by Ruby Vincent
“Oh, hello,” Gianna mocked. “Come on in.”
“The door was open.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Check again.” Cash slid to me. “Let’s go, Redgrave.”
Gianna’s clock read 9:34 a.m. One hour he said he’d come for me. He beat it by two minutes.
“Shook off your tail,” I remarked. “How did you lose them?”
He waited me out.
Heaving a sigh, I kissed Gianna’s cheek and said goodbye. “Thanks for letting me stay. I’m going to visit Dad this weekend. I’ll pop by with leftovers afterward.”
“See ya, babe.”
I sidled up to Cash, dropping my voice. “I can’t believe you blew them up,” I murmured. “Are you always packing bombs? Do you have one in your shorts?”
“You know what’s in my shorts.”
Surprise flicked on with the fire in my belly. And he says he doesn’t flirt.
“I should check again. For everyone’s safety.”
Amusement lit his grin. “You were right about the Blood Brothers. Empty-headed morons. They only searched the usual places for a tracker, and didn’t catch the spare bomb I keep under the passenger seat. We don’t need fools like that running the streets. They give us all a bad name.”
“We will mark this as a grand day in history. The day Killian Hunt agreed with me.”
He grunted.
“Alright, toy boy.” I tucked myself inside his jacket. “Take me home.”
He spun me out and stalked off, leaving me laughing in his wake.
“I told you that doesn’t work now that I know you want me.” I skipped after him. Draping his arm around my shoulder, I cupped his hand over my breast. “You don’t have to play this hard to get.”
“In the car, Dangle.”
“I like Sinjin’s nickname for me better.”
“Sinjin likes you better.”
“You like me too. If only someone had been there to take a picture of the big, bad Cash holding me in his arms all night as I slept.” I licked his jaw.
The world spun. Suddenly, my back was against a palm tree and my thighs clamped in his iron grip. Cash’s lips skated over mine, trapping my breath in my lungs.
“I’d fuck you right here, Redgrave,” he whispered. “Spread that pussy. Torture your clit till you scream loud enough to wake the neighborhood, and draw them all out of their homes to watch me pound you into the dirt.”
“Promise?”
Chuckling, he nuzzled my nose, slipping away as I tried to capture his lips. “Dangle isn’t a term of disrespect. Just the opposite. Never in our entire lives, has a woman turned Sinjin on his head. You had him dancing your tune, while the whole time, he thought you were dancing to his.
“Brutal’s snapped necks for less than the shit you’ve put him through. And Mercer sees people as little more than toys. Sex toys. All exist to amuse or delight him. Those that don’t might as well be shop mannequins for all the attention he pays them. But not you. He notices you, Adeline Redgrave.
“I have to admit a grudging admiration for the way you used your strengths against our weaknesses. Dangling not just sex, but everything we didn’t expect to find in our future queen. Our equal.”
“You say the sweetest things to me, Cash.” I reared and finally got him, crashing our mouths together.
Killian plunged in unreservedly.
Glancing at him from the kitchen while Cash sat on the couch typing away, I’d wondered what his lips tasted like. If they were as smooth as they looked. Would I melt high on blackcurrants and bergamot?
Yes.
He was sweeter. His lips softer. My resolve to not fall harder than I had—was dust.
Our tongues tangled, battling raw, naked lust I hadn’t let myself hope I’d get so soon again. I clamped my legs and arms around him. He wasn’t going anywhere till I had my fill.
Cash scraped my lips between his teeth, drawing a moan out of me. I let my hands play free in his hair like at any minute they would get in trouble. Running the silky strands beneath my palms. Holding him close as I kissed his lips and then everywhere, peppering his cheeks, nose, forehead, and eyelids as he laughed.
“I respect you, Adeline,” he said huskily. “Too much to let you play this game with me. My heart won’t be in it.”
I knew what he was saying to me. Killian would never love me.
Sex. Respect. Standing toe to toe with him as an equal. None of it would be enough.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I said against his lips. “You forget... I know your weaknesses too.”
“I THINK I WILL TURN this into a little café.” I hopped on the counter, kicking my feet between the old stools.
Far be it for me to give Cash a compliment when he’s being a stubborn ass, but he nailed it with Merchant Base Number Two. The upstairs kitchen had a double oven and my dream bamboo countertops. My room was smaller, but next to Sinjin’s and linked by a shared bathroom. The boys had moved my stuff in for me.
Cash and Brutal took the third floor. Mercer was on the second with us. The weapons were in their new basement home, and the first floor would be mine.
“It’ll be cute with a little paint job,” I said. “Clean off the dust. Replace the faded wallpaper. Get rid of these chairs. All in all, it won’t be too big a job.”
Mercer sat between my legs, leaning his head back on my lap. Brutal reclined in a booth across from Sinjin—whose legs were up on the table as he carved something into the wood with his knife.
I ran hands through Mercer’s hair and then down his chest, massaging his pecs. “Bakery?” he suggested.
“Those sweet little cupcakes and muffins look simple to make, but I’d have to wake early every morning to prep and bake them fresh. I’m thinking soups and salads. Omelets in the morning, and roast beef sandwiches for lunch. We can do an eat-it-till-it’s-sold-out type thing. Once I run out of stock, we close for the rest of the day.”
“That’s a nice dream you’re spinning, Redgrave,” Cash said. “But it’s not happening.”
“I’ll wait until we can afford it.”
“For there to be a ‘we’ concerning our money, you’d have to mask up and join the crew.” He leaned on a booth, head tilted, brows raised. “Ready to pack heat and go full banger? Or is the little lady staying home while we steal the bacon?”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
“Mature.”
“What if I say yes?”
“There’s a bank I’m eyeing in Harlow. Those require a lot of shouting and waving guns in people’s faces to get those vaults opened up quick. See you there?”
“No, thank you,” I said—light and prim. “The little lady will stay home.”
Sinjin crossed the room and popped my legs over Mercer’s head. I yelped as I found myself flat on the countertop with Sinjin on top of me.
“We may need our bunny to set the trap again. Besides, despite my preference you remain unclothed at all times, you look damn good in our masks.”
“Those were special circumstances.”
Sinjin pressed his nose to my hair, inhaling me. He was like an animal getting reacquainted with his mate. Which meant the next step was me unclothed.
“I had to free those kids,” I said. “But I’m still a cook, Sinjin. As much as I want to help you take down the Kings, I don’t have your particular skill sets.”
“Held your own just fine in Corbin’s club and at the Castian.” Cash’s smooth voice broke in. “You picked up the education somewhere.”
The skin around my eyes tightened. Cash would not let this go. Reason enough to keep him from getting another inside look into just how varied my skills were.
“Thought I was a wild card,” I jabbed.
Sinjin was tugging my dress over my bare hips.
“Sometimes a wild is the only way to win.”
“Why aren’t you wearing underwear, Bunny?”
The soft question snatched my comeback. I thought fast. “Because I
—”
“I screwed her in a bathroom next to the body of the man I found her making out with,” Cash dropped without a lick of hesitation. “It got left behind.”
Sinjin’s voice was a low, dangerous hiss. “Run that by me again.”
“I wasn’t— Killian, tell him—” Cash strode upstairs. “Dammit, Cash!”
I was able to continue shouting threats at his back. Sinjin carried me upstairs, slung over his shoulder. We split on the second-floor landing, and I tried telling him what really happened.
Saint brought me to his room, slamming the door on my explanations.
Two hours later, my ass was raw and stinging. Ragged breaths wracked my body, lifting and dropping Sinjin’s head resting on my back. A nice little bump decorated my forehead. Where his pounding smashed my head against my cuffed hands.
“This changes things considerably, Bunny.”
Sweat and various other body fluids soaked my skin. Sinjin drew lines in the cum on my backside.
“I didn’t cheat on you. You believe me, don’t you, baby?” I curled my legs, stroking him with my toes. Sinjin kissed them.
“Of course. You belong to me. You know that.”
I did. Deep down in both halves of my soul. I was his. He was mine.
“But if you can go out and be the masked avenger for the Maldonados, you can do it for me too.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, though I knew.
“You said you’d be my bride. Perch on my throne. So, that’s where you’ll be, next to us on every job. You’ll wield your club on the next man to cross you. And the one after that. My bunny will stand at my side as we watch the Kings burn.”
“We talked about this,” I said. “There’s a reason I was off to the side or behind you when we went after the Kings. I can barely fire a gun.”
I bit my lip to hold in a laugh. Granted I wasn’t the expert shot Gianna was, but if I missed, it was because I meant to.
“Anything you need to learn, your Saint will teach you.” He rubbed his cheek on mine, snaking an arm around my neck. “How to shoot. How to stalk.” The knife tip pressed to my throat. “How to kill.”
I tipped my chin, gazing into those swirling gray pools. “What if I say no?” My lips barely moved.
“I’m hoping you will.”
Laughing softly, I whispered, “Say it.”
“I love you.”
Bound to his bed. Knife to my throat. Subject to his mercy. And immeasurable satisfaction warmed the farthest corners of my being.
You’ll never know just how perfect we are for each other. Well, you will, but by then it will be too late.
Letting Sinjin and the Merchants teach me how to kill could be good for us. You’re supposed to indulge shared interests in a relationship. But then again, I was never the type to dumb myself down for a guy. How was I supposed to pretend to be bad at it?
The thought of that made me snort.
“What’s funny?” Sinjin set the knife on the nightstand.
“I was just thinking that this isn’t about my promises. It’s foreplay.” I bit his lip, then kissed it in apology. “You enjoy corrupting your sweet, innocent bunny.”
“So very, very much.”
I sobered. “I’m not going to shove guns in innocent people’s faces. But taking down the Kings... yeah, I’ll mask up for that.”
Sinjin thought it over. “I accept your terms. It’s better security cameras don’t pick up we have a woman in our crew. We’ll keep you our secret weapon.”
“Subterfuge.” I’m good at that.
Someone knocked.
“Come,” Sinjin called.
Mercer walked inside to the full view of us naked on crumpled sheets and me cuffed to the bed.
“What?” Sinjin dropped kisses on the ridges of my spine.
“Jace Parker is dead.”
My ears pricked up.
“How?”
“He made a move on Xavier Jameson. Less than twelve hours after they found Angelo,” he said. “He and his guys broke into his office and tried to kill him. Jameson must’ve been expecting it because he had three times his normal security in the building. Jameson is in the hospital, and the others were taken out.”
Wow. Cash said things would move quickly. Is that man ever wrong?
“How’d you find out?” Sinjin asked.
“I asked a few friends close to them to keep me informed.”
“Three down. The others will know why Jace is dead.” Sinjin spread my legs. “About now is the time they’re asking themselves who to turn to get to the others, and who around them will be gotten to.”
“Your money still on Enzo?”
I didn’t see his nod, but I assumed he did. Interesting that Sinjin assumes it will be Enzo too.
Mercer smiled at me. “Hello, love.”
“He— Ah.” Sinjin’s tongue swirled around my clit. “Hi.”
“Would you like me to cover you? Protect your modesty?”
I cracked a smile. “Doesn’t bother me if it doesn’t bother you. And I’m betting nakedness doesn’t bother you.”
“Safe bet.” Mercer openly feasted on my body. His tongue darted out, licking his lips like I imagined he wanted to lick mine. “Looks like you both settled this issue of the man in the bathroom.”
“Misunderstanding,” I gasped. Sinjin brought two fingers to the party. “Cash was being Cash.”
“Good. Brutal wanted to know.”
“Brutal? Tell you that, did he?”
“He has many ways of getting his point across. Beating the shit out of his training dummy being one.”
“Did you want to know too?”
He shrugged. “Merely curious if we’d have to break in a new cook.” Mercer backed out of the room. “Handcuffs, spankings, and an audience. That I did want to know. I’ll remember this when our time comes.”
“When will that be?” I called.
A soft click was his reply.
THE NEXT FEW DAYS I spent cooking, screwing, and covering my amusement as Saint taught me how to hold and handle his first love: knives.
Saturday morning, I finished off my bowl of baked apple oatmeal and returned to my scones. That was my boys’ breakfast with a plate of corned beef hash.
I carefully cut and shaped the dough, transferring them to the baking sheet. I only baked for them when they were good—which they never were—but that day I was in a good mood, so they got a pass. I was finally going to see my dad.
While the scones baked, I checked on lunch for the fiftieth time, making sure I wasn’t forgetting anything. Visits to Dad meant lunch for us, and extra bowls for flaring nostrils and licking lips that slinked into the dining room as I warmed up our food.
Mr. Finch would want a game of cards. Mrs. Mooney would try to sneak a cookie, so I’d have to bring the sugar-free.
My phone rang.
“Hey, G,” I answered. “Yes, I’m still coming over today. I’m bringing shrimp gumbo with rice.”
“Damn, girl. I keep telling you we should give it a go.”
I cracked up. “Why let sex complicate our relationship when I’ll feed you either way?”
“Good point,” she said. “When you do come over, I’ll show you my new shoes. Amazon delivered them today.”
“Great.” We were back to code words, but this one wasn’t too hard to figure out. “I can’t wait to see them. How much were they?”
“Two hundred.”
Two hundred with three zeros tacked on the end.
I couldn’t resist a squeal. “You and I might give it a go because that’s got to be the sexiest thing you ever said to me. Any more shoes on the way?”
“Two pairs scheduled for this week.”
We talked a little longer, and then hung up to save the rest of the conversation for when we could speak freely.
I let the scones cool on the rack, and got to work on the hash. My mind spun with possibilities for that money. High on my list was taking a page out of Cash�
��s book and setting up safe houses all over the city. Somewhere equipped if Gianna or my dad were ever threatened again.
We’ll figure it out when the money’s in and counted.
I filled a bowl with hash, popped a scone on a separate plate, and carried it to the third floor.
The new place was opposite the fire station in almost every way. A wide, open floor compared to this maze of rooms. White walls stretching high to the rafters. Dark wallpaper covering the top half and wooden paneling covering the bottom.
They managed to haul most of our furniture from the fire station. Familiarity struck me in Cash’s favorite couch and the cross over Saint’s bed.
I pushed into Brutal’s room.
Everything about this space was familiar. He transplanted his room from one place to the next. Queen-size bed tucked into a corner. Sheets tucked tighter. His bookshelf was on the wall directly opposite. Rows of books from nearly every genre slipped between nonfiction reads. They were organized by alphabet and then by color.
I asked him once if his seemingly random taste was actually due to choosing his books by their colored spines. He laughed, picked me up, and put me out of his room. A fair response since I sneaked in.
Like I was doing then.
I set his food on the coffee table next to his armchair. I liked Baris’s room. The books, landscape paintings, and television on the dresser. He filled his silent world with creations that spoke to him.
The shower was going on the other side of the door. I stuck my head inside and watched his fuzzy shape lather through the frosted glass.
“Baris?”
He slid the glass open, uncaring of exposing himself.
He should care. The man needs to come with a warning.
The spray beat his chest, sliding greedy droplets over the bumps and ridges of his fit body. I caught him in the middle of washing his hair. Slicked back, it was the same wet and dry, barring the suds clinging to his strands.
“Want some company?”
He nodded.
I stripped and hopped in, yelping on contact.
“Wow, that’s hot. Protect me.” I twisted us around, putting him between me and the showerhead. He leaned over—hands propped on the tile and shielding me as I needed. My protector.