nothing at all, but he stands in this room and studies the man who might be connected to Laine’s pain, and staring, his eyes are all the weapon he needs to make the man quiver.

Jay prowls behind me; each time he passes, his knuckles brush over the small of my back to reassure me the human is here, that he sees me, will protect me, and will exact revenge on my behalf. But each time he passes his brother, his muscles ripple, and his eyes turn harder – the machine is also here.

Watching the brothers prowl is almost like witnessing caged lions, and as inappropriate as it may be, it might also be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

I’ve been watching Jay Bishop for a long time, and this isn’t the first time I’ve seen the brothers work together.

Woman or not, nobody stops me as I step toward the man in shackles and study the blood-soaked bandage wrapped around his thigh. Spence sticks close to my back, as though he’s taken on a protector role while Jay is busy with Kane, but I’m not nervous. I’m not scared. I step forward with a half-eaten protein bar in my hand, because low blood sugar isn’t going to help me right now, and I duck my head to catch our visitor’s eye. “What’s your name?”

Silence.

He does nothing but stare at the tip of my nose and strain against his ties.

Taking a bite of my snack, I nod and walk toward the wall and select a knife similar to that of Eric’s. Turning back, I chew and study the man Spence had stripped down to tighty-whities and socks. “Someone remind me why he’s naked? I don’t wanna see this dude’s tiny dick in stained underwear. It’s gross.”

“I like a clear canvas,” Spence rumbles. “It’s a hell of a lot more satisfying to work on a clear canvas, I promise.”

Stepping closer to inspect the soaked bandaging around his thigh, I shove the last of the bar into my mouth to free up my hand, tuck the wrapper into the waistband of our new friend’s undies, then pull the tie on the bandage so it unravels. It sticks to his wound, and I have to tug it away, but not even the slurping noise deters me from my protein bar.

“That’s so gross, man.” I meet our captive’s terrified eyes and lift a brow. “It blew out the front of your leg. Looks like a shark got you or something.”

More silence.

Poking the chocolate in my teeth with my tongue, I shrug and squat lower so my eyes are level with his leg. If he weren’t bound, he’d easily kick me in the head and knock me on my ass. “Does it hurt?”

“Fuck you, bitch.”

“No, you couldn’t afford me. But thanks for the offer.”

“Soph?”

Letting out a dramatic sigh, I meet our visitor’s eyes and ask again. “Name,please?”

“Gonna slit your throat, cunt. Then I’ll make your boyfriends drink it.”

I scrunch my nose and smile. “Well, that’s kinda gross. Only one of them is my man, but I don’t think he wants to drink my blood. The fuck you think this is? A vampire movie?”

“Sophia!”

I turn. “Jay? Need a Snickers?”

“Ask your questions, Sugar Plum. We don’t play with these people.”

“Actually, that’s kinda our thing now,” Spence says. “The last guy we played with was so much fuckin’ fun. Right?” He turns to Kane. “Right?” Then he turns to Ang. “What did you do with G’s balls, anyway?”

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