Page 6 of Reckless (Dark Confessions 3.25)

Which meant whatever the Suit had said wasn’t to his liking. I found a part of me liking the fact Darren was ruffled. It was odd to feel that way toward the boss, but I wasn’t really family to begin with. I was just the hired muscle.

Drawing my eyes away, I scanned the arena, calculating all the information I could. Upswing was nice, and I had a feeling it would do well. I wondered if this night was also about collecting intel on how well their fighting ring prospered. Delgado had put a lot into the Masked Kingpin, his mysterious backer pushing him to open despite still being under construction.

The first fight started a few minutes later, and the crowd grew loud as they cheered on the fighters. Static came over my com, and I stepped into the hallway to hear.

“Stocke?”

“I’m here.”

“Update.”

“Nothing to report.”

“Stay the course.”

Exhaling, I stepped back against the wall, returning to my post. The man over me had started to become suspicious. The missing footage had tipped him off that something was amiss. I needed to toe the line carefully from here on out, it wasn’t just my life on the line if I got caught, and the Delgados weren’t known for mercy.

I wasn’t family, but I was part of the Delgados, and I needed to remember that. I couldn’t be distracted by cute pussy.

Darren stood, moving closer to the railing to watch when the third fight started. He pulled Camila with him, and I was glad when she didn’t sway as much, sighing in relief at that knowledge. She’d lost too much weight, and I didn’t like it. Not that I got to have an opinion on her weight, but she’d been full of curves and healthy. Currently, she was a far cry from that girl. I’d known it would be risky to speak up in the limo, but I couldn’t let her stare that longingly at food and not feed her. My mama would beat me if she found out I let a woman go hungry.

As the bell dinged, announcing the start of the match, the crowd grew louder, egging on the opponents. Briefly, I wondered if this was the one that Darren had rigged. I’d heard they were sending in Berserker, and I felt bad for whoever had to face him. He wasn’t easily beaten, and knowing Darren, he would ensure he won at all costs. They didn’t call the boss of the Delgados “Two Tricks” for nothing.

When a roar went up below, I blinked, having stared at Camila for so long, I hadn’t realized the fight was over. Darren turned and pulled Camila along, dragging her behind him when she didn’t keep up. “Let’s go,” he barked, not waiting. I rushed ahead, pushing open doors, and hit my com to alert the driver.

“Coming out,” I said, jogging down the stairs. When I got to the last door, I pushed it open, sweeping the area and holding it steady for them. They exited a few moments later, and I could tell Camila was dragging. I wanted to wrap her up in my arms, casting his off, but I couldn’t. Not if I valued my life.

Once they were through, I ran around them, opening the door to the outside. Doing another sweep, I opened it wide for them. The limo idled at the curb, ready, and I sighed in relief as I opened the door. Darren shoved Camila inside, and a growl threatened to spill out at him. Gritting my teeth, I jumped in, slamming the door behind me. The car didn’t take long before it pulled away, sliding onto the road with precision.

I sat back, not able to keep from checking her over. She breathed heavily, resting against the door, but otherwise seemed okay. I turned my head to Darren and found him watching me. I swallowed, blanking my face, and prayed he thought I was just checking in. He could never know my secret.

I stared, not wanting to give anything away by asking a question. He stared back, attempting to find some fault in my shield, no doubt.

Finally, he sat back, wrapping an arm possessively around Camila. My blood burned, but I suppressed it, having no claim to her.

Looking out the other window, I watched her eye the cheese as we drove, and I had to fight everything in me to keep from reaching out and giving it to her. It was too dangerous now. Darren was already curious about my concern.

I’d have to keep my distance from this point on. I couldn’t slip up again.

When the car arrived at the mansion, I stayed back once they were clear and then headed to the guardroom. I found my superior at a desk, going over some film on a laptop, a blueprint laid out next to him. Bernard glanced up, but then went back to his task, dismissing me. I headed to my locker, taking out my com, gun, and door badge.

I hung up my suit coat in the locker, undoing my tie and changing my shirt. Grabbing the garment bag and three items, I headed toward the door. Hanging my bag on the clothes rack to be laundered, I passed the com, gun, and badge through the divider and waited for the person on the other side to acknowledge me.

“Evening, Stocke.”

I nodded, exhaustion coating me, ready to be gone from here. Burns took my com and placed it on the charger after sanitizing it. He opened my gun, checking the magazine and serial numbers matched. Lastly, he traded the badge with a blue card, allowing me to exit and enter no further than this room. He nodded when he pushed it over, and I sighed; my escape in sight.

“Did you need anything else from me?” I asked Bernard as I passed.

The man in question looked up, assessing me before shaking his head. “No. You’ve been rescheduled. Check the new one. It’s been updated.”

I nodded, gritting my teeth at the news. My shoulders tensed, but I walked out of the office and scanned the keycard to leave the mansion. My steps were quick as I ate up the space between the building and my car. Climbing in, I pulled my keys out and started the engine, the classic Charger roaring to life. Barely taking a second to secure my seatbelt, I spun out of the parking lot, not able to be on the premises for a second longer. The guard saw me coming and raised the rail, allowing me to not stop. I waved, but kept my focus on the road.

The night sky mocked me, the beauty of it making me want to take a moment to appreciate it, but the anxious energy rushing through me wouldn’t let me dwell, needing to return home immediately.

The thirty-minute trip from the outskirts of Chicago into downtown went by in a flash, the early morning hours helping the traffic be minimal. My phone sat on the seat next to me, beckoning me to look at it, but I couldn’t, not yet.

Rage coursed through me at every light, and I found myself angry at everyone. Why did I have to let my dick get me in trouble? I hadn’t even slept with this woman, but I’d risked my life for her. Why? I had to be smarter than this!

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