Page 39 of Always Been Mine

“He’s a friend.”

“Have you fucked him?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no,” Beatrice retorted.

“Oh, I’m making it my business, babe.” He bent low, his warm breath fanning her ear. Releasing her jaw, he trailed the back of his fingers down the length of her torso, her hips. “Everything to do with this sweet body of yours, down right to here”—he cupped her between her legs and she couldn’t bring herself to stop him—“is my business. Do you know why?”

“No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

He grinned at her defiance. “Because you’ve always been mine. Your brain has not caught up yet, but your body cannot fucking deny how it wants mine.”

“Again, sex, no matter how good it is, does not make us together.” Beatrice wanted to pull her hair out.

“We will be.”

“WE ARE NOT TOGETHER!”

Gabe sighed. “Take some time tomorrow and think about us.”

“There is no us!” Gah! What an annoying man!

“Beatrice,” Gabe whispered, brushing her lips gently. “I love you, babe.”

She melted into a puddle right there.

7

“So you’re sayingwe might expect a hit in Colombia?”

Edward Shepard was the BSI team lead assigned on Senator Alex Mendoza’s security detail. He was studying the threat-analysis report Beatrice prepared for them, which included some speculations of the related violence in the Cloverleaf District. Travis and Nate were also in the room.

“That’s where I see the biggest threat coming from,” Beatrice said. “I met with Alex Mendoza yesterday and informed him we’re close to forming a team for him. His South American trip won’t begin until next year, but he agreed that it would be best to be familiar with his personal security in the next few months. Then we can expand it next year to include his entire delegation.”

“What’s with the Fuego connection?” Travis asked, his eyes most likely skimming to the last page of the report.

Beatrice sighed. She had not discussed this with Gabe yet, and her father had been off the grid. She would need to get with Ashe and Duke soon to see what else they dug up. “I’m not sure where they exactly fit. It just seemed coincidental that the women who attacked me last week are now dead and linked to Fuego. I’m having someone look into it.”

“Who’s looking into it?” Travis cut in. “Beatrice, you know better than to involve too many people in this.”

“I had no choice, okay?” Beatrice’s eyes flashed in annoyance. “Apparently, Gabe, and I hazard a guess, my dad, were already one step ahead of me and made the connection before I did. I dunno why they would use a motorcycle club to do their—”

“Motorcycle club? Not the Iron Skulls?” Travis didn’t look happy.

“Uh, yes,” Beatrice replied warily.

Nate cursed. “Who?”

“Ashe and Duke.”

Travis bolted from his chair and paced the room, his hand rubbing against his jaw in a gesture of agitation.

“Am I missing something here?” Beatrice asked.

“Remember that time Travis took Caitlin out of town after the Russians ambushed them?” Nate asked.

“Yes?”

“They had a run in with the Iron Skulls and later the Fuego gang.”

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