Page 138 of Princes of Carnage

He chuckles. “Yeah, that’s what I said too.”

My brain immediately switches back into planning mode, focusing on that instead of my drawings. After Atlas tells me the details of the shop’s location, I nod. “Okay, I can definitely put some Enigma members on staking it out. It’s near our territory, so it won’t look suspicious if they’re spotted.”

“That’s not necessary.” He shakes his head. “You’ve already lost more of your people than we have to this guy, and they might be in danger if they do this.”

“Yes, it is necessary,” I fire back. “My crew will want to be involved in taking Silas down. Besides, Nico did the work of finding out the lead. It’s the least I can do to try to follow up on it. We’re partners in this, right?”

A grin breaks out across Atlas’s face, and I try to ignore what the sight of it does to my heart.

“Yeah, vicious. We are.” He considers something for a moment, then adds, “If you’re putting people out there, we can at least give you some equipment. We’ve got night vision goggles and some other surveillance equipment.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “You do? Not that I’m not grateful for it, but I didn’t think that was standard equipment for most biker gangs.”

He chuckles. “Well, we aren’t most gangs. We do some ‘freelance’ work from time to time—mostly of the illegal variety, for people who can pay us enough. We got that equipment for a job we did a while back, and we hung on to it in case we ever needed it again.”

“Good thing you did.”

“Guess so.” His grin widens, and he jerks his head toward the door. “If you’re free now, we can head over to the clubhouse to get the stuff.”

“Yeah. All of this can wait.” I nod, grabbing my stuff and setting it aside.

The two of us ride over, and once we reach the wooded area where their clubhouse sits, Atlas heads inside with me, leading the way through the large space. The last time I was here, this place was full of people and loud music, but it seems much chiller when there’s not a party going on—and when Atlas and I are on better terms.

It’s easier to be around him with that awkward, loaded tension finally gone.

There’s a big open area in the middle of the clubhouse, with smaller rooms and hallways leading off from it. Atlas leads me into what looks like a supply room and rummages inside a sturdy looking metal cabinet for a while before pulling out a black case. When he pops it open, there are night vision goggles and little button cameras nestled inside in specially crafted recesses.

“This should do it,” he says. “If they put the cameras near the shop, they can monitor the feed even if they have to step away for whatever reason. They don’t have too far of a range, but it should be enough for your people to duck out of sight if they have to.”

“That sounds perfect,” I tell him, nodding as he closes the case back up. “I almost can’t believe this might be over soon. Once we figure out who Silas is, we can eliminate him and make sure he wasn’t working with anyone else.”

Atlas nods, and although I expected him to look happy about that, the easy smile that’s been on his face since we got here falls away.

“And then what happens?” he asks, his voice low.

I blink, caught off guard by the question.

“I… I don’t know,” I admit, realizing as I speak just how true my words are. “Our agreement, this arrangement, really only pertained to dealing with the Silas threat. Beyond that, I’m not sure.”

Atlas nods again. “I know what Nico would say if he were here. He’d say he wants to stay married to you.”

I furrow my brow, frowning at him. “Why? Why would he want that?”

Something flickers in Atlas’s eyes. “He thinks it’s advantageous for our gang.”

There’s a note in his voice that makes me pretty sure there’s more to it than that. Or at least that Atlas is choosing his words carefully here.

Could there be other reasons for Nico wanting to stay married to me?

I bite my lip, turning it over in my head. Although we started off as enemies, a lot has changed since the three Princes moved into my house with me. Things have been good lately, and it wouldn’t be too farfetched to think that maybe Nico has… feelings for me.

But he’s never said as much out loud, and I certainly haven’t admitted to the confusing feelings he and his friends bring out in me.

I hesitate, my gaze searching as I glance up at Atlas again. “And what do you want?”

He’s quiet for a long moment, and I wonder if he’s going to answer me. Then he reaches out and wraps a hand around my wrist, pulling me in closer until we’re chest to chest.

His eyes track over my face, and he releases my wrist only to wrap one arm around my waist.

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