Page 43 of Wrath

“What?”

“We’ve been talking orwhatever it is we’re doingfor a couple of weeks now, and you always come here. We’ve never gone out to your place.”

She was right. We hadn’t been out to my place. It wasn’t something I’d done purposefully. But then again, none of this had been done purposefully.

Just the opposite.

Every time I left her, I’d tell myself that was it—that I was done with the bullshit and I wasn’t going to see her again, but then a few days would pass and I’d suddenly find myself standing on her doorstep. I wanted to believe that it was just about the sex, but deep down, I knew it was more than that. She was starting to get to me.

While I tried to fight it, there was just something about her. She set me at ease in a way that I never dreamed possible. I was more myself. Even the nightmares had subsided, and I couldn’t walk away.

I was walking a dangerous line—one that could cost me everything.

But every moment I spent with her, I found myself wanting more.

And ifmoremeant having her out to my place, then I’d have her out to my place. “What about tonight?”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah... you can meet me there around six.” I could hear the words I was saying, but I couldn’t believe they were coming out of my mouth as I told her, “I’ll grill us a steak or something.”

“You don’t have to go to any trouble.” I thought for a moment that she was going to pass, but then she surprised me by saying, “But I have to admit... a steak does sound pretty good.”

“Steak it is.” I pulled on my boots as I asked, “You going in to work today?”

“I don’t know... I really don’t see the point. Garrett’s still gone, and I can’t schedule any bookings until I know when he’s going to be back.”

“Where exactly did he go?”

“The Caribbean.” I could hear a twinge of jealousy in her voice as she went on to explain, “A resort hired him to take pictures for their website and travel brochure. I thought it was only going to take a few days, but his last email said it would be at least another week. If I had to guess I’d say he’s taking advantage of his luxury accommodations.”

“I wouldn’t necessarily blame him.”

“Me either.”

“I better get going.”

I put on my cut and stared at her for a moment, soaking her in while I had the chance. “I’ll see you at the house at six.”

“Okay. I’ll see you then.”

She gave me one of those looks—the ones she gave when she was hoping I’d kiss her, but like all the times before, I resisted the temptation and walked out of the room. I headed down to my bike and then on to the clubhouse. When I walked in, I found Stitch and Bones talking in the bar with Clutch, and from the expression on Stitch’s face, they weren’t just shooting the shit.

As I started over to them, I overhead Bones say, “We’ve gone over it and over it. I’m telling ya... we’re as prepared as we can get.”

“There’s no such thing.”

“Well, we’re damn close.” Bones sounded frustrated as he told him, “The waiting sucks, but for the time being, we’ve done what we can.”

I didn’t bother sounding off.

They all knew how I felt about things. I’d made it abundantly clear the day before when we were going over the blueprints of the Demarco warehouse and each of the brothers’ homes. I, along with Stitch and Savage, wanted eyes on each of the locations.

We all knew Big and Bones were keeping track of all flights coming into Seattle from Mexico, including private charters, and while it was a start, I didn’t believe it was enough. It was crucial that we knew the second they returned, and I had no doubt they’d return. They had to. Their family business was on the line, and I wanted us to be sitting on go the second they slithered back into town.

When Bones saw that I’d walked up, he gave me a funny look. “There you are.”

“You looking for me?”

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