Page 41 of Filthy Hot

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

GNAW

We’re invited inside,but Atomic declines. The leader nods his head a couple of times, almost as if he thinks this is comical in some way. He’s got a smile on his lips, and his eyes shift between the three of us.

I want to punch that smile off his face and demand to know where my woman is, but I decide against it, only because Atomic would be pretty fucking pissed if I did that shit. I already said some fly shit the last time we met with these people that started a gunfight.

So instead, I press my lips together and rock back on my heels as I wait for whatever is coming next. There is a long moment of silence before the leader decides to tell us his name, as if we give a single fuck about it.

I would rather tell him to go fuck off instead of knowing his name. But he speaks, like we’re all sitting on the edges of our seats, curious to know his goddamn name.

“I’m Talon, and you guessed correctly. I am the current leader of the Southern Mafia. Born into the role but also raised for it. Trained for it.”

I want so much to say something smartass, like we didn’t guess anything, because we don’t give a shit, but I decide against it. I bite my tongue and let Atomic take the lead. I am on edge, ready to kill anyone and anything at any given moment. I can almost taste blood, I am so ready. I want to fight. The rage is filling my veins.

“If you want to keep us out of Texas, you’re going to need to make me an offer that we cannot refuse.”

The cockiness is absolutely insane. Atomic laughs, but it’s dry, and I know it’s fake as fuck. He continues to speak, his lips twitched into a smirk that is less kindness and more smartass.

“I’m Atomic. Born into the club, trained to be a member since the moment I was born," he begins. “However, I am not one to make any goddamn offers to people who think they can just walk into a bar and kidnap three people.”

Talon smiles. It’s an evil-as-fuck-looking grin that causes my spine to shiver. This man is without a doubt possessed. He thinks he hasn’t done anything wrong. That this was just to get our attention and it’s all good.

It is indeed—not all good.

“At this juncture, I don’t think you have a choice,” Talon states. “You’ve killed some of my men. This is no longer just something that can end without a serious discussion.”

I bite my tongue so hard that it bleeds, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Pressing my lips together, I roll them a few times as I rock back on my heels, trying to keep my body from reaction the way I want it to.

Because I want to kill this motherfucker, and all his men. I want to end them all without a second thought. I’m not sure who would give a shit if they were gone. We would probably get amedal, maybe even a key to the city of Shreveport if we did away with them.

“What does your offer look like?” Atomic asks.

Fuck, I want to start blowing shit up. I do not want to talk about offers. Fuck their offers. They started this shit, and I want to end it. I also want my woman back—immediately.

“I want in on your shipments and deliveries, at the least.”

There it is.

He’s been watching us.

Here I thought that it was only that fucking pimp from Arkansas. We got rid of his ass, but I didn’t realize we were being watched by anyone else.Fuck. Either they’re so good that nobody realized it, or someone in the club is in on the whole thing and we have a leak somewhere.

“What do you want, exactly?” Atomic asks.

I cannot believe he’s even asking for the details on this. My fingers twitch, ready for my gun. But Atomic is playing it much cooler than I could ever be. Glancing to King, I notice he's holding his body about as tightly as I am mine. He’s just as ready for war as I am.

I am on the verge of it all, about to tell Atomic that I don’t give a fuck about getting out of this unscathed.

Bring on the war.

“We want a piece of the shipments.”

“You’re going to need to be a bit clearer. Do you want us to deliver product to you? Do you want to do your own deliveries? What the fuck do you actually want?” Atomic grinds out, clearly growing more annoyed with each passing moment. I almost laugh, but I’m wound too tightly to even crack a smile.

Talon takes half of a step forward, his body almost serpentlike as he moves. I watch, wondering what the fuck he’s going to do next. This man is not predicable. Not that he’s doneanything yet, but he didn’t get to be the man at the top and stay there by being kind and compassionate.

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