Page 61 of Ruthless

“Because you’re not wrong.” He’s not going to elaborate any more on that.

“Just promise me one thing.” I know when to pick and choose my battles, so I’ll let this one slide.

“Anything.” He doesn’t even hesitate, and that makes my heart smile.

“You come back to us in one piece.”

“That’s a promise, Hummingbird.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me until I forget my name.

If only I knew that I would be the one to break that promise.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

Zane

Rain pelts against the roof of the SUV as I tug on the end of my beard while the four of us sit and wait. We’ve been sitting here in the woods in the back parking lot for a couple of hours, and my gum is out of flavor, but it’s the only thing keeping me from losing my shit.

Axel whistles as he rips open a bag of Doritos. “Do our women know we’re going inside a sex club? Because I don’t know about y’all, but I like my balls attached where they are.”

“What do you think?” Asher keeps his gaze planted on the door as he lights up another cigarette. He’s damn near smoked half a pack since we got here. Something is up with him. He’s been moodier than usual, and if I’m starting to notice, then it’s serious. We’ll have to have a talk when this shit is all said and done.

“They don’t need to know.” I grind down harder on my gum and twist around to face the back seat, resisting the urge to steal a smoke from him.

Isaac laughs. “Trust me, kid. They already know. They probably knew where we were going before we did.”

“You tell them?” I lock eyes with him, not finding the humor in any of this. The last thing I want Kennedy to know is where I am right now.

“Nope.” Isaac exhales a cloud of smoke in my face. “They’re women. Enough said.” He cocks his head at me like that’s a foregone conclusion.

“Meaning?” My eyes narrow as he takes forever to get to the fucking point.

“Meaning they’re better than the FBI when it comes to that shit.” He pinches his cigarette between his fingers and holds my stare.

Axel laughs and shoves a handful of Doritos into his mouth. “We’re so fucked when we get home.”

“Ax,” Asher grinds out, reaching the limits of this conversation much like I am.

Axel opens his mouth wider than normal and crunches down harder on the chips. He’s purposely pushing his buttons and itching for a fight. If we weren’t in the middle of something serious, I’d pull them both out of the car and watch it play out for myself.

“He’ll show?” I change the subject to avoid beating the shit out of both of my brothers.

“He’ll show.” Isaac steals a chip out of Axel’s bag and shoves it in his mouth.

“You’re sure?” Because I’m sure as fuck not.

“I am. He’s been coming every Thursday night at eleven for the last five years.” He dusts his hands off and goes back to staring out the window.

“And this chick he’s banging is good with us cutting into her pocket like this?” Axel licks the cheese powder off his fingers and tosses the empty bag behind him, without a fuck to give.

Isaac doesn’t answer him right away, and an unsettling feeling stirs in my gut. “Destiny and I go way back. She’s cool with it.”

“Destiny? That her real name?” I cock my head to the side and study him. In all the years we’ve known each other, he’s never once mentioned her.

“It’s her real name.” Isaac shifts in his seat. “We grew up next door to each other.”

“Right.” I file that info away for later in case it’s needed and go back to staring across the back lot.

A few minutes later, the back door opens, and a woman dressed in all leather with a blue wig appears. She leans against the block wall and lights up a cigarette.

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