Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
I’d head home, change, and then begin stalking our enemy. When I sat down in my car, I realized Zeke’s leather jacket was still there from the drive over. I picked it up and brought it to my face, breathing in deeply. It smelled like him—spicy, manly, fucking delicious. Maybe I’d wear it tonight. Maybe it would be a good luck charm. I wanted Benito dead, but I also wanted to survive the fight so I could enjoy being with Zeke without us having to look over our shoulders. I had every intention of taking him to bed again, but I also wanted to take him on dates, sit and talk, and read one of his favorite books so we could talk about it. I wanted a life with him.
Then maybe you should follow your family’s plan and for once do things the sensible way.
I’d be fine. I was just going to make sure he took our bait.
Benito wasn’t staying far from me, so I decided to walk to his house. When I was a few blocks away, I stepped into the shadows and checked my weapons, making sure I was ready to take him out early if needed. I rubbed my hand against the soft, worn leather of Zeke’s jacket, determined I would see it on him again. I would hold him again, kiss him, fuck him. We belonged together. I wasn’t going to let some asshole take that from us.
I slipped into the alley that ran behind Benito’s house. When I reached his back fence, I looked around for cameras. I didn’t see any, but I kept walking, circling the block so I could see the front of his house as well. I noted a car parked on the street. It could be Benito’s. There were lights on in the house, but no visible activity. I wanted to know for certain that he was home.
When I reached the backyard again, I hesitated. Did he really not have cameras? I couldn’t decide if he’d been overconfident that no one could get to him or if he was so paranoid he’d go overboard on security measures. I’d have to hope it was the former.
I hoisted myself over his fence and dropped down into a courtyard. A dog began to bark, and I moved into the corner, making sure I was well within the shadows.
After a few tense moments, I realized the dog was in a neighboring yard and unable to get to me.
I watched the house. A light was on in the kitchen and the curtains were open, so if Benito entered, I would see him.
Slowly, I moved closer to the house, hoping to see or hear something to indicate whether he was home or if anyone else was there.
My phone buzzed, and I immediately declined the call from Val. Did he somehow sense I’d gone off the rails? I wasn’t here to fuck this up, I was here to make sure things went our way.
Why did you have to do this alone?
Pops didn’t think it was necessary.
But Val would have come with you.
I need to prove myself.
I moved a few steps closer, and things went to shit. I ran into a trip wire and failed to silence my shout as I was jerked up into the air. I hung there, suspended, as I heard voices from inside. Benito emerged from the house with a gun trained on me.
“Well, look who it is. Have you come to make your own separate deal?”
At least I knew he had gotten our message. Why hadn’t I trusted that Lucien knew how to lure him in?
Because you love Zeke, and you’re scared.
Shit, I was in love with him. What a fucking time to come to terms with that. “Cut me down, and we’ll see what kind of deal we can make.”
“Or I can leave you here and see how important you are to your family.”
That wasn’t something I wanted tested. Would they sacrifice me for the general good? I hoped to hell not. Surely Val wouldn’t stand for it.
But what about Zeke? If Benito killed me, they would protect him, wouldn’t they?
Val would see to that too.
“You could do that, but your odds are a lot better talking to me. I’m a lot more fun to negotiate with than Lucien.”
He cackled loudly like a maniac. “Your cousin really should have a better sense of humor. I think the best thing I could do with you is use you to lure him in on my terms.”
If I could free myself, I’d pulverize his smug face before I cut his head from his shoulders.
It took everything in me not to argue with him. I knew that wasn’t going to get me anywhere. “Lucien’s not going to listen to you. He sets the terms, no one else.”
“He’s really that foolish?”