Page 26 of Big Red

“Checkmate, asshole.” Viper nods at Bear, who grabs Officer Smith and drags him to the back of the house. He’s so out of it, he can’t even fight back. Bear gets him in the bathroom as instructed and strips him out of his clothes. Viper turns the water on to fill the tub. Once it's full, Bear throws his ass in and steps to the side. Viper kneels next to the tub and pushes Officer Smith under the water.

As if the water snaps him out of his high, he fights against Viper's hold. Viper could have easily drowned his ass, but he’s getting a kick out of torturing him. When Viper's phone rings, he pauses before looking over his shoulder. “Blade, can you grab my phone out of my pocket?”

“You really want to answer your phone now?” He looks at Viper in bewilderment.

“Yes. It could be Cara calling about the kids or something.”

Shaking his head, Blade steps forward and pulls Viper's phone from his pocket. He shows us the screen, and sure enough, Cara is calling. He answers the phone on speaker.

“What’s up, hellcat? Everything okay?” Viper asks as if he isn’t holding a man underwater, taking his life.

“Yup. Everything’s good.”

“Okay, well, I’m kind of tied up with something, so let me call you back.”

“I know exactly what you’re up to.”

Viper pauses and looks up to the rest of us. We shrug our shoulders, not knowing what to tell him. That woman knows everything. There is no such thing as keeping a secret from her. Before Viper can say anything, she speaks again.

“Now, why don’t you hurry things along and get home. I need to reward you for taking out the trash,” she purrs.

Grinning, Viper licks his lips, causing Blade and Torch to groan. I don’t know how those two deal with hearing the things Viper, Bear, and Armor do to their sisters. I would probably end up killing one of their asses if it was me.

“You got it, baby. I’ll be home in twenty.”

“And I’ll be naked and waiting in five.”She ends the call.

Viper turns to Officer Smith, who’s still trying to fight his way from under the water. Gripping both his shoulders, Viper shakes his body. “Hurry up and die, fucker!”

Thor booms with laughter as Blade and Torch walk out of the bathroom, grumbling. “I swear I’m booking a therapy session Monday and sending his ass the bill!”

That only causes Thor to double over, trying to catch his breath. Smoke shakes his head with a smile. “When should I be expecting another grandbaby?” he asks Viper.

“Soon, Pop.” He smiles and stands to his feet once Officer Smith stops moving. He stands over him for a few minutes, making sure the deed is done. Grabbing the tumbler from thekitchen table, he wipes his prints from the glass. Viper is making it seem as if he came home, indulged in a drink and a few pills, before he fell asleep in the tub.

It probably isn’t the way he wanted to take him out, but with Smith being an officer, it had to be a clean kill. As we walk out the door, Viper has a little pep in his step.

“Let's get out of here. I gotta go blow my woman’s back out.”

Thor, Bear, and I roar with laughter as we mount our bikes.

“Shut the fuck up, Viper! I swear to God, I will run your ass off the highway if you say one more word about fucking my sister!” Torch snaps.

Viper chuckles before starting his bike. “I can't help it, man. Your sister is a freak,” he shouts over the rumble of his bike. Viper takes off with Blade and Torch hot on his heels.

Chapter Eleven

ALICE

As soon as the kids closed the door after pushing Red out, I became filled with nerves. I’ve never been left alone with kids before. I mean, I’ve been around them, of course, but never left alone with them. The only thing that comforts me is that they’re not babies or toddlers.

How hard could it be?

Cindy and Colt turn to me with beaming smiles, easing my mind. Yeah, this isn’t going to be hard at all. They already like me.

“So, who’s ready for the most awesome movie night?” I ask them.

“Yes!” Colt shouts as he pumps a fist in the air. “What do you have planned?” he asks excitedly.

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