Page 15 of The Devil’s Escape (The Devil’s Soldiers #7)

Bullet: Need a favor and need you to be as discreet as possible.

It only takes seconds for the answer to come through.

Unknown: Done. And you know I’m discreet.

Bullet: Need you to run a check on someone and I need to make sure that you can’t be traced doing it. You’re the best I’m told, and I’ll pay for the best.

Unknown: Intriguing. Consider it done. Who am I looking into?

Bullet: Sean Bower. He’s a hacker, and he’s fucking good.

Unknown: Then it’s a good thing I’m better, isn’t it? I’ll be in touch.

I put the phone away with the files and the device that I hit again to turn back on any cameras, and then I try not to think about the fact that the only person in this entire fucking place that hasn’t been looked into is the one doing the looking.

A fact that I won’t be overlooking again.

If anyone could hide their true intentions, it’s him.

I leave my office and head downstairs. Don’t need anyone wondering what I’m doing.

When I walk into the common room, it’s still empty and quiet. No one seems to be around, but then I hear sounds in the kitchen. I head that way, and when I walk in, I spot Rose sitting there, glaring at Thea, who is still in her sling and looks tired, but defiant. Uh oh.

“You are going to eat if I have to force-feed you myself,” Rose tells her firmly. “And don’t think I won’t. I did it to Stone when he was being a stubborn asshole as a kid. Sat on him and everything.”

“Clearly, he got his stubbornness from you,” Thea returns drily.

“But, seriously, Rose, I’m not that hungry.

Sniper made me eat before he left, and that was a lot.

I’m not moving around much, so I don’t want to get lazy.

I need to watch what I’m eating or I’m going to lose all the progress I’ve been working hard to keep.

I can already feel myself losing muscle mass as we speak.

” She flexes her good arm as if to prove a point.

“See? It’s already starting to go down.”

“Girl, you’re insane,” Rose huffs. “You can’t see shit, but fine, if you prefer your man’s cooking over mine, then I’m putting this in the fridge for later. And you will eat it.” She snatches the bowl of whatever is in front of Thea and stalks away to the fridge.

“If she’s not having it, I will,” I offer as I step further into the room. I smile at Thea when she turns to look at me. “How’s the arm?”

“It’s fine,” Thea huffs, but I can tell she’s irritated, even if she’s trying to hide it. “I keep telling Medic that I’ll heal faster on my own without this stupid sling, but he’s not listening.”

“Don’t be disregarding orders, woman,” I order, narrowing my eyes at her. “You do everything that man tells you or you’re going to answer to me.”

She arches a brow. “See, my man’s threats are a bit scarier than yours.” Then she smirks. “And his punishments are far more pleasurable.”

Rose snickers as she comes back, a bowl full of fresh, steaming soup in her hands.

She puts on the island in front of me and says, “Something tells me that he’s able to come up with some creative punishments as well.

” She wiggles her brows at Thea, who grins wickedly.

“My man has a few of them for me too, don’t you, honey?

” Rose purrs, looking at me with caramel eyes.

My blood heats at the memory of the last punishment I gave her.

Restraints and some well-placed toys certainly made for an interesting night.

Fuck, we’re going to have to do that again.

How is it that I’m over sixty years old and I still get fucking hard as a spike when this woman is around?

I give her a look full of heated promise, that has her lips pulling up into a cunning smile, and her eyes blaze.

Oh yeah, I’m definitely taking her up to our room as soon as I’m finished eating.

Nothing like working out my tension and frustration with a woman who knows just how to relax me in the best way.

Thea chuckles. “I’m starting to realize why Stone, Torque, and King get all squirrely when you two start talking like this. You two are intense.”

“Honey, if you and Sniper aren’t as intense as us, then you’re with the wrong one,” Rose replies instantly and with a confidence that hits me square in the chest. “If you love someone as much as we love each other, then you work to make it the best relationship it can be, even when it’s hard.

You think I don’t want to strangle him or bash him over the head with something every other day?

There have been times I’ve walked around with something heavy just in case he pushes me over the edge.

Still, we figure our shit out, and we build our connection with each other all the time.

You and Sniper have that connection now, and just like all the others, you can build on it with hard work. ”

Thea gives her a thoughtful look. “I’ve never really thought about it, but you’re right.

My parents are kind of like you two, though maybe not as intense.

They’re still crazy in love years later.

As for hitting and strangling, I’m a bit more intense than that.

He’ll have to worry about a bullet or a knife if he really pisses me off. ”

I turn my head to glare at her. “No weapons in the clubhouse,” I order her. “And if you start trying to teach the other women your tricks and shit, we’re going to have a problem.”

“I don’t think it’s them you have to worry about.

” Thea grins, climbing off the stool she’s sitting on and heading for the door.

“I think it’s more the kids you should worry about.

Just imagine, Macy with the smarts to defend herself from a young age?

” She winks at me over her shoulder and heads out.

I stare after her, even as Rose laughs. Then I turn my head back to Rose and see her grinning at me. “Don’t even think?—”

“Bullet, we need you!” Shadow barks as he rushes into the room. “We might have a way to get Hulk.”