Page 127 of Clinch'd

“Why are you two here?” I ask, because I know Hate usually sends them in on their own as an independent team.

“Couldn’t miss out on this,” Jig says, rubbing his hands together.

“Why?”

“Fucker messed with my girl.”

I shiver at the darkness bleeding from his tone and turn to Cyn gratefully when he leans in and whispers, “You look good, cuz.”

With a smile, I tap his arm. “You too.”

It’s just past eleven pm and I’m dozing against Cyn’s beefy arm when we roll up to a spot behind what I presume to be Castinetti’s house. With a yawn that makes my jaw pop, I look out the window.

There’s a wall surrounding the property and I spy lights beyond. Is Lorri sleeping like a baby inside? Content with being married to a monster?

With a shiver, I wrap my arms around my middle and resist the urge to grab what’s become most precious to me. My child. I will do whatever it takes to survive for him or her. Anything.

“Okay,” Hate says, interrupting my troubled thoughts. “The detached building is North of here. There’s an opening between those trees. We’ll go in through the back. There are six guards inside but over twenty on the property. We go in as quiet as possible, take out anyone in our way and get the fuck out.”

“How do you know all this?” Beasts asks.

Hate’s mouth pulls in a vicious smile, and he says, “It’s my job to know.”

With that we exit but when I step from the vehicle, Cooper frowns and says, “Wait in the car.”

Surprised, I dip my chin but pause when Hate says behind him, “Nope. You wanted her here. Safest place is with us.”

Cooper swings his way and I eye his hands balled into fists before I step forward. He’s a ticking time bomb right now and to avoid a confrontation, I take the decision away.

He doesn’t comment but I spy the dark clouds brewing in his eyes. Too bad. He wanted me here and I trust Hate to know what we’re walking into.

As soon as we start toward the trees, I understand why Jig and Cyn are here. They’re flanking me like soldiers, and I relax slightly knowing they’re here for me.

I do wish someone had given me the opportunity to change though because the dress and heels I donned for Lorri’s party aren’t cutting it. After almost tripping twice and pulling the heels out of the squishy silt, I finally take them off.

It’s not much better and I wince with every step, but it will have to do. If it comes down to it, I need to be able to run.

At the gate that apparently only Hate knew was there, he pulls out his phone and speaks quietly to someone on the other end.

A bird hoots above us and I shiver before saying a silent prayer. Please let us all get out of this alive.

When Hate hangs up and lifts his brilliant blue gaze to mine, I attempt a smile which falls flat because Cooper shifts beside me. Despite everything, I still wish this could have ended differently and my chest burns with the need to tell him I’m not the person he believes me to be.

But what’s the use? It’s clear he’s hung up on shit that I couldn’t see my way out of, and I don’t regret it to the extent that I thought I was saving my sister.

Look what he’s done to save his siblings? Hypocrite.

After about two minutes of silence fraught with tension while I circle the drain of my thoughts, someone opens the door from the inside.

We’re all quiet as we file through, and I jump when a wolf howls somewhere in the darkness. I’m not superstitious but I can’t help to think this doesn’t bode well for our little mission.

To my surprise, once we’re through, Cooper turns back and holds out his hand to me. After searching his gaze by the light of the moon, I wrap my fingers around his.

I still think he’s an ass, but my heart is in my throat and I’m on the verge of puking again. I’ll take any physical comfort where I can get it or so I tell myself.

The dude who let us through waves toward the building I spied from the window and when I glance up, I’m dismayed to see the silhouette of who I presume to be Lorri standing in the same spot I was just hours ago.

Fuck me.Please don’t say anything.

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