Page 32 of City of Salvation

As I reached for the doorknob, I heard some commotion behind me. “Wait, Dex,” Ryan called out.

I glanced back over my shoulder, my hand hovering over the door handle. “What is it, Ryan?”

She was standing, her arms crossed, a look of irritation on her face. “You can’t just leave,” she said.

Now I was pissed. I could do whatever the hell I wanted. I sure as fuck knew I didn’twantto sit in here and be left in the dark. I might play the part of a golden retriever, but I was no one’s fucking dog. They weren’t going to get me to lie at their fucking feet and wait for scraps of information. A familiar pang of betrayal hit me in the chest when Gunner remained silent. The fact thathewasn’t demanding that they fill me in hurt, opening up an old wound between us.

I refused to look at him.

Let him feel the cold shoulder from me.

“And why the fuck not, Ryan? Because, clearly, the two of you don’t want to share what the fuck is going on. I can see you both know more about why they want her, but you’re not saying shit. I just happened to be the convenient person standing by to come to the rescue. I’m not going beg for y’all to fucking fill me in.”

“She doesn’t know the details,” Nikki piped up, her blue eyes lit with fire. “Listen, them wanting me is less of the problem here, right? So, some Russian guy wants to collect on a bad deal from Mario. The focus should be on taking down the Reapers.” Nikki spoke confidently, her chin raisedhigh as she locked eyes with Ryan, but there was a stiffness in her body that told another story.

She was worried. I just wasn’t sure about what.

“They clearly want you badly, Niks.” Ryan shifted her attention back to me. “Which is why I need you to stay. I need you to be Nikki's bodyguard.”

A humorless laugh left Nikki’s pouty lips. “Excuse me? I’m not Princess Diana. Rest in peace.” I chuckled despite myself when she traced the symbol of a cross over her chest before continuing on. “I don’t need a bodyguard. I need a massage and a bottle of wine.”

Another silent conversation flowed between the two friends.

The damn pull I felt for Nikki kept me rooted in place to hear out Ryan’s proposal.

“Your boy toy would probably give you a better rate,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest to keep from flipping him off.

Ryan grimaced, peeking over at Nikki, and I swore she braced her body like she was preparing for a blow. “Yeah, well, I need someone to staywithNikki, twenty-four-seven.”

“Should he wipe my ass too? Come on, Ryan, this is ridiculous,” Nikki protested, throwing her arms in the air.

“Nikki, the Reapers don’t know we have Jardani, so they are going to continue with their plan. They’re going to come after you.” Ryan stared her down—the expression on her face said she was daring Nikki to protest the facts she’d just laid out.

I covered my face with a hand to hide my smirk when Nikki pouted and gave a small, “Fine.” It was a talent to lace that much attitude into a single syllable, but she’d managed it.

The two BFF s were clearly going through a rocky spot. Itwas something that Nikki and I had in common at the moment.

Love and relationships? Fuck them. This situation only reaffirmed my belief that they were nothing but trouble. I hadn’t realized how bad it was for friendships too.

I was never getting involved with a woman other than in the sheets.

CHAPTER 14

NIKKI

THIS TENSION ISN’T SEXUAL, BUT IT’S GOOD FOR THE PLOT

I sankdown into the chair, irritated that I was here having this conversation and not snuggled up in bed pretending my life was all sunshine and roses. “Nikki, you can be pissed at me all you want, but we both know there’s been alotof shit that’s gone down lately,” Ryan said.

Dex’s hands clasped onto the back of my chair, his fingers lightly brushing along my shoulders. It sent a thrill up my spine, a reaction I tried to suppress, even as I found myself leaning into him ever so slightly.

“What’s the plan?” Dex’s usual cheerful tone had vanished, replaced by a seriousness that felt cold and detached. “Are we all just going to sit around with our thumbs up our asses playing house? The guy was pretty clear: the Reapers want blood and territory. Nikki, here, is their bargaining chip. The bastard even offered me help if we handed her over. We need to take these guys down and then deal with the Russians, apparently.” He slammed his hand on the chair, making me flinch, and muttering, “Dammit.”

My palms were screaming for me to stop digging my nails into them, more with every word Dex spoke.

“Dex,” Gunner growled out.

“No, don’t you fucking ‘Dex’ me, Gunner. Just because you don’t take the club seriously doesn’t mean I don’t,” Dex said, pointing at his MC brother. The corners of Gunner’s mustache pulled down into a frown.

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