Page 116 of Lash

Solomon just laughs "Oh, hell no. This one is getting printed, framed, and hung on the wall in the common room."

She glares at him. "I'll poison your protein shakes."

Solomon just laughs again. "Boss, the curtain has been pulled back. You're one of us now. Means it's open season for getting teased."

Rev chuckles. "I don't know, man. Might not be the best idea to tease the viper."

Solomon's phone buzzes in his hand and he glances at it. "Ride's here. Let's go."

An hour later, we're airborne—a short flight to Manaus, where we transfer to a larger cargo flight bound for an airbase somewhere in the States. That flight is, obviously, muchlonger—and cold and noisy and uncomfortable, but away from potentially deadly prying eyes.

When the flight lifts off, I let out a breath—we're finally leaving South America.

And I’m heading for my future in the States with Nico.

found family

Lash

Inez spends the whole final hour of the flight into Las Vegas on her phone, talking to someone—the Big Boss, most likely. The flight from Manaus took us to a US military AMC terminal in Little Rock, Arkansas, where we transferred again to a private charter that took us to Vegas.

Now, as we land in Vegas, Inez is looking furious, nearly vibrating with rage. Once the flight stops and we deplane, I move up beside her as we make for the line of Mercedes-Benz G-Wagens that belong to the club.

"Something happened," I say. "What?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing."

"Inez." I grab her wrist, but she breaks my hold and yanks her arm away. "What is going on?"

She grits her teeth. "None of your concern."

"Inez, come on. You're not alone anymore. Tell me."

She looks at me, one foot in the footwell as she prepares to slide behind the wheel of one of the sleek black SUVs. "Rafael. He made a move on the safe house Ren is using. He handled it, but he has to move them."

"So what's our next move, then?" I ask.

"Your move is to take Tatiana home and introduce her to the other ladies and help her set up her business here," she says; she and Tatiana spent several hours on the way here talking together privately, and now I know about what. "The situation with Lorenzo and Rafael is mine to handle. You have all been through enough."

"Inez, Rafael is notyourproblem, he isourproblem."

She puts her foot on the ground and turns to face me. “Lash—Nicolae. Listen to me." She grabs my arm and squeezes, shakes gently. "Ihaveto handle this myself. You had to choose how to handle Pugli yourself. I have to handle Rafael myself."

I shake my head. "Not the same."

She frowns. "No, it's not. Rafael is technically still my husband. The marriage was legally binding, even though I didn't consent to it. The legal document will hold up in any court. He hasn't given up trying to make Reninho his heir, either." She shakes her head, sighing. "No. It's my problem and mine alone. I do not need orwanthelp."

"You can barely walk, Inez," I argue.

She waves this off dismissively. "I'm fine. I have been through much worse."

"I can't convince you to bring even one of us with you?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "No. I'll see you all home and settled, and then I’ll gather some supplies and head out."

"You were talking to the Big Boss?"

She nods. "I was."