Page 15 of Heads You Lose (Grim & Beast Duet 2)

His voice trails off and neither of us fill in the silence. Mark was at the club the night I fought Derby, but he wasn’t there when I killed Carter. I found out later he was dragging a fuming Hudson Freed home. Though he couldn’t keep him away according to Dom, who’s been my inside man this whole time. Hudson came back an hour after I left and is as deep in this pile of shit as the rest of us in attendance that night.

Honestly, I expected to hear that Kate and him had got together after I’d gone, but to my surprise they’re still just friends and have remained close. I guess I owe him a thank you for looking out for my girl too, even if it pisses me off that he got to spend time with her and I didn’t. I should be grateful, Iamgrateful, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to beat the shit out of him for having her time and attention though. Never thought I’d be a jealous man, but here we are.

“Beast is here to see Grim. Is that gonna be a problem?” Connall asks, before I’m able to even clear my head enough to do the same.

For a beat Mark looks between us, his expression serious. We were friends once, and the thought of having to knock the fucker out so I can get inside the gates doesn’t sit well with me, but I’ll do it if I have to.

“A few weeks back I would’ve seen you on your way,” he admits with a wry grin.

“And today?” I ask, my stomach churning at the thought that just on the other side of this gate is the woman I love.

“Today you’re allowed in.”

Connall grins. “Excellent, want to get the gate open then?”

Mark’s smile drops. “Sorry, Connall. Beast goes in alone. Orders of the Boss.”

Connall looks affronted, glancing at me. “Why is she pissed at me? I ain’t done nothing wrong. Surely, she has missed my Irish charm?”

I laugh, and Mark grins. “Couldn’t tell you. All I’ve been told is if Beast turns up he comes in alone.”

“Not a problem,” I say, unclipping my seat belt.

“Follow me then,” Mark replies, bumping fists with a put-out Connall, before striding back to the gate.

“Seriously, Beast, are you sure you wanna do this? We both know that Grim has quite the reputation these days.”

“I’m sure. Go home. I’ll call you later.”

Connall nods, blowing out a breath. “Well, don’t let me tell you I told you so when you end up in the coroner's office with a bullet in your brain.”

“Pretty sure I’ll be incapable of listeningorresponding at that point,” I say with a laugh, before jumping out of the car and striding through the open gate.

Two minutes later I’m pushing open the door into the warehouse Mark pointed me towards, and stepping into a cornered off wire cage with wrap around curtains and a locked door opposite. In the corner of the space is a table and a sign that says:

Remove all weapons or entry will be denied.

I grin. Kate is way smarter than her father. Security is clearly a priority, as it should be.

Glancing around the space, my attention is caught by a tiny red light flashing in the top right hand corner of the cage. I stare up at the camera and wait, a smile pulling up my lips.

“Weapons on the table,” a familiar female voice barks through the intercom.

It’s been a long time since I heard her voice and for a moment I’m taken aback.

Struck fucking dumb, actually, though my dick doesn’t seem to have the same problem. It jerks at her voice, standing to fucking attention.

“Jesus fuck,” I mutter.

“Weapons on the table, Roger. You’ll get them back when you leave.”

Roger.

Call me a fool, call me whatever the fuck you like, but the sheer fact she’s addressing me by my real name is a good fucking sign. I hear the sass buried deep beneath the coolness, and it fires my fucking blood like nothing else. Maybe there’s hope.

“I have no weapons. I come in peace,” I reply, grinning, unable to help myself.

For long moments there’s just silence, then the intercom makes a clicking noise and her voice follows shortly after. “Prove it.Strip.”

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