Page 6 of Savage

“How the hell does your suit look like you just took it off the hanger after the shit you’ve been through tonight?”

This coming from a man who considered boots, jeans, and a black shirt appropriate for any occasion.

“Skill. It’s all about skill.”

“Uh huh. Yet you’re down here handing out gifts like Santa fucking Claus, so I’m assuming your skills only go so far. Seems like you might need something from me.” Alessio leaned back in his chair and propped his booted feet up on the desk. “I wonder what that could be? Wiped video? Audio? The sudden disappearance of any evidence that you might have single-handedly annihilated the very people we needed to get closer to the head honcho bringing laced drugs into our city?”

When he put it like that, I could see why he might’ve warned me against getting involved. But what did he expect? For me to stand by and let some passerby get caught up in that shitshow?

We weren’t about that, and Alessio knew it. So did King, for that matter. So if I could wipe the videos beforeheshowed, then maybe when he found out in a day or two I could explain it was for the greater good and all that he held dear.

“Can you do it?” I pushed off the wall and stepped further inside Alessio’s cave.

“Are you tryin’ to piss me off?” He dragged his feet off the desk. “Can I do it…”

The next thing I knew, the screens filled with the playback of the trash-filled alley, the assholes I’d taken down, and the terrified bystander. The audio cut out at the exact moment Alessio was trying to talk some sense into me, and then all hell broke loose.

All in all, the sequence of events went by much faster than it’d seemed when it was actually taking place, and when it started up again on a loop, I interjected.

“Okay, that’s enough, I don’t think we need to see it again?—”

“Ooh, seewhatagain? Are you two hiding a secret?” The smooth, lyrical tone, practically salivating at the idea of gossip, told me exactly who was standing behind us without my even turning. But a glance over my shoulder confirmed the cashmere-covered man strolling into the room was none other than Benoit Olivier.

“Not a secret,” Alessio said. “More like a fuck-up. Lachlan’s, to be precise.”

I tried to give him a quick uppercut to the back of the head, which he dodged.“I didn’t fuck up. I just overextended myself.”

“In a way that you now need to erase?” Benoit tsked. “That sounds like a fuck-up to me,mon cher.”

“It’s nothing that will exist in a matter of seconds.” I shot Alessio a meaningful look.

But he proved to be a true asshole, shooting me a wink as he hit play on the video.

“Oh my,” Benoit said, his mouth curving as he watched the replay. “I take it acting like some superhero of New York wasn’t officially on tonight’s agenda?”

“That’s not what I was doing,” I grumbled.

“Oh, you’re right. Youdidlet the driver get away.”

“Well, in case you missed it, I was kind of busysaving a life.”

Benoit cocked his head at the screen. “Hmm, yes, I do believe that attractive man’s head looks much better on his body than blown clear across the street.”

Alessio snorted. “Attractive? Of course that’s what you notice first.”

“It would’ve been a shame to ruin such a handsome face.” Benoit glanced at me. “Don’t you think so, Lachlan?”

“Like I give a shit.” It wasn’t Boy Scout’s good looks that made me get involved.

Though, seeing him onscreen now, I could see why they’d make that leap. Hewasmore attractive than I’d noticed in the moment, but I was a little busy then.

“Wipe the fucking cameras before King gets here or I swear to God I’ll?—”

“You’ll do what, exactly?”

King’s deep baritone came from directly behind me, and I closed my eyes and sent up a litany of curses.

When I opened them again, I saw Benoit’s lips pressed into a thin line, like he was trying not to laugh that I’d just gotten busted.

---