Page 13 of Guardian

To make things worse, Jackson came running from his room and leaped onto the sofa, jostling all my sensitive spots, including my blood-filled cock. My second groan was much louder, gaining me Jemma’s full attention.

“Good, you’re awake. I apologize for forgetting you’re much too tall for the sofa. I should have found a better way to accommodate you. I suppose you could have had my bed,” she said.

My cock throbbed at her words. My brain refused to understand that she meant I’d have the bed while she slept somewhere else. It just gave me a picture of the two of usscrewing like rabbits. My face must have reflected my thoughts because she instantly corrected her statement.

“I mean I should have taken the couch and given you the bed,” she stated with a blush.

“I was here to stand guard. That would have been impossible from the bedroom. I’m okay, but I could use some of that coffee if it’s being offered.”

“Oh, right! I was pouring this for you,” she replied as she held up the steaming mug. “What do you take in it?”

“Just black, thanks.”

“I made biscuits and eggs. Do you want some?” she asked, coming closer to hand over the mug.

“No. I’ve got to get on the phone and see where I can get you a door,” I answered, knowing if I stayed for breakfast, it would feel too much like I belonged. That was a dream I couldn’t allow to take root.

“I’ve already done that,” she said. “I called work and told them I had a break-in and I needed to stay home today. The repairman said he’d be here at 10:00 with a new door and stronger locks. I’m taking Jackson to school, so you’re off duty.”

“What if your ex comes back?”

“He won’t. At this hour of the day, he’d be conked out somewhere, sleeping after he came off his high. Cowards don’t attack in daylight.”

“The ones after him aren’t cowards,” I argued.

“No, but they want him for now. Not me. You can go.”

I wanted to keep fighting her. I was worried that Mitch was in over his head, and she was taking all this too lightly. But my phone buzzed with a message from Prime that I couldn’t ignore.

Come to church,it demanded. It was a summons to a meeting I had to attend. Being called to church meant there was trouble brewing in larger amounts than what Mitch could bring.

I set the mug on the bar and nodded. “Fine. I have to go anyway. But if you need me, I’ll be here. Call anytime.”

“I think you mean that,” Jemma answered.

“I always mean what I say.”

I left through the back door, but I sensed I’d be back sooner than later. Trouble was coming at Jemma’s and at HQ. I could feel it in my gut.

The loud roar of my bike brought the neighborhood’s attention to me. Most jumped into their cars as fast as possible and zoomed away to their boring, safe jobs. But one man seemed to freeze in horror once he saw me. He was about fifty and as conservative as it was possible to be in his suit and tie.

I thought about baring my teeth and growling just to have a little fun, but then I noticed his wife. There was no fear or revulsion in her eyes. Instead, she grinned and winked at me. She quickly flashed her left wrist, exposing a tat of a skull with a snake crawling out of its mouth. I returned the grin with a feral one of my own which frightened the man enough to get him moving.

“Get in the car!” he hissed at his wife.

She started laughing and blew me a kiss before joining her husband in the car. It made my day. I was laughing too as I rode away.

I was the last one to arrive for the meeting. Prime raised an eyebrow in question, but I waved him off. We could talk later.

“Now that we’reallfinally here we can get down to the important matters,” he stated, staring directly at me. I knew his anger would die away once I explained about Jemma and Jackson, so I didn’t let it rile me.

“The Cartel has a new capo. His surname is Aguilar. The name is one that we’ve heard before. It’s the family name of a particularly cruel family line,” Prime began.

“That’s old new,s Boss,” Rage, our road captain spoke out of turn.

Prime scowled at him, effectively shutting him down. “He may have replaced his predecessor six months ago, but he’s been inactive and silent until now. I assume he’s been establishing his power during that time, removing anyone who won’t show him loyalty, and rearranging the businesses to suit him. However, his underboss has suddenly been noticed near our territory more than once. That means the reprieve we’ve had is over.”

“What about the alliance we had with old Perez? Isn’t it still in effect?” Specs, our secretary inquired.

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