Page 29

Asher

The second we enter the dining room and see them sitting at the wooden table, Charlee’s steps stop.

She studies the newcomer in the room, Carl, with rapt attention, and I know what she sees.

His dreads hang down to his shoulders touching the top of his white t-shirt.

The snake tattoo that’s embedded in his dark skin is the next thing that usually catches attention, and judging by the way her eyes are going right to it, I’m right with that assumption.

It’s something I’ve picked up on that she tends to do in new environments.

Diego taught her well.

She pulls on my hand to let her go and fade into the background, but that’s not going to happen.

Her weight shifts from one foot to the other as she hesitates, so I make the decision for her again.

I sit and pull her down into my lap, bringing my hand down to rest against her thigh.

Her body stiffens at the movement but quickly relaxes when my thumb starts rubbing small circles against her.

She squirms and I realize what a mistake this was.

Having the heat of her body so close to my dick has it once again taking notice and standing up in appreciation.

I force all thoughts of her perfect ass and what I’d like to do to it out of my head and focus my attention on Carl.

“Glad you made it.”

I keep my conversation light and ominous because I’m not sure if I want Charlee to hear what he’s found out. It’s best to vet the information myself and decide from there.

“Sure thing.”

He nods, not paying me the least bit of attention.

His gaze is solely focused on Charlee, trailing down her body to that tight as fuck white tank top that’s doing nothing to hide the black lace bra underneath.

This lasts a second too long for my liking and I’m suddenly wishing I’d just given her another of my shirts to wear.

I lift my hand higher and wrap it around her neck, pulling her back up against my chest. This earns me a laugh from both him and Axel. If Zane has an opinion on this pissing contest, he’s keeping it to himself.

At least Charlee doesn’t stiffen under my touch anymore, and it’s a good thing because I can’t keep my fucking hands off of her right now.

It’s like she’s the beacon keeping me grounded.

I don’t want to think what that means just yet and squash this feeling from going any further.

“How’s hunting season?”

Carl props his elbows on the table and leans against them, but doesn’t drop the shit-eating grin he’s sporting. Even though I’m irritated, I don’t miss that he’s testing me to see how much Charlee knows and what he can mention in front of her.

“It’s good. Only need one, maybe two more and I’m all set.”

I look him dead in the eyes and he catches on to what I’m saying.

“Well, it is fall. Most of the big game is indoors.”

I pick up on his clue immediately. The next piece of shit on my list is hitting the Viper’s Den tonight. After that tidbit, we shoot the shit about nothing at all until I manage to get Axel’s attention from over the top of Charlee’s head. His head cocks to the side, pretending he doesn’t understand the signal I’m giving him. He’s a serious pain in the ass. My eyes narrow, the more tired of his bullshit I become until he finally does what I ask.

“I don’t know about y’all, but I’m starving. Lunch? Hellcat, why don’t you come help me whip up some of that fancy Mexican cuisine?”

Axel tilts his head for her to follow and I jerk mine back in appreciation. Sometimes he’s not a complete dumbass.

When they’re in the kitchen and out of earshot, I lean in to ask, “Were you able to get what I need?”

He nods. “You’d be amazed how easily people talk with the right motivation. He was executed with a single gunshot to the head and had the word ‘venganza’ carved into his chest.”

“Shit.”

Zane grinds his teeth so hard I’m surprised they haven’t turned to dust. He knows this doesn’t bode well for us.

“That mean somethin’ to you?”

Carl’s eyebrows pinch together.

“It does. It’s Spanish for ‘revenge’ or for all intents and purposes, payback.”

Which means it was a message for me, not Charlee. If that’s the case, why don’t I feel a sense of relief at hearing this?

“Fuck.”

Carl’s shoulders tense. “That means someone has cottoned on to what you’re doin’. Maybe you should quit now? No one would blame you if you did.”

His black eyes shoot to Charlee and back to me.

“Not an option.”

My voice brooks no further argument. What happened sucks and has fucked with what I had planned, but it’s not stopping me. I’ve come too far to give up now. It’s a good thing I’m adaptable.

“Ash, man, think ab—”

“I appreciate the concern, brother, but it’s not happening.”

His mouth closes. He knows there’s no use trying to persuade me because once my mind’s made up, there’s no changing it. “You’ve got another problem.”

“What’s that?”

Something about the way his voice lowers has my teeth on edge.

“Cops have been asking around about you. Sooner or later that shit’s gonna get back to the wrong people.”

“Rosenberg won’t find me.”

“The district attorney?”

A vein in the side of Zane’s neck pulses.

“Not talkin’ about him. Worse. Word on the street is Governor Loren’s daughter was seen hitting up a club with your boy over there.”

He tilts his head in Axel’s direction. “If I found this out, you know damn well they’ll be gunning for all three of your asses.”

“It’s nothing I can’t manage,”

I assure my brother and then turn my attention to Carl. “You let me worry about all that.”

“How? By doing somethin’ stupid and gettin’ caught? This isn’t gonna just go away, man. You get locked up again I won’t be in there to have your back. They’d eat white boys like your brothers for breakfast and you fucking know it.”

Carl crosses his arms over his chest and eyes me like some dumb motherfucker who was born yesterday. He’s beginning to piss me off.

“I said I’ll handle it.”

My fist comes down on the table hard enough to get my point across, but not hard enough to draw Charlee’s attention.

He puts his hands up in surrender before dropping them back to his sides. “Okay, I’ll let it go.”

He points a finger in my face. “But you get any blowback, I was never fuckin’ involved.”

“Fair enough.”

“Besides, looks to me like you might have your hands full of other things right now anyhow.”

He lights a cigarette and leans back in his chair as his lips curl into a wide grin.

“Leave it alone, brother.”

He shakes his head, not affected in the least by my anger. Typical Carl. Which is good because it makes what I have to ask him next that much easier.

“I need another favor.”

“Oh, really?”

“We’re going hunting and I don’t want to leave her here alone. After what happened I have a bad feeling.”

“Sure, I can babysit. I’m great at watching. The kiddies love me.”

He winks. There’s no mistaking what he’s getting at and I squash that shit down fast.

“You lay so much as a finger on her, I’ll cut it off and make you choke on it.”

He doesn’t say another word and I don’t wait for him to. He knows better. Conversation over, I go back to watching Charlee. There’s a light on her face that wasn’t there before, and a slight pang of guilt hits me. She looks so happy and carefree as she and Axel fix lunch, making me feel like a bastard. It’s my fault she’s in the middle of this in the first place. Hopefully she’ll forgive me for leaving her behind.

Her soft laughter fills the air, hitting me right in the center of my chest. Seeing her stand in my kitchen like she belongs there has my insides doing weird shit. This girl is something else and when this bullshit is all over, I’m not sure what I’m going to do because if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that my brothers are right. I can’t let her go.

After lunch, we end up shooting the shit for a few hours and just hanging out. Things are pretty low key. It isn’t until later in the night when we’re grabbing our jackets that Charlee realizes something’s up.

“What’s going on?”

Her green eyes are wide and on alert as she watches Axel and Zane walk out the front door. She’s not dumb. Lying will only make it worse, so I go with abrupt honesty.

“We’re leaving. We’ll be back.”

I’m not giving her more information than that or she’ll try to stop me.

“Like hell, you’re leaving me behind.”

Her hands go to her hips and I brace for the shit storm that’s coming. Judging by the red staining her cheeks, it’s going to be an all-out war.

“This isn’t up for discussion, Charlee.”

“Don’t you ‘Charlee’ me.”

She jabs the tip of her finger into my chest. “I’m coming with you and you can’t stop me.”

“You’re staying here where it’s safe. Can you behave while I’m gone?”

“No. I won’t.”

“Wrong answer.”

I dip forward and dig my shoulder into her hip as I lift her off the floor. She should know that if she throws down the gauntlet, I’m gonna win.

“Put me down, Asher!”

Her tiny fists pound into my back, but I don’t even feel it. It doesn’t stop her from trying, though. “I swear I’m going to kick your ass if you don’t.”

“Be good while I’m gone, Princess.”

I slam the door and lock her inside, but it isn’t long before her door becomes the substitute for my back. Those fists of hers are doing their damnedest to break through. I tap down the slight pang of guilt creeping into my gut and face Carl. “She doesn’t come out until we’re long gone and you don’t let her out of your sight. She’s too stubborn not to hotwire your car and go out looking for us.”

A horn honks from outside, letting me know my brothers are as anxious as I am to get this done.

Carl leans against the wall next to her door, as she continues to pound on it. “She won’t leave this house. You have my word on that.”

With that, I nod and walk out the door. The only thing playing in the back of my mind is that I’m almost done. One more and it’ll all be over. I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy, though. Nothing ever is.