Page 39 of Sinful Mates

Her gaze narrowed as arrogantly as the defiant tilt of her chin. “Do you know who my husband is? He’s the police superintendent of Bathurst. He’ll have your asses for threatening me.”

I let out a goading chuckle of my own. Stupid woman. First rule they taught police was to never let your enemy know who you were out of uniform. This snobby bitch dropped his name to sway power.

Taking Brix’s lead, I adopted similar language to avoid the bitch identifying my voice. “Lock us up, toots, and more will come. We have plenty of friends. Much worse than us. Some who’d love to get their dicks into you and your daughter and a bullet into your husband’s brain.” Crude and disgusting enough to make my point.

Threats to children always worked best. Guilt ghosted under my skin at sinking so low to use innocents in intimidation. Thinking about our enemy doing the same to Aaliyah or Mia made my gut churn, and the coffee from earlier turn sour and rise up my gullet. To get through this, I reminded myself of who her husband worked for, what they represented, and the billions of people their “elite clan” suppressed, manipulated, made sick and addicted to their medication, media, technology, and more. Freemasons. The bane of this era and many before them.

Fear underscored the wife’s scent at her third shudder. Mission accomplished. Warning impressed. Retaliation guaranteed. I looked forward to it. Lusted for it. It gave me an excuse to release the Wolves’ footage and take down a bigger enemy skewing the Maat on the entire planet.

As we strolled away, the foolish, arrogant snot snarled, “You’ll be sorry for this.”

I gave her a smug grin. “Don’t think so, toots. The dirt I have on your husband.” I clicked my tongue, shook my head, and waved a finger. “Once we’re done with him, you’ll be living with your mother, sending your kids to public schools, and won’t be able to show your face on the streets.”

Further investigation into the Wolves’ insurance footage gave me the nugget I needed to take his ass down, along with a few of his high-ranking brethren.

She huffed and slid into her seat, slamming the door. Brix and I pissed her off further when she slammed her 4WD into reverse, grating the metal of her rims against concrete.

“Stupid bitch.” Brix laughed, sinister and jubilant.

Ignoring the harsh thump of her tire, she rolled the car through the parking lot, up the ramp, probably to the tire shop around the corner.

Job done, Brix fixed a lit cigarette to his mouth and we backtracked to our parked bikes, a quarter of a mile away. Out of safe distance of the mall’s CCTV.

Back at the club, a surprise awaited me. Lunch and a heartwarming smile from my woman. Fresh juice, quiche, and salad, by the smell of it. My woman took care of us and made sure we all ate healthy. Never more important in times of stress when our bodies didn’t absorb nutrients as well.

Damn. She was a vision in her small, booted, steel-blue heels, tight Capri pants, blouse, and denim jacket. Spring weather swept in a change from her standard jeans and sweater. I liked the new look, a lot. Couldn’t wait for summer to herald dresses, short skirts, midriff-baring tops, and what every man desired… easier access.

“Hey, beautiful.” I lifted the meal from her hands and leaned down for a kiss. Her lips were warm and compliant, just the way I liked them. Soft warmth wrapped around my heart and squeezed. “Eat with me?”

Her thumb swiped along my jaw. “Sure, handsome.” She tipped my juice to my lips allowing me a taste. Half as sweet as her mouth on mine.

Careful not to crush my meal, I pressed her closer. “Feed me like that more often.”

“Spoiled!” She hit my arm.

I loved her cute snort. Loved everything about her. Aaliyah Heller was a mystery wrapped in secrets like her goddess. A mystery for me to solve, and I loved a good puzzle.

Sure, I could rattle off her beautiful physical attributes. Long, silky, raven hair. Luscious lips as sweet as cherries. Azure eyes as striking as the kingfisher bird’s feathers. Curves like a windy mountain road. No complaints there. Brainy women did it for me more than beauty, and mine had it in spades. Clever, a quick learner, level-headed, fair, and she didn’t want me for my money. Tell that to the scorned asshole driving fear into my brain.

Could I bring myself to say what I felt to her face? No. I chickened out and sent it to her in a text at a time of her darkest need. She probably dismissed it as cheap, meaningless words sent to her before I possibly went to my death. The real ones had to come from my mouth, but I couldn’t get them past my throat. Each time they locked in there. My past held them chained.

Her smile faltered as Brix finished his cigarette and entered, grunting a greeting in passing. Insincere and with an undertone of resentment. Odious dick only acknowledged her because of her stature as our old lady.

“Asshole,” she breathed, and I clutched her possessively to me, warning him with a DEFCON level one glare.

Mollifying her, I swept her away from him into my office, where I set my lunch down and she deposited my drink.

“Someone’s wrathful today.” Defrosting the bond, I treated her butt to a teasing clap and fell into my chair. “Didn’t Mia get into the school?”

I secured my arms around her, taking her with me. Liquid heat spread through me from holding my mate.

“Please don’t say the word wrath around me.” She wriggled to get comfortable, curling on me like a contented cat. “And Mia starts tomorrow. After lunch, we’re going to get her uniform and some supplies.”

“Great news.” Her heat burned through the palm I rested on her hip.

Maybe now she might consider a return to the club. Getting part-time work at the hospital. Or sliding into being a full-time mother. Whatever she chose, we’d support her. Our mate needed to be busy and didn’t do well lounging at home all day.

Aaliyah made a dismissive noise in her throat. “It was a battle dragging her to the school for an interview. We had our first fight.”

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