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Dallas cleared his throat. “There’s some things you’ll never understand, little brother.”

Nash snorted. “I almost understand why you choose to spend your life on the road. But c’mon, man. You’re pushing forty—”

“Holy fuck, dude.” Dallas’s temper racked up a notch. “Do you want to spit Chiclets when I get home?”

Nash snickered. “My bad. Late thirties.”

“You know I’m the same age as Cole, right? He’ll fuck you up if you come at him with that forty bullshit.”

“Yeah, yeah. All I mean is maybe you should settle down. Start a family.”

God, this conversation was going to give him hives. “I’ve got family.”

“Hardly. You haven’t been around for Thanksgiving or Christmas in three years.”

Impatience rattled his core. He was still reeling from his confrontation with Gemma, not to mention the aftereffects of the bomb that’d blended his brain into a milkshake. The Holmes boys weren’t the sentimental type. Sure, he loved his brothers, but Nash had been softened. “Domestication has made you flaccid. Holidays are the same as any other fucking day, and the sooner you realize it—”

“Lexi’s pregnant.”

“Wh—What?”

“Figured you should know since you almost died today. It’s still early, but yeah. You’re gonna be an uncle.”

An uncomfortable itch covered his throat. He scratched his neck, but the damn irritation was on the inside. “Uh. Congrats. I—I’m shocked.”

“You and me both. Look, I haven’t told the others yet. Just wanted to tell you since you’re on another thrill ride.”

“It’s not—”

“Yeah, it is,” Nash said, his tone hot and angry.

Dallas cleared his throat. “Man, I gotta go. Give Lexi a hug for me and I hope to see you guys in a few weeks.” He clicked off and opened and closed his fists.

Who was Nash to tell him what to do? Shit. As if his brother hadn’t been one of the most dangerous men in Washington doing whatever was necessary to rule Lionsgate with an iron fist before he’d known what they were into.

And Dare was a black-market dealer. Well, he’d been one, before meeting Tessa George. He’d helped her sell some assets that nearly got them killed after Tess had been waterboarded. But that was beside the point. He wasn’t Dare. He didn’t own a nightclub and have the security of an honest business to go back to.

Nope. Leaving his line of work wasn’t an option.

It was all he knew.

And now, with Silas dead, he was going to be out two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He also had a pissed-off client who’d hired him through Lorenzo. He’d find a way to sell the guns Pete had waiting for Silas. But for now, he needed to get to Ecuador. He wouldn’t solve shit if he were in jail.

Damn, Gemma.

He jammed the keys into the ignition. “Fuck this,” he spat. He’d go back to the shithole motel room he’d rented a few blocks away.

He shifted into drive then pulled onto the road. At the same time, a large SUV slowed in front of the hotel. He watched as a man got out and tucked a gun with a silencer under his shirt at the small of his back.

Sweat coated Dallas’s palms. He swallowed and pressed his foot to the gas. Keeping his gaze on the rearview mirror, he watched the man enter the hotel. The SUV idled out front.

Motherfucker.

CHAPTER 5

Clank, clank

The clinking of metal on metal made Gemma blink her eyes open. Her gaze immediately went to the clock on her nightstand, but the room was pitch black.

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