Page 11 of Hell on Wheels

Angelo snorts. “Bro, don’t even pretend none of us have ever had that thought before. All of us had a hand in creating this room. Even those of us who helped underprotest.”

“I didn’t protest; I just didn’t see why we were wasting time decorating a stupid shrine!”

“Rebel Kelly, you are the biggest idiot under this roof.” I roll to my feet and head out the door, heading to find Javi and Rogue.

“He’s right,” the Gemini chorus as they follow me.

Well, at least they’re on my side. Now I just need to get the girl there and we’ll have something.

Like a G6

“I’m so full,” I groan as I lean back in my chair. “I knew you could mix drinks, Javi, but I didn’t know you could cook.”

He bites his lower lip, his chocolate brown eyes dancing as he walks over to tap my nose. “There are many things you don’t know about me, Dragonfly.”

“The level of cheese comes to mind,” Rebel snorts as he takes the stack of plates over to the dishwasher and loads it. “That and the snoring.”

“You snore? Mr. Perfectsnores?” I pretend to gasp in shock and the rest of the guys burst into laughter.

“Like he’s a hog with sinus issues,” Angelo says as he passes me with his arms full of bowls and toppings. “We keep telling him to go see a caladrius, but he refuses to believe us.”

“I even played him a recording!” Damon doesn’t look up from the tablet in his hands. A sound comparable to a sickle mower fills the room. I put my good hand over my mouth, turning to look at Javi with wide eyes.

“That’snotme. You’re a bunch of lying twats,” Javi mutters.

Holy Horned God, how does anyone sleep with him around?

“Maybe you should see Basil, Javi. If you sound like that, somethinghasto be wrong,” I venture.

The guys all look at one another and collapse in laughter. I frown, not understanding why they’re so amused. Basil is older than dirt, but he is the healer. Surely he could do something about Javi’s problem…

“Zuccherino, Basil is so senile that he can barely remember his name. Luca went in for a check-up last week and he called him by my great-grandfather’s name. The Council is replacing him with a younger model, but caladrius are so rare that it’s taking a reshuffle of the entire West Coast to get one here.”

Rebel rolls his eyes. “None of which is information themobshould have, but as always, all the gangs have infiltrated the Council in Bay City. Nothing is secret here—which is why we didn’t want them to find out you’ve been injured. Killing a Guardian, even one at half-strength, would be a hell of an initiation for some idiot street thug.”

“Manga merda.” Damon looks up from his scrolling to flip Reb off and grins when he gets the same in return.

Is this what guys do all day? Jesus. How do women put up with their mates… forever?

“Guys, we’re weirding Wheels out,” Archie says as he winks at me. “Why don’t we go out on the patio and chill for a while?”

Javi hands me another Maui Mule and I beam at him. “I may have to roll myself there, but I’m game. Your view is killer.”

I’m not lying—their house sits on bluffs above the ocean, and the patio is half of the backyard. The infinity pool is the other half, and the first time I slid down that weird tube slide in it, I almost had a heart attack. They have a fucking water slide into the ocean and none of them think it’s a big deal. It’s totally insane.

“My turn then.” Angelo shoots to his feet, rushing to get over to my chair. Luckily, Archie grabs my glass because within seconds, the tattooed fool has me slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and is walking out to the deck.

“Put me down!” I yell. Thumping his lower back, I try to wriggle free, but his arms are like steel bands. He continues to ignore me as we cross the expansive pool area, and I decide its time to teach him a lesson. Sliding my hands under the waistband of his joggers, I reach for boxers so I can give him an atomic wedgie.

Except there are no boxers and I’m now fondling his ass.

Pulling my hands away like they’re on fire, I hide my face against his back as my face heats. I may have to crawl into a hole and pray for death likeright now.

“If you wanted to grab my ass,cara mia, all you had to do is ask.”

“Morrigan, take me now,” I mutter. The flush is spreading all over my body, and there’s no way they don’t all see me turning into a cherry tomato.

“Stop teasing her, Angelo,” Damon says as he flops down on one of the huge lounges facing the ocean. “We’re trying to get her to relax, not have a coronary.”

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