Page 38

We’ve trained for this. Defensive driving schools. Black belts. Close-quarter battle training. Small unit tactics. Sharpshooter qualifications. That and six of us have violence in our DNA. While Nash? Sometimes, I think he has more. He has Alena, a daughter he fights for, too.
I’m pretty certain it’s Claude Olan Turner the Fourth—the head of a sex trafficking ring we’ve been hunting for months—who’s following Nash.
Turner found Nash snooping in his online accounts and tracked him down. But Nash can take the heat. He’ll protect us. He won’t lead Turner to us, and he’ll protect Vale, too. Loch will protect Alena. The other kings and queens are safe; my mom’s club is a fortress, and now I need to protect Ruby even more.
Yeah, I know.
That’ll be as easy as putting a leash on a lioness.
While Ruby unpacksin her room and talks to Sparky, I call the others. For them, it’s life as usual. Stay hidden. Stay alert.
For me? Time to change the plan. Again.
I knock on Ruby’s bedroom door.
“What?”
I grin at her brashness. “Tomorrow,” I push her door open, “you’ll co?—”
I choke on my orders at the sight…
Ruby’s bent over her suitcase on the floor, wearing tiny jean shorts, a black cropped tank, and flip flops with her fiery mane tumbling in wild waves. Her peachy skin has no scars or tattoos, only light, sexy freckles. Her body has every goddamn curve I crave.
It’s suddenly the real her, exposed and free, solidifying my maddening obsession.
Good God, that woman will be my queen.
“I’ll what?” She rises, holding a hairdryer and turning around.
“You… uh…”
Fuck, she’s not wearing a bra, either, and my air conditioner works. My dick threatens to harden like her pearled nipples. It really wants out of its cage.
“I, uh… what?” Her sapphire eyes sparkle, delighted that the sight of her stupefies me.
It’s obvious.
I have to clear my throat before answering, “We go to court together, then go to the vet. Whatever. But you stick with me while I’m giving everyone the week off. They deserve it.”
Ruby laughs. “Bullshit, Ebeneezer. You don’t give people a week off. What’s going on?”
Yeah, this will be interesting—a woman suspicious of everything I say because she should be. So, I give her this…
“One of the kings has been exposed, so the rest of us have to be careful. We’ll stay away from my office until it’s safe.”
“Who’s been exposed? Who’s after us?”
“You have to earn my trust to know.”
“How do you expect me to stay safe if I don’t know? I could be ordering a latte from my kidnapper and have no idea.”
“I meant it.” My voice comes out cold. “I’ll kill any man who puts his hands on you. You stay with me, and I’ll protect you.”
She chews her lip, her eyes darting to orange medicine bottles on her nightstand and a clear plastic package with something white inside.
“Listen,” she sighs. “I really hate telling you this. I’m not vulnerable with anyone, but about someone putting his hands on me?—”
Instantly, my blood boils. “Whoput his hands on you?”