Page 104 of Arran's Obsession

I lined up A Perfect Circle’s ‘Judith’.A track my rock-chick mum loved. The eclectic playlist had been hers, featuring bands like Korn and Metallica, and I’d added to it over the years. It kept me feeling close to her. Emotion filled me, something about the city and my strange new relationship messing up my feelings.

Mum had been my model for independence. For her, life had been tough. She’d made it her bitch.

Oblivious to me fighting becoming a hot mess, Shade smiled approval, ducking his head to the tune, streetlights flickering over us as we rocked out to a song featuring killing in its lyrics.

At the drop-off, I delivered to the street door, no dark corridors in a tower block to get spooked in, and Shade stuck close.

I eyed him. “If you ever want to give up the gangster life, I can put in a good word with you for food delivery. You’re a natural.”

He pursed his lips. “I appreciate that. Speaking of being good at things…” His gaze sought out anything but me beside him on the pavement. “I did and said shite I shouldn’t have last night. Been playing on my mind.”

I cast my mind back. Amusement bubbled up along with embarrassment. “Nice tits, wasn’t it?”

He sucked in a breath, hands diving into his pockets. His shoulders up around his ears. “If ye could take that from your brain and throw it away, I’d appreciate it.”

“Done, though it wasn’t your fault. Do Arran and I need to fess up to your lady for including you in our…whatever we want to call that?”

“There’s no lady. I’m permanently out on my ass.”

I snorted, because there was no way this guy wasn’t pulling interest. With his dark hair and eyes, the tattoos all over him, and his brazen air of danger and arrogance, women must love him, even if he wanted someone unattainable. Forbidden pussy, as Arran called it.

On my phone, I tapped the job completion button, the next address loading. I already had the meal for it, grabbed from the last Italian restaurant, but the delivery was way across town.

I held it up. Shade’s mild amusement dropped.

He shot his focus up to the other cars where Arran and Jamieson waited by open doors. “We have a problem.”

Arran stabbed to end his call. Both were on us in seconds. My pulse spiked. Whatever was in his expression, I didn’t like at all.

Chapter 30

Arran

“Genevieve’s next address is in enemy territory.” Shade named a gang-owned street.

My blood iced over. “Not happening.”

Gen peered between us. “I’m only going there to deliver food. What’s the problem?”

“On a street I can’t go without causing an incident.”

Her cheeks reddened. “The system won’t let me bypass a delivery that I already accepted. If I don’t go, my work is over. Jon will fire me.”

I shrugged, not hating that plan.

She glowered then grabbed my arm, dragging me away a few steps from my boys. “This is important to me. I told you why, and I’m not quitting just because you have enemies.”

I spread my arms out. “What am I supposed to do, let you walk down a road I know is dangerous?”

“You don’tletme do anything, it’s my choice. And the place is only dangerous to you, not me.”

“You’re my woman.”

“Are we public in the city? Do all the gang members know my face? No, they don’t, so there’s no problem.”

“You don’t know that. You’re part of me now,” I bit out. “What don’t you get about that?”

Her spine stiffened. I stood taller, too. Yet again, we were in a standoff, neither willing to give way. Even though I was right.

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