Page 15 of Carnival Master

The door creaks open, and Lars steps in. “Boss, Phoenix found them.”

My mood shifts instantly. “Where?”

“Dark web. Bunch of ex-military trying to flip our product.” Lars hands me his tablet. “They had the skills to lift it but no connections to move it.”

“How likely is it we can take them down?” I ask.

Lars shrugs. “We’d have the element of surprise and Phoenix can give us eyes inside their den. We should get it back piece of cake and be able to supply Frank if you still want to.”

I scan through Phoenix’s report, a cruel smile spreading across my face. “Get Gage, Remy, Nash and Colt. Time to pay these fuckers a visit.”

Two hours later, we’re standing in an abandoned warehouse, surrounded by bodies. Blood pools beneath my boots as I retrieve our stolen twenty kilos from their van and load it into the trunk of my Mustang. The idiots thought they could steal from us and get away with it.

“Clean this up,” I order, watching Nash and Colt drag the first body toward their truck. “Make sure nothing traces back.”

Lars wipes his blade on one of the dead men’s shirts. “What about the product?” He nods toward it.

“You and Gage can load it while Nash, Colt and Remy deal with the bodies.” I check my phone again. Still nothing from Sofia. “I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Leave it to us.” Lars wipes his hands on a cloth. “We’ll get it sorted. See you back at the carnival.”

I nod, already heading for my car. My phone burns a hole in my pocket—still no response from Sofia. The memory of her curves pressed against me makes my blood run hot. I’m done waiting for a reply.

Aften punching the address Phoenix sent me for Sofia into my GPS, I turn the key and the engine roars to life. Downtown Dawsbury is fancy as fuck, starkly contrasting the warehouse district I’m leaving behind.

My fingers drum against the steering wheel at each red light. The need to see her claws at my chest. To hell with waiting for her to text back.

I park across from a sleek modern house with floor-to-ceiling windows. Her little red Mustang sits in the curved driveway—her car—the same one she drove away from the carnival in.

Killing the engine, I sit in the growing darkness. Thehouse glows from within, and through the windows, I catch glimpses of movement. My baby girl is in there, probably trying to forget about our kiss.

But I won’t let her forget. Not when she sets my world on fire with just a look.

I slip through her back door, picking the lock with practiced ease. The house is quiet except for water running upstairs. My boots make no sound on the hardwood as I follow the sound.

Steam billows from the master bathroom. I catch glimpses of creamy curves through the glass door as Sofia showers, completely unaware of my presence. My cock strains against my jeans at the sight.

I open the door and lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms. “Quite a show you’re putting on, baby girl.”

Her scream pierces the air as she spins around, nearly slipping. Those gorgeous green eyes go wide. “What the fuck! Get out, or I’m calling the cops!”

“Go ahead.” I prowl closer to the shower. “But we both know you don’t want that.”

“Stay back!” She opens the door and fumbles for her phone on the counter, but I snatch it first.

“Looking for this?” I dangle it just out of reach.

Her chest heaves, water running down her curves. Despite her fear, I notice how her nipples harden under my gaze. “You’re insane. You can’t break into people’s houses!”

I press my palm against the glass, watching her press against the opposite wall. “I can do whatever I want, especially when you’ve ignored my messages.”

“Because I’m engaged! And you’re breaking and entering!”

I watch as panic flashes across her face. She frantically grabs at the shower door, water dripping down her curves as she tries to shield herself from my gaze with her arms.

“Don’t.” But she’s already darting past me, snatching a towel from the rack.

My fists clench as she wraps the fluffy fabric around her body, hiding every inch of those luscious curves I’ve been dreaming about.

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