Page 56 of The Devil's Ice

“That’s me.”

“OK, well. If you say you can poison half your crew, I believe you. Frankly, I’d doubt anyonebutyou, based on what I’ve heard. You’re a legend, man.”

“Yeah, well. Iwas.” Bones sighed a bit wistfully. “Poison was a bit too elegant and subtle for Crusher Alcott, so my ways became old-fashioned, and I got put out to pasture, more or less. Crusher preferred a more…directapproach to problem-solving. Liked his victims to watch him watch the life ebb out of them, eye-to-eye. Toxins were too removed from the action for him; he was a hands-on kind of guy, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“Ain’t that the truth.”

“I’ll send you pictures when it’s done,” Bones said abruptly. “The state of the bodies will leave no doubt that they’re dead, I can assure you of that. I need a phone to send everything to.”

“Give me your number now,” Scars said. “I’ll text you from a burner in ten minutes. Use that number for the pictures, and put Wolf on the phone with me as soon as you fucking get eyes on him, and use the number I send you to text me the meet-up spot.”

“OK. Agreed to all of it.”

There was a brief pause as the men tried to think if they’d overlooked anything, forgotten anything, but that was all for now. Bones gave Scars his burner number, and after a few more seconds of silence, both men disconnected. There was nothing else to say.

For good or ill, the plan was in motion… however it was going to end up. Scars had found his trapdoor, and now he just had to drop himself into its depths and darkness totally blind. Hope for the best.

For all of us.

Chapter Nineteen

Ice pulled his truck over, glanced over at Vix. He knew that the neck brace was so tight that any movement on her part was impossible, but he’d still driven to the mountains like there was a brand-new robin’s egg sitting on the seat next to him.

“OK?” he said. “I didn’t throw you around too much?”

She turned her whole upper body to meet his eyes, with a teasing pout on her face. “You didn’t throw me aroundat all, handsome. And you won’t for a while, more’s the shame.”

Ice laughed, musing how much he actuallydidlaugh around her, then opened the door. “Sit tight, Vix, I’ll come and get you.”

He opened her door, extended his hand to her and she took it like a queen, then hesitated.

“You worried about jarring your neck when you step down?” Ice asked. “Itisa bit of a drop for a woman who needs to stand on a book to look over a counter.”

“Hey!” she said, giving him a teasing tap on his wrist. “I’m notthatshort.”

“Baby,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her, setting her carefully on the uneven ground. “Keira will tower over you in two years.”

She laughed, clung to him as they stood looking at each other, holding each other. She blinked, and suddenly all Vixen could see was this amazing man standing in the wild, rugged mountains, under a night sky blazing with stars – and he was looking at her likeshewas the most beautiful thing for miles and miles around. Maybe anywhere.

Those blue eyes were as warm and gentle as they ever got, and Vixen was still astonished that she was probably one of the only people – if not theonlyperson – who saw Ice this open. In moments like this, she thought she saw some of that innocence and faith that Ice surely had, before his whole world exploded in a trailer, in the dead of winter.

All she wanted to do when he looked at her like this was kiss him. Kiss away his hurt and pain, to be sure, but also kiss his humanity and goodness. He had those things in him, she knew now, and although she understood why he pushed them down, she was nothing but grateful that he brought them to the surface for her.

“Vix,” Ice said quietly. “Don’t look at me like that, baby.”

She smiled at his rough tone, knowing whatthatmeant. “Why not?”

“Because.”

“Because what?” She ran her hands up his forearms, over his chest, totally aware that she was poking the bear, but what the hell. She liked teasing Ice, as it turned out. “Hmmm?”

“Because when you do, all I want is to rip those clothes off your hot little body, put my mouth everywhere that I can.” His fingers in her hair were gentle, his voice was a rasp. “Just take you until you scream and beg, take you again until you pass out from coming so hard in my arms. Then kiss you awake, move down your body until you’re twisting and turning under my lips and tongue – and begging me to do it all over again.” He grinned. “That’swhy not.”

Vixen gasped, her whole body responding to just his words. She mentally cursed herself for poking and prodding him now, because all she wanted was to get naked with Ice –like right fucking this second– and she couldn’t. She couldn’t do a single goddamn thing about it, except stand here in the circle of those strong, amazing arms, under a perfect night sky in the mountains, and be totally and completely and helplessly turned on.

“I wish that I could kiss you at least,” he said. “It’s not one one-hundredth of what I really want to do to you, but I’d take it right now.”

“Why can’t you kiss me?” she said, genuinely perplexed. “Do you think you’ll hurt me?”

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