Page 26 of Bear

Ringo stepped away and both Black and the other man were tied with their wrists bound above their heads. He’d removed the bags and gags they’d had on when the men had brought them back to the truck. The one Bear had called Boon didn’t say anything or struggle, while Black was furious.

“I was only going to throw you in prison before this, Bear. Now I’m going to fucking bury you!”

“Why are you here, Leon?” Bear calmly asked. “Why come after me after all these years?”

“You cost me everything, Bear. You honestly think I wouldn’t come for revenge?”

“And you?” I glanced at Boon. Of the two men, he was easily the most dangerous and intelligent. Black was a pimple on a gnat’s ass compared to Boon. “You here for revenge, too?”

“Yep. Been wantin’ revenge since I went to prison after Tripoli.”

There was something about the way Boon smirked. He glanced at Black when he did. I got the feeling there was more than he was letting on.

“Well, the only one getting revenge is me,” I said, stepping back and crossing my arms over my chest. “But before we get to my revenge, I have some questions.”

Boon grinned. “I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.”

Black snorted. “Fuck you.”

Bear held out his hand in my direction. I took it as my cue to come forward. There was no way to suppress the shiver as Black’s gaze met mine. He scowled and tried to lunge in my direction, but his bonds held. Ringo punched him in the abdomen with one swift, hard jab.

“There’ll be none of that, asshole.”

Black grunted but made no other sound. He did glare back up at Ringo.

“Why me?” I said in a soft voice. I wasn’t the strong, independent woman I’d tried to be while working for my father. I was a scared girl just trying to understand how and why her life had gone to hell. “Why did you send me here?”

Black laughed. It sounded pained but definitely amused. “You’re exactly the type of woman Bear goes for. I knew if I threw a woman in his path who’d been smacked around or was in immediate danger, he’d rush in like the fucking knight in shining fucking armor.” He gave Bear a superior smirk. “After all these years, I still have you pegged, you bastard.”

“Can’t deny that,” Bear said with a shrug. “Took to her from the second she jumped into my arms, and I won’t deny it.”

“Well, I guess you did your job after all,” Mr. Black sneered at me. “Did you fuck him? I told you you’d get a lot of information from him if you fucked him.”

I sucked in a breath. I couldn’t help it. “That’s not what happened, Bear.”

He lifted the corner of his lips in a half smile. “I know.”

Mr. Black chuckled. “So you did follow instructions.”

“What exactly are you looking for, Leon?” Bear looked annoyed. Like he was done with this and wanted to move on. Did he believe Black? Was he regretting taking responsibility for me? Did he regret what we’d done together earlier? That thought gutted me. Sex with Bear had been the best thing to ever happen to me. I knew, realistically, we couldn’t have any kind of meaningful long-term relationship. Bear was way the hell outta my league and I wasn’t too proud to admit it.

“I wanted to ruin your life the way you ruined mine.”

“How’d you find us?” Bear continued as if Black’s answer meant nothing. I could tell by the look in his eyes he was filing everything away for later.

“Stumbled across you in Palm Springs. Just happened to see your face in the crowd and followed you. That’s when I realized I could finally get you back.” He grinned. “Did you fall for her or was she merely a good fuck to you?”

Bear crossed his arms over his chest, planting his legs a shoulder-length apart. “Oh, yeah. I fell for her. Made her my woman.”

Mr. Black threw back his head and laughed. “Of course you did. But I really didn’t think you could be led around by your dick that quickly. She hasn’t had her claws in you a full day. She must have some magical pussy.”

Bear popped him in the nose. Blood spurted on both sides of Black’s face, and the man screamed.

“Jesus, Leon,” Boon snarled. “You’re makin’ me look bad.”

Bear turned his attention to Boon then. “So? Here I am. What revenge do you want on me?”

“Never said I was gettin’ revenge on you, Bear. Only that I was gettin’ revenge.” Boon jerked his head in Black’s direction. “He’s the reason I was in prison. Not you. You offered me a way out, and I was a fool and didn’t take it. That’s on me.”

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