Page 32 of Butcher

Lock’s lips twitched. “Not really, but it would be easier on us all if you worked with us. We can always use another good fighter.”

I considered his words. “What happens once the threat is eliminated?”

“We’ll burn that bridge once we get to it.”

They were going to toss me out on my ass. Which meant I needed to do my best not to get close to any of these people, especially the gorgeous man next to me, because eventually we’d go our own ways. “Okay,” I agreed.

“Good.” He leaned forward, his forearms on his desktop. “This means we’re putting our trust in you, Isla. Don’t fuck us over.”

I glared at him. “I don’t go back on my word.” Except for this one time when it came to killing Butcher. But these were extenuating circumstances. I couldn’t explain why I’d broken my contract with Randal, but I knew it wasn’t something that would happen again. And I knew for a fact that I wouldn’t do anything that would end up hurting those women and kids. I wasn’t a complete fucking monster.

“Can we really trust you?”

Lockout was searching my eyes as I responded. “You’re willing to put yourselves in danger to help me? Yeah. You can trust me.” It didn’t matterwhythey were willing to help, just that they were.

He gave a decisive nod. “Figured.” He motioned to the door and Butcher grabbed me by the bicep and steered me out of the office.

“What are you getting out of this?” I asked him as he walked me upstairs.

“I need to go help the others dispose of those bodies. Might buy us some time.”

I doubted that. Randal already knew. He had eyes and ears everywhere.

He knocked on a door and when it opened he thrust me forward.

“Just in time,” Jordan said with a huge smile.

“For what?” I asked, giving Butcher an uncertain look.

“You’ll see,” Dani replied, grabbing me and dragging me inside the apartment.

I grabbed the doorframe and gave Butcher a frantic look. My feet lifted off the ground. These crazy bitches were pulling me in, literally.

“Have fun,” he said with a chuckle.

“Don’t you dare leave me-”

He reached out and pried my fingers off the frame, I shot back under their pull and the door slammed behind us.

CHAPTER 12

Butcher

“Think she’ll mind if I use her shower?” Toxic asked as he looked around the hallway of the hotel. “That last guy was a bleeder.”

“I doubt it,” I replied, swiping the key card over the door. “But then you’re stuck putting that bloody shirt back on.”

He had his hands stuffed in his pockets, holding his cut closed so no one spotted the blood. We’d made our way quickly through the lobby of the hotel and the attendant had barely looked up.

Finding Isla’s bag in the car, I rummaged around until I found the hotel keycard. I figured I may as well stop by and get her shit while we were out. The less I let her off the compound, the less likely she’d be to run. Her agreeing to work with us had settled the unease twisting inside my chest, but it didn’t mean I could let my guard down. She wasn’t going to try to kill me anymore, probably, but I didn’t want her doing something stupid, like trying to lure the danger away from us.As a group we could handle damn near anything. But alone? Separated? We were vulnerable.

None of us would allow anything to happen to our families. We’d do whatever it took to keep them safe. And Isla was a part of that now. Lock seemed to understand that without me needing to vocalize it.

I hadn’t bothered to tell her we were coming here. It would have created more protests and arguments. Better to just gather her shit and make her comfortable at our compound.

“What...is that?” Toxic asked, stopping short in the doorway. He’d pushed his way into the room before me and now was blocking my view.

“How would I know? Your fucking head is in the way.” I stepped to the side and stilled as I saw why he’d frozen in place. “Is that a...”

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