Celina“Thank you, Gabriella. Why don’t you join us?” Strangely, Mak’s lips quirk when she asks. After another string of Spanish from Gabriella, I understand why.“Would you care for wine?” Moon asks after Gabriella marches from the room muttering.“Yes, wine please,” I tell him. I actually need something stronger, like a gallon of moonshine, maybe.Mak, who’s now smiling full out, tries to reassure me. “Gabriella is that way with everyone she meets. Don’t let her get to you. She has a heart of gold and is very loyal. She also cooks the best food I’ve ever tasted. Help yourself. We don’t stand on ceremony, even when forced to eat in the dining room. It’s an argument I’ve yet to win with Gabriella.”“She really didn’t like me.”“Well, she defended you to Gomez and told him not to mark up your lovely skin and turn you into a tramp. Or at least that’s what I think that word means.”My hand immediately covers my neck and upper chest in mortification.“Madison,” Moon says sternly.“Well, I
AlexI park the SUV inside the warehouse beside one of our black Caddies. SUVs are great, but an actual trunk is needed to conceal a body, even if it’s a live one. The Caddies are also lower to the ground and take sharp turns better if you need the speed. Moon’s vehicles are modified with kick-ass engines and bulletproof glass. I tend to drive the car that fits my mood. Every so often it’s the Bugatti. It’s flashy and draws attention, which means I can’t have nefarious plans like I do now. Maybe I’ll take Celina for a nighttime desert ride in the Bugatti. Blevins and Juan are standing with Rack by the door to the back room. I walk over and give the nod to the first two men. They get lost quickly. Their shift ended at six and they have vehicles waiting outside. The two men who relieve them will come to the warehouse district when this shit is finished.“What condition is he in?” I ask Rack.“The worst is a broken wrist. I’m sure the cuffs attaching him to the chains are painful. He k
CelinaI choose the guest room to sleep in because I don’t feel comfortable crawling between Alex’s sheets in his bedroom. I lie awake for a long time and think about Alex and Kiley—Alex the killer and Kiley the young, innocent child. I barely know either of them and they’ve both changed my life. How do I reconcile what’s happening?I never expected to fall asleep, but I jerk awake when the lamp beside the bed comes on. Squinting, I make out Alex resting his hip on the bed beside me. His tie is loosened and he appears exhausted. I fight myself to not reach out and smooth my hand across his face. The agony I read in his expression is a physical ache that hits me hard. He blinks and gains control. Now I want to wrap him in my arms because I know he’s masking the pain.“Is there a reason you’re not in my room?” he asks quietly. His voice sounds strange. I’m not sure if he’s pissed off or trying not to startle me.I roll in his direction which puts me closer. I smell him, he’s showered an
CelinaThe man gives me a steady look. “Hello, ma’am. Please call me Dax.” His blue eyes appear menacing on his bruised face. I’m fairly sure he’s the guy who followed us on the bike. I’m not into the skinhead look, but I can’t deny he’s attractive. Whereas Alex and Moon look and act like gentlemen, this man is rough with hard edges. I have little doubt that he’s as deadly as the other two men in the room.“Are you with the Desert Crows?” I ask because I need to be sure.He gives me a slight grimace but answers, “Yes.”I turn to Alex. “Why is he here?”His fingers relax and his grip turns into a caress. “Let him tell you.” Alex nods and Dax starts talking.Within a few minutes I breathe easier, feeling as if a hundred pounds have been lifted from my chest. He’s seen Kiley and she was okay as of earlier today. He tells us the story of how he joined the Crows after leaving prison. Many things run through my mind—drug addict, thief, sexual predator. The last thought makes me tighten my f
AlexThe shit will go down tomorrow, or, I look at the large clock on the wall, later today. Mak and Celina stayed in the conference room while Dax explained his plan. He drew a map of the house and gave specifics about Fox’s orders if anyone came for the child.There are two guards, one always with Kiley. In the room where they’re keeping her, there’s a floor to ceiling bookcase with a hidden safe behind it. The orders are to snap Kiley’s neck, stuff her in the safe, and get the hell out. Dax said there’s a small indent next to the safe for Kiley to hide. He will deliver the doll to her, take out the guard in the room, and settle Kiley behind the bookcase. His opinion is that the riskiest part is showing up with the doll and displaying attachment to the child. He thinks he can talk his way in and the house guard may join his side. He can’t be a hundred percent sure and that worries me.If all goes as planned, he will handle the guard stationed directly on Kiley so she’s safe. He want
AlexShe moans and the moans turn to cries that fill my head with the sweet powerful sound. I thrust forward and hold myself still as cum shoots from my cock and claims the woman who is claiming me. Years of staying sheathed in condoms goes right out the window. Stupid, stupid, stupid, but so fucking unbelievable.I bury my face into the space between her neck and collarbone that smells so heavenly. My body covers her and she doesn’t complain. Or maybe I’m smothering her chest and she can’t breathe.“I could wake up like this every morning,” she whispers.At least I know she’s alive. I roll again so we’re where we started our morning dance. “I didn’t use protection,” I tell her because it needs to be said.She lets out a small giggle. “I’m clean and on the pill as per Elegant Escort rules, so it’s all riding on your past mating habits.”“Mating habits?” I ask with a smile.“Well, do we need to worry?” she mumbles against my chest.“No, my mating habits have been all about latex orgasm
DaxThe hardest part will be getting past Skull with the doll. I think he’s as fed up as I am, but I can’t risk Kiley’s life to find out. I’m prepared to kill him even if I’d rather not.I stride up to the front door like I own the place. It’s a small two-bedroom home on the outskirts of Peach City. The town is mostly populated by anti-government, racist idiots with half of them living on government subsidies. I’ve never understood the philosophy. Fine, don’t support the establishment, but for God’s sake make your own way and don’t live under their thumb by taking handouts you didn’t earn. Each month I scrape together enough to pay my few bills and meet my obligations. Nothing like the money I made before I was an ex-con, but I get by and work hard.This entire area, with their white supremacy leanings, is the scum-hole of Arizona. Prison never changed my mind that the color of someone’s skin made them good or bad. Living with dickheads who think they’re better than their brown or bla
DaxOnce Metal’s on the ground, I look at Kiley. Her eyes are tightly closed and her body is as still as a mouse. “Hold the doll and keep ’em closed, Kiley,” I whisper as I walk over and pick her up. I use my bad hand to release the latch on the bookcase. The safe sits back two feet and is open to make it easier to place her inside if shit goes down. It’s just big enough for her dead body, and I can’t fight the anger that boils through me. I place her in between the safe and the wall. She never opens her eyes. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She doesn’t acknowledge me. I close the bookcase and click the latch so it stays closed.I slip out the door and head to the living room to wait for Skull. He comes out with his hands at his belt. He’s not nearly as big as Metal, but I’m not taking chances. I have a gun pointing at him when he looks up. My shirt and DCMC cut are covered in Metal’s blood.“Don’t move your hands or I’ll put a bullet through your head.”“Fuck, Dagger, what the fuck?