Page 34 of Deadly Ruck
Without a word, we were pushed towards the steps leading up to the plane and inside, Nyla right in front of me.
She managed a brief, regretful look before letting herself be shoved with the rest of us.
Eddie slapped her ass, but she only dropped her head and kept on walking. If her body language was an indication, she wanted to turn and punch him off the steps, but she didn't dare. She knew what would happen if she did.
If I could, I'd try to make sure she got out of here with us. She'd make a better leader for the Crimson Vipers than anyone else I'd seen so far. If there was anything left to lead once I was finished with them.
I'd make no guarantees there would be. If there wasn't, I'd find her a place somewhere in this world. No doubt she'd tell me she was perfectly capable of looking after herself, but if she needed me to, I'd try. That was all I could promise right now.
To try.
“Boss!" one of the minions called out. "We've got company."
Chapter Fifteen
Ramsey
The building was a nondescript shed,a couple of kilometres outside the limits of Dusk Bay. Several cars were already parked outside the front when we pulled up.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Storm peered through the front windscreen. His brow was creased, grey eyes swiping back and forth doubtfully.
"This is the address he sent me." If only to prove I had faith in Ice, I pushed out of the car and started toward the structure.
For half a second, I entertained the same doubt, but there was no reason for Chelsea's brother to send us to the wrong place. If he had, it was only to keep us out of the way, so we didn't get harmed. Instinct told me that wasn't what was going on here.
That was confirmed when I stepped through the open double doors. The heavy smell of fuel and grease lingered in the air, along with a heavier dose of barely contained anger. That radiated from Chelsea's brother, Ice, and to a lesser extent the men standing with him.
Ice glanced over to me and gave me the slightest hint of a nod to acknowledge my presence. He was smiling, like usual, but no one would miss the fury in his eyes. He was ready to hurt people.
He looked away and resumed his conversation. "Thanks for coming. You guys look like shit." He elbowed one of the Brantley twins, who elbowed him back.
"Bro, you try having three-month-old twins and see how you go. It's exhausting, right, Park?"
"I can't remember the last time I had a full night's sleep," Hunter replied wearily. "But the little guys are worth it. Hey, Ramsey, good to see you. Shame the circumstances are crap." He walked over to give me a side hug.
“Who are your friends?" Parker asked. He looked around us to the doorway. "Hey, I know you guys! Storm Keller and Daniel Frost. I'm a big fan of the Smashers. I've been trying to convince Mack to sell us the team for ages now, right Hunter?"
Hunter squinted at him. "Since when?"
Parker grinned. "I don't know, but I'm going to nag him now."
"We already own the Dusk Bay Demons,” Hunter reminded him. "Why do we need another team?"
"The question is whywouldn'twe need another team?” Parker shrugged. "Who else is coming to this party?"
"Who the hell are these guys?" Storm asked.
Hunter and Parker exchanged looks of mock outrage. At least, I thought it was mock.
"You haven't heard of us?" Parker asked. "Apparently we need to invest in more publicity. Maybe a billboard. We could have them all over Dusk Bay, and on the highway coming in from north and south. Maybe coming from the west as well."
"We're not getting billboards, Park," Hunter said. He offered his hand to Storm. "Hunter Brantley. My brother Parker." He jerked his head towards his twin.
"Brantley?" Storm frowned. "Like that Reuben Brantley guy?"
The twins exchanged another look before cracking up laughing.
"Dibs on telling Reuben he referred to him like that," Parker said, mid-laugh.
