Page 20 of Viper

Stone watched him warily for a moment, then nodded and tried to relax.

Fox jerked his chin up and down with finality, then turned to face his computer. “An informant just passed along word of an auction he’s heard about. Gave us a time and location, but he wasn’t sure how accurate the intel is.”

“Fuck,” I muttered.

“Same motherfuckers?” Stone asked.

“Looks like it.”

We’d been stalking a trafficking ring for a few months, but every time we got close, they were gone—along with the girls—by the time we arrived. With every miss, the need for blood grew. When we finally found those pathetic excuses for human beings, they were gonna know what pain truly felt like.

“Where did the information come from?” I asked since our informants had been less than reliable in the past.

“Wouldn’t tell me,” Fox grunted. “But he was adamant that it was accurate. Never seen him so determined to have me believe him.”

“Inside man?” Mav suggested.

Fox shrugged and scrubbed his hands over his face. “No fucking clue. But if we don’t take these assholes down this time, heads are gonna roll. I will bring in every informant, every person who ever gave us even the slightest inkling that they knew something or might have been involved. By the time we’re done with them, they’ll be spilling every fucking secret they have.”

“Details?” I asked.

“New York. In the port district.” He handed me a slip of paper, and I glanced at it to see a date, time, and address.

“That’s over a thirteen-hour drive,” I grumbled.

“Gives me time to touch base with Nic.” Nic DeLuca was a friend of Fox’s and the head of the New York Mafia. “His organization has been after the same group, so I asked him to do some digging into the accuracy of the tip. And no one will know you two.”

I understood his method and how important this was, but I was frustrated that I had to leave Rhiannon for what would probably be at least a week. The auction date was still several days out, but we had to leave now to do reconnaissance and meet with Nic, as well as his counterpart in the Irish mob. Then who knew how long it would take to clean up the mess.

“We’ll have our eyes on your woman,” Mav assured me. “She’ll be protected.”

I nodded and stood to leave.

“Viper.”

I twisted my head to look at Fox over my shoulder. But I had to spin around fast when he threw something at me.

Leather landed in my hands, and I unfolded the heap and held it up.

Despite my shit mood, a smile creased my face.

It was a woman’s vest. On the back was the Iron Rogues logo and the words “Property of Viper.”

9

RHIANNON

I’d been exhausted when Dean left for his meeting at the clubhouse, but I hadn’t been able to fall back asleep without him there holding me. So I got up and took a shower, spending a little more time than usual on my makeup before baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies. When I was worried, I had a wicked sweet tooth, and I hadn’t liked Viper’s expression after his phone call. Knowing that he’d share at least some information with me whenever possible helped, but I would probably always worry about him. Which was understandable since he’d quickly become the most important person in my life.

I was pulling the last tray of cookies out of the oven when I heard the rumble of his motorcycle returning. Wiping the crumbs from my lips, I headed toward the living room to meet him when he got inside. He nudged the door shut behind him with his boot and leaned against the hard surface, one of his arms behind his back. “I gotta leave for a club run, and it’s gonna be longer than I expected.”

That wasn’t what I’d been hoping to hear, but I was determined to give my man what he needed so he could come back safely to me. “How long will you be gone?”

“A week, less if I can somehow swing it.”

Instead of slumping my shoulders at his answer, I smiled and stepped closer, diminishing the space between us. “Do I at least get a goodbye kiss?”

“Of course, baby.” He lifted the hand hidden behind his muscular body, and my eyes widened at the scrap of leather he held in his fist.

---