Page 61 of Ruthless Vengeance

“No, but he doesn’t mention Star either. Why, what are you thinking?”

“Does Rogers know for sure that Star is alive?” Zak shrugs his shoulders. “Right, well, either way we can use it to our advantage.” Zak continues to look at me expectantly as I try to sort my thoughts. A plan starts to form in my mind, and I turn to Kavanagh. “Hey, Aiden, you got a secure property somewhere close by?”

“How secure are we talking and for what purpose?” he questions with a frown.

“I’m talking somewhere to hide a person—a living breathing person just to clarify,” I reply, adding a little humour to lighten the mood. Zak laughs at my little joke and gives me a wink.

“What’s the plan, Roxy?” Kavanagh asks, tilting his head as he drops the papers he was looking at back to the table.

I look to Star, who gives me a nod, and I’m shocked that she can still read me so easily.

“Just so you know, I’m not happy about this at all. The only reason I’m agreeing is because it’s our best shot at leading them to us and not the other way around. How likely is it that the house is being watched?” I direct my question at Zak, Maddox and Kavanagh, looking at them in turn.

“It’s very likely. Connor is using the empty house across the street, but so far, it’s been quiet,” Kavanagh says.

“Doesn’t mean they aren’t watching though, right?” The three of them nod. “I have a job for Tommy then.”

Now their interest is definitely piqued. I spend the next thirty minutes briefly explaining my plan and Kavanagh organises the safe house.

Once I’m done, I crouch in front of Star. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, Roxy, I’m sure. I’ll be fine.”

“Fine. I hate that fucking word. It’s not a positive word, and if I’m putting you in danger then I’m going to need more than ‘fine’, Star. Smithy?”

“I’ll guard her with my life, Roxy. You have my word.”

I continue to stare at him for a moment longer until I see the truth and certainty in his eyes. “Okay. There are some things I need to do before we execute this plan, and one of them involves a visit to Bowser.” I look to Maddox this time knowing that only he and Zak know Bowser’s whereabouts.

“Let’s go,” Maddox states, his tone a little deep and gruff, and I wonder what’s rattled him.

I pause, then ask, “Do you know where Bonner is? Or where he stashes his gear?”

“Absolutely,” Zak says, with a wicked smirk and a gleam in his eye. “Why”

“I’ll tell you later.” And with that I head for the front door, grabbing Zak’s bat—mine now—on the way out.

When we reach the garage, Maddox heads for his bike, and my whole body lights up at the thought of all that power between my thighs. I’m aware that for most it’s not natural to be turned on by the thought of riding a powerful machine on your way to possibly inflict pain on a person, but I’m one hundred percent certain now that I’m not normal, or even average, and I don’t care. I don’t know too many women who are in my position, but I do know how fucking lucky I am, and I won’t waste this second chance with these two dangerous, possessive arseholes. This is me, my happiness, where I’m meant to be. Where I was always meant to be.

I give Zak the bat, which he throws on the back seat, and then he climbs into his car, but not before taking my lips in a brutal kiss that is certainly going to make my ride with Maddox all the more torturous.

Stepping up to Maddox, he passes me my helmet, only it’s not the same one I wore last time. This one is fresh, and as I turn it in my hands, I notice the same logo as on Maddox’s but alongside it is a name.

I look up at him. “What is this?” I ask.

“It’s yours. I had it custom made.”

“I get that but the name…it’s, well, it says Roxanne Lawler.”

“Damn fucking right it does, Roxanne. Whitmore was never your name,” he says, sliding his hand to the back of my neck and gripping my nape. “You’re ours, and that means in every fucking way.” He seals his words with a kiss that holds so much more. It’s rough and dark just like this man holding me hostage against him. I relish it. When he pulls back, he looks at me, waiting.

All I can manage is a nod, as far as his grip allows. Then he drops a quick kiss to my lips, releases me and climbs on to his bike. I quickly shove the helmet on my head, still in a bit of daze about the whole name change. But Maddox isn’t wrong. I’ve never been a Whitmore and only ever used it as a weapon against the man that contributed to my creation. He hated me for changing my name to Whitmore, but after Mum died and I got my head on straight, I had Mitch help me change it for no other reason than to fuck him off.

Maddox revs the engine to let Zak know he’s ready then shoots from the garage with Zak behind us. Once we hit the main road, he opens her up.

We zip through the mid-morning traffic as we reach town before pulling up outside a block of flats much the same as ours when we were younger.

I climb off as Maddox switches the engine off but remains seated on his bike and reaches out, grabbing me round the waist and pulling me to his side.

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