Page 69 of Redemption (Devil Dogs of the Apocalypse #4)

Dare

Earlier....

“Ok, so, I think I have a plan, but it’s going to have to have a backup just in case Murphy’s Law decides to bite us in the ass. With that being said, I need you to promise me you won’t get mad.”

Her victorious smile instantly falls. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. You know I can’t promise that, Darius.”

I wince and avert my gaze. “Yeah, I know. Can’t fault a guy for trying, though.

” I take a deep breath and steady myself for the backlash.

“Ok. Look. Back at Tryon, there was only one way to get those guys off the property in order to give us enough clearance to get out of there without being noticed or followed. You already know I was the drone operator, that I was in communication with the others.”

Almost on instinct, her hip ominously cocks out to the side as she waits for me to continue.

Oh, this is gonna hurt. I wince again, groaning and scrunching my nose with how much I don’t want to reveal this to her.

I don’t want to say it. I’d rather recite all of War and Peace while standing on hot coals and getting impaled by fiery arrows.

But then she lifts a single eyebrow, giving me that same look that she did earlier, and I turn into a fucking weak-ass bitch. “Gahhhh. Fuck. Shit. Ok. Dammit. Fuck!”

She purses her lips, waiting for me to continue, while I rub my sweaty palms on my thighs and force myself to man the fuck up.

“What you don’t know... is that after I found you, after I maneuvered you out from that garden and into a safe area, you had an episode.

A halluc—” Her eyebrow lifts higher, and I feel my butthole clench in response.

Choosing life, I alter my trajectory. “One of your phantom talks with your friend there.” Her eyes narrow, probably wondering where in the fuck I’m going with this.

I hesitate a second longer, bracing myself for the impact I know is coming my way.

“During that time, I discreetly made a broadcast that I found the girl and promised I’d meet them back at Phoenix Rising with her in tow. ”

I immediately close my eyes, fearing the worst from her in the most direct version of impending attacks.

A nut shot. Smack to the face. Punch to the gut.

Baseball bat to my head. All are completely reasonable at this point.

But seconds go by. Silence creeps in. Even the bugs around us have vanished, probably sensing her wrath and the explosion that’s about to occur.

I peek open an eyelid and take a look, terrified at what I’ll find.

But there’s no response from her.

No tilt of the head to aid in her vexation.

No crossing of her arms to indicate her pissed-off-ness.

Not even a huff of indignation.

Absolute. Silence.

Oh my God.... I’m gonna die.

Lingering off to the side of our silent standoff is Sadie. The dog looks at Alessandra. Then at me. Then back at her again before slowly backing away, her tail tucked between her legs, ears flattened to her skull.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Really?” The single curt word lands like a haymaker to my temple. Hands trembling at my sides, I let out a quaking breath to tame the lightheadedness I’m suddenly battling because of the fact that I’m not fucking breathing !

Oh, holy shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee... Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for ME now, for this is, undoubtedly, my hour of death!

I finish my silent prayer to the patron saint of peace and maternal protection, pretty much calling out for my mommy at the rage I see in Alessandra’s eyes, but I don’t care.

With the way she’s looking at me, I need protection, and I need it quick.

I just about shrink into myself as I meekly respond, “Yes, ma’am. ...”

Alessandra’s mood shifts instantly, ready to beat me into oblivion for the hundred and eleventh time this week. “YOU MOTHERFUCKER!”

I raise my hands in defense as she twists and turns, landing with her legs spread over my lap before her hands lift and rush to rip the hair right from my skull.

Intercepting her ravenous claws of death, I grip her wrists and pull them behind her back.

The position causes her to arch her back, breasts lifting to press against my chest. My mouth waters at the contact. God, what I wouldn’t give for—

No! No! No! No! Keep the upper hand, you lovesick dipshit!

I release my grip from her wrists for a moment, switching our positions so that I’m the one on top in the dominant pose with her wrists wrenched up above her head and encased within mine once again.

Our breaths turn ragged as we stare into each other’s eyes, taking in the new arrangement our bodies have fallen into so easily.

Her legs are splayed on either side of my hips, her center pressed right up against.. .

Fucking hell, this isn’t any better.

Undeterred, she twists this way and that, trying to headbutt me, heel-kick my ass, and bite my face off, using everything she has in her arsenal to get the upper hand.

Then, her legs wrap around my back, ankles linking at the base of my spine.

Suddenly, my brain short-circuits, spouting error codes and abort mission signals because it feels so damn good to be pressed against her.

Unfortunately, it also gives her the clearance she needs to get a wrist free.

And then the other. With a shout of victory, she wraps a newly freed arm around the back of my neck and snakes it around the front, the other going under my armpit and around the back of my shoulder.

Her hand locks around her snaking wrist at my throat before she squeezes the life out of me with a determined groan.

And here I am, awestruck and enthralled, stuck in a chokehold and back in a defensive position.

Well, fuck me on a flagpole.... How in the hell did this happen?

The hold she has on me is remarkable. Dots are already starting to form around the edges of my vision. If I don’t surrender, it’ll only be a matter of time before I black out entirely. And who knows what she might do if that happens?

Choosing to abandon my pride instead of potentially losing track of her due to her unyielding fortitude, I let the fight melt out of me, relaxing into the hold and allowing the weight of my entire body to melt onto hers.

She squirms beneath me, her breathing turning difficult as my larger mass settles on top of her smaller form.

Her grip around my neck loosens, allowing blood to flow freely back to my brain and my vision to return.

With my body weighing her down, we’re at a standstill, giving me the perfect opportunity to try and convince her— yet again —to give me a chance to explain myself .

“Listen to me, you damn Aly-cat,” I grind out, my voice hoarse and gritty as I drag air back into my lungs.

“I know it’s fucked up, but, at the time, the only way I could get you out of there was to create a distraction.

To make them think I wasn’t going to let you get away and that I had you secured and subdued.

I still have absolutely no intention of doing any of that, but if we get caught at any point during this mission, it’s going to have to look like I’m bringing you in.

We’ll restrain your arms behind your back, and I’ll act as if I just caught the biggest fish in the pond.

I want you to fight me every step of the way, not let them get any idea that we know each other or have any sort of a past, and I’m going to play my part. ”

Relinquishing her flying fists—and feet—of fury, she finally settles as she wraps her mind around my plan.

A second later, she surprises me, yet again, as she tilts her hips and flips us, forcing me to land on my back with an oomph , while she stands and moves a few feet away.

Still obviously frustrated by what I’ve revealed, she paces, wearing a divot in the ground beneath her angry stomps, but her shoulders lower and her facial features soften to a determined glare as she mulls it over.

Good. I don’t want her thinking it’s going to be an easy cakewalk once we do this.

She needs to understand the gravity of the situation before she makes a final decision. After a minute or so, she nods.