Page 29 of Dangerous Deviance

“More naked women?” I asked.

“Not since the one you met.”

At first, I had been upset that Derek had insisted on bringing the next nameless woman to my place. But when I realized that Ellie could help and saw the look on her face when she came to understand what the situation was, I knew it was the right decision. I had expected Ellie to resist, to question me. To refuse to help this woman, since she had nothing to do with her sister. Because why would she help her, and therefore, help me? But Ellie never hesitated. Shewantedto help.

And that surprised me. For someone as closed off as Ellie was, she cared about things other than herself. Other than her family.

She was different from me.

“How’s she doing?” I asked, turning towards Axe. He shrugged.

“I set up the cages.”

“I thought we weren’t doing cages?”

“They’re full size. A twin bed. And I take her for showers. House food.”

I shook my head, knowing that there was no use. That was, by far, the most Axe would do. He didn’t have sympathy for anyone who was trespassing. And to be honest, he lacked sympathy in general.

And me? I should have been like him. Shouldn’t have cared about what happened to Ellie. But it was different. I might not have given a shit about that other woman, but I cared about Ellie, at least as far as the fact that she was mine. And unlocking the key to her past would help us figure out what the hell was going on.

Which was why I had to protect her. She was our missing piece.

That’s what I told myself, anyway.

“Any word from Ethan?” I asked.

Derek shook his head. “I thought he usually calls you?” he asked.

I shrugged. “But you told him to check out Brackston?” I asked.

“Yep.”

“Boss.” A man, a foot shorter than me, but twice as wide in pure muscle, appeared at my side. “The men from Midnight Miles are here to see you.”

Good. They were right on time. I met them in my office, Derek standing at my side, and Axe waiting at the door. The two men took seats in front of the desk. One with sharp glasses and tattoos, and the other with leathery tanned skin and a ball cap. The tanned one handed over a dime bag carrying a white substance. I immediately lifted a brow.

“Coke,” he explained.

“This isn’t your typical product,” I said.

“Muro wanted you to have it,” the tattooed one said.

The substance was uniform, like powdered sugar, not like rocks. I pinched a bit of it and tossed it on my tongue, but I felt nothing. No numbness. No high.Nothing.

They wanted us to sell their cocaine, when we already had our own supplyandthey were giving us garbage?

I pushed back the dime bag. “We can’t sell this. Give us the heroin and we’ll talk again.”

One of them laughed and the other shrugged. “No can do, my friend,” the tattooed one chuckled. “This is what Muro’s giving you.”

I sure as hell didn’t like the tone he was taking with me. Brackston mother fucker didn’t know who the hell he was talking to.

“Tell your boss that this isn’t what we agreed to,” I said, my jaw set.

“I can tell him whatever you want, but I’m telling you, Muro ain’t giving you shit.”

I glanced at Derek. He had his arms crossed, sneering at them. He clenched his jaw, his finger twitching against his bicep. But he didn’t move to do anything. Was he really trying to follow Gerard’s request to keep the peace, right now? The two of them stood up, pushing out their chairs. The tattooed one leaned on my desk, looking down his nose at me.