Page 68 of Running on Empty

“There has to be another angle,” Ash said, staring at the screen. “But if there is, I’m not seeing it. If it's a trap—”

“Then we’ll fuck that up too,” Blue said. “Sometimes you overthink shit, son.”

Ash shook his head slowly, but as he did, his eyes shone more green than blue.

“OK, so we’ll go for a simple drive by hit. I know what clubs he’s frequenting, where he’s likely to be tonight and that he’ll have fuck all security with him. We try and shoo them off, take them out only if we have to, and get the fucker in an alleyway. In and out without too much fuss.”

“Well, boy,” Rusty said, leaning forward. “I’m not sure if I ever anticipated you discussing murder in such casual terms, but I admit I’m proud.”

“For Stevie.” Ash’s eyes felt like they sliced into me right then, but he dragged them back to meet his dad’s. “So don’t go getting ideas about bringing us into the family business.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Rusty said, holding his hands up in surrender, but that wicked smile of his made mockery of his attempt.

So that’show I ended up in Ronan’s room, being suited up in preparation for the ride into the city. He was all business, looking me over as my flak jacket was tugged into place, then strapped tight. Handguns were shoved into holsters at my hips and when he was happy, he turned towards his wall of knives, plucked one off, then another, testing the blades for sharpness before strapping them to his body.

“None for me?” I said, which earned me a sidelong look.

“A knife’s an awfully intimate way of killing someone. You get their blood, their piss, sometimes their shit on you.” I felt like I was staring at the wolf, not the man right now. “That what you want?”

I frowned then, flickering visuals filling my mind before I shoved them away.

“I’m… not sure.”

“Then that’s a no.” He smiled as he came closer, cradling my face in his hands. “Taking out your enemies is like sex; you need enthusiastic consent each time. Speaking of which…”

“You want to fuck now?” I said. “Ash will have an aneurysm.” I grinned then. “So let's get it on.”

His hands covered mine, stopping me from yanking my jeans down.

“As much as I would like to troll my brother, that’s not what I was talking about.” His thumb brushed across the back of my hand, forcing me to shiver. “The dads are right. You are like us, like me.” Those green eyes felt like they bore into mine. “And so I know what shit will be like once you’ve taken this cunt out. There’s a short moment of relief.” One hand slid up to the nape of my neck and why did I suddenly want those strong fingers grabbing a handful of my hair, forcing me down on my knees? “Followed by a hot, hot rush.”

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the movement a slow sway that felt like it was designed to hypnotise me. But he didn’t need to. I was already fixated on all three of them in a way that felt way too much.

“Those stupid boys didn’t have to drug you. They had no fucking idea what they had on their hands, but I do.” His mouth grazed mine, just a breath of a kiss, making me long for more. “You’re a vengeful goddess and when you claim your bloody tribute, that’s when the Bacchanalian delights begin.”

I felt the ache up high inside me, the one he’d left as he bucked up and I’d slammed down in the back of the car. What he was asking was who would be taking their turn this time, wanting to establish consent when my mind was clear, because my mate might have been a monster in some people’s eyes, but he was an ethical one.

“And you’ll be there to enjoy them with me,” I said, watching him smile. His eyes glittered with a hectic light, one that flickered like green fire. “Anyone else?” I shrugged. “I’ll have to see.”

“Stick by Jax then.” He placed a tiny little kiss on the tip of my nose. “Now let’s go.”

I felt like I was a tight coil of energy in the backseat of the car, staring out into the darkness, searching its depths as we drove closer and closer to the city. I didn’t think of the Spencers, no memories surfaced except that of Rock swallowing down the whiskey in the flask. But in my mind there was something frantic about the gesture now, the desperate swallows of a man going to the gallows and I hoped like hell it was true.

Chapter41

Jax

“So how the fuck does this shit work?” I asked on the ride into town. I’d jumped in with the dads, Gun riding shotgun with Ash.

“How does what work?” Donk asked. “If you’re gonna ask me about your dick, I’m gonna be pissed. We had that conversation.”

“Fuck off—” I snapped.

“So the end goes in—” Blue said, leaning over and using one finger to poke into a ring of the other.

“I know how to fuck my bloody mate.”

“So why haven’t you?” Blue’s eyes twinkled, but it wasn’t entirely from malice. “I dunno if I’m impressed or appalled that you let your mate go through all those heats on her own.”

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