Page 45 of Filthy Hot

I want to break into this house. I want to search every nook and cranny. I want to find my woman, if she’s even in there. She could be anywhere. It’s clear they have several places. I can’t even guess at what I’m going to do with her when I do find her, other than fuck her until we’re both screaming, which sounds pretty damn good.

I want more of her.

Of us—together.

This is the woman for me. It doesn’t matter that I hardly know her. It doesn’t matter that she’s running from something. It doesn’t fucking matter, because she’s mine. I’ve chosen her as my old lady.

“They need to be,” Atomic grinds out. “But they’re prepping for the back-to-school rush, I guess. Some shit like that. I’m going to send a couple prospects to the bakery to watch them, and anyone coming and going.”

He digs his phone out of his pocket, and I watch his thumbs move over the device. He sends out some text messages, no doubt to the prospects. A thought hits me as he does. I haven’t even had a chance to introduce Kyle to the other women, to buy her organic fancy-as-fuck treats from Shawn.

I want all of that for her, with her, together. I feel like a fucking pussy when I think about her, when I think about what I want with her, but I am falling for Kyle, and the last thing I want right now is for her to be hurt, by anyone, but especially by this fucker Talon.

She’s lived a hard enough life. It’s time for her to have the free and easy world I can offer her.

Atomic shoves his phone back in his pocket and jerks his chin toward the house. I take a step forward, and so does King. Atomic leads the way, but before we can make it up to the porch, Talon and a couple of his men step outside.

Talon lifts his phone, the screen facing us, and that’s when I see her. She’s standing in front of a window in what looks like an empty bedroom. Flicking my gaze to the house behind them, I arch a brow.

“It’s not this house,” Talon announces. “But I’ve talked to her, and I have to say she’s not only beautiful, she’s smart, too.”

I hold back the growl at his words. I want to fucking kill him.

“Sal and Dennis?” Atomic asks.

Talon jerks his head toward the house. “They’re inside. You can talk to them.”

I’m not sure if we should actuallygoinside of the house considering we have no fucking clue what’s in there. It’s not like we can trust this asshole in any form whatsoever. He is clearly a goddamn asshole. He kidnapped three fucking people.

Then again, we killed a bunch of his men and took his bitches to keep for our own leverage.

“You think I’m a goddamn idiot?” Atomic asks, taking the words right out of my mouth.

Talon’s lips curve upward, his eyes searching Atomic’s, and I’m not sure if he’s looking for something, but he jerks his chin once, then takes half a step backward.

“Suit yourself,” Talon murmurs. “We want Texas. We want Sal’s. We want money. And I personally always get what I fucking want,” he grinds out. “Always.”

“Then you’re starting a war, because you came here, you kidnapped our people. You think you’re going to strong-arm usinto anything. I got news for you, Talon. The Southern Mafia isn’t as big and powerful as you think it is.”

Fuck. Yes.

I’m not sure what I expect Talon’s response to Atomic’s amazing speech to be, but I don’t expect him to let out a laugh.

“The Southern Mafia is bigger than you could ever imagine it could be. Sal owes me protection money, he owes me a portion of the bar, and I’m going to collect. I’m also going to move my way into and throughout Texas.”

“Prove it,” Atomic snaps. “Where is the fucking contract that proves you have any right to Sal’s. Because I know what I got in hand.”

Talon grins and jerks his chin. “I don’t have to give you a goddamn thing. I know what’s mine. I’m claiming it. And I don’t give a fuck what paperwork you think you have.”

“Then I think we’re done here?” Atomic asks just as I hear a bike coming up the street.

I don’t have to look to know that it’s Clink coming up the road. We all know what one another’s bikes sounds like without even having to look. And I’m not sure what it means that he’s made his way here, but I’m not mad about it. One more body is just another man to back us up.

I’m ready to absolutely end these fuckers.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

---