Page 30 of As Thick As Thieves

“What’s up with Stone?” Leah asked me, and I shrugged.

“Beats me.” I rummaged for a beer in the fridge and grabbed one for Drake too, turning and almost running into Leah who was now right in front of me. “Jesus, what the fuck? Personal space.”

“What’s up with Cruz then? He didn’t come home last night. Or Drake.”

“Cruz was chasing shit pussy and Drake was at Beckett’s. Why? They’re not chained to this place, you know?” I snapped. It was a small lie, Penn’s pussy was fucking heaven, but no one else needed to know that.

“Are you and Drake—”

“It’s none of your fucking business, Leah. If you want to keep using your mouth, do me a favor and go and choke on Jai’s cock,” I threw back before she could finish her sentence, and Sandra glared at me.

“That’s mean.”

“News flash, I’m a dick. Stay out of my shit, both of you.”

“Are you mad because Penn’s back?” Leah asked flatly, annoyance washing through me.

“How do you even know that?”

“Knew it,” she muttered before answering me. “I saw her on the cameras in Ashburn Valley yesterday. She’s buddied up with Donovan and Lopez.” I hadn’t known that, but I didn’t let her know.

“So? Cunt can do what she wants. She’s with Cruz and Drake right now.”

“Wait, really? They fucking forgave her? She shot Stone!” Sandra gasped.

“Like we all haven’t wanted to shoot Stone lately,” I said under my breath as I stalked off, heading straight to my room and popping the top off my beer. I sat on the edge of the bed and drank half the bottle, clenching and unclenching my fist as I glared at the wall.

Drake was so easily led, so if Penn sucked him into her bullshit then bailed again, I was likely to kill her. It had been a mistake to let her in, and I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

It didn’t take long for Drake to wander in, quietly shutting the door and moving towards me.

“Did you fuck her?” I asked bitterly, making him snort.

“No.”

“Good.”

I pulled him onto my lap so that he was straddling me, noticing his entire body relax. Affection was definitely his love language, Penn had been right about that at least.

“Stone lied to us about her,” he said softly, holding my gaze as I dropped back to look up at him, my feet still on the floor.

“Don’t let her fool you. She’s the liar, not Stone.”

“He sold her out,” he continued, and I went to roll my eyes until he added, “Lopez and Lavaro saved her. She’s pretty beat up and skinny. Apparently, her father whipped and starved her before selling her in the skin trade.”

“That doesn’t explain Stone getting shot.”

He shuffled on my lap, placing his palms on my chest with a sigh. “Penn swears he was fine when her dad dragged her away.”

“And you believed her? C’mon, babe. She’s crazy, remember?” I grunted, taking the front of his shirt and tugging him down over me with a smirk. “I missed you.”

It had the effect I’d hoped for, his face softening and a dopey smile pulling at his lips. “I missed you too.”

I lifted my hips to grind against his ass, sliding a hand around the back of his neck to keep him close. My shoulder ached, but nothing was going to stop me from touching him.

“Since we all have the day off, I say we spend it in bed. Get naked for me.”

“I’m going out tonight,” he blurted out, making me frown.

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