Page 105 of Tangled Lies

He ran his hand down his face, and I could tell how he tried to hide just how angry he wasn’t.

There was a guy out there helping the girl up and holding a rag under her nose.

“Alright, I guess we have a late entry. Who saw that one coming, am I right? Maybe we invite her back? What do you think?” The announcer fed the crowd, my little intermission having killed the time needed for bets.

Ronan was let loose on the guy who had gotten this far. I nibbled my lip because at this point the other guys were landing punches.

Round after round my guys all won, but still, they needed the top three and this was suddenly my new favorite event.

Knox and Ronan were paired first, and the way they looked half naked, pants dirty and torn, hair sweaty and tousled?

“Close your mouth, Margaux. Save those thoughts for the bedroom,” Talon boxed me in his arms, moving me closer to Jett.

I closed my mouth and held on to the two men next to me while I watched two predators trying to get the upper hand. The thing was, they knew exactly what the other could do. Me? I just wanted to know what it would be like to the meat in their little man sandwich.

CHAPTER 26

JETT

“Rainy day fund for our girl has started,” I said as I took all the cash rolled up in a giant wad and handed it to Margaux.

“What?” she asked.

Everyone was loaded in the SUV. Everyone felt a little less violent, but I could tell the concern hadn’t dissolved. Barone was crossing lines and we were being forced.

“If we ever piss you off, you now have money to run away. Of course, we get to chase you and find you, but the message will be loud and clear. Right, boys?”

She took the money, holding it in her hand like it might bite. I couldn’t figure out what she was looking at, or if she was looking at anything for that matter. She wasn’t moving.

“You can just put it in the back of the seat or something until we get home. We’ll get you your own safe too, if you want. It can be a cute little pink one, just right for our Margaux,” I said.

She hadn’t said anything yet, and my brothers weren’t any more clear on what we’d done wrong from the way we all exchanged glances.

“You guys are giving me the money you won tonight?” she asked again.

At this point all of us but Ronan were looking at her, and I was sure even he was watched her through the review mirror.

Talon practically reached forward to hit Knox.

“See, I told you. She doesn’t really care about our money. My body? Sure. Money? No,” Talon said.

She sniffled, and even in the dark the glistening of her eyes caught the streetlights.

“Aww, pretty girl. You can’t cry. It really ruins the gesture. Isn’t that what you were doing the high roller games for? Money? Our girl isn’t allowed to do those anymore, so we wanted to make sure you had what you needed.”

Margaux dropped the money and it rolled somewhere. She crawled up my lap and reached for Talon.

I loved the warmth of her body against me as she leaned in for a kiss. She broke away from me, reaching for Talon easily and kissing him.

She was out of breath by the time she shifted and moved herself to the center between the two front seats.

She grabbed Knox’s neck and he let her, apparently more than happy to accept whatever this little show was. Ronan started the SUV, but he paused before putting it into gear and at least he wasn’t disappointed. She broke away from Knox and rose up to meet him.

“Thank you, all of you. I don’t get what I did to deserve you, but I’m starting to think there has to be a god.”

I slapped her ass and she scooted back toward me.

“Come on, we’re going home so we can worship you.”