AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Because he was a wild fucking animal when he got set off.
I had seen it first hand while I was playing cop.
I had seen a body on the slab, ribs broken open, bones all jagged, and the insides of a man's chest and guts ripped out by bare hands.
The footsteps were on the stairs, coming down with determination, likely all gung-ho to get answers out of me.
I almost wished I had some.
It would save me a lot of hurt.
Then maybe I could go back to my fucking life.
And forget the name V ever existed.
Fuck her money.
It wasn't worth this shit.
"You had a good thing going," Reign said, voice oddly calm, so calm that I knew to be wary of it. Even though there was nothing I could do from where I was shackled to a chair cemented to the fucking floor. "Had the compound, the money, the contacts, the respect of your men. Came at a small price too, all things said and done."
The small price being his wife's father.
"You should be thanking whatever god you believe in that my wife isn't here right now. 'Cause she'd walk her ass over to that vault," he said, indicating the giant one behind me, "get out something that pokes really big holes, and fill you with them."
"At least it would save me from having to listen to all this fucking talking," I said, shaking my head, trying to come off more carefree than I felt.
His lips twitched at that, being the kind of man who liked spirit, even in his damn prisoners. "Thought you learned your lesson," he said, folding his arms across his chest. "You got your ass handed to you by Eli, then the fucking Grassis. Figured you were dead. But you came back, and you took control. It's commendable, even. Spent your life as someone else's pawn. It was about time you manned the fuck up. But then you go and you team up with fucking V. What? Did she make you promises about money? Say you'd be rolling in it? No strings attached. And you took her at her word? You didn't learn dick. You're still a patsy. Just now for V instead of your family. Gotta say, Abruzzo, you would have been better off with them."
"Are you here to lecture me, old man?" I asked, knowing he was only a few years older than me. "Or are you going to get the questioning part over with?"
"Why don't you just volunteer the information? Save me from breaking open my fucking knuckles again."
"There's nothing to tell. V was a fucking thorn in my ass. She wanted out. She offered me money on each head of the people she snatches. I took it. She's out."
"Snatches meaning human beings she meant to sell," Cash clarified, disgusted, it seemed, at my blasé attitude about the whole thing.
"Yeah," I agreed, giving him a hard look.
"Had no idea she planned to kidnap your people. Had no fucking idea who she was. She said she wanted to go catch up with her grandchildren. The fuck do I..."
"What?" Reign snapped, voice a whip through the quiet room. "What did you just say?"
"When I let her out. She said she wanted a reunion with her daughter and grandchildren. That was it. I don't have dick else to tell you."
"Considering what I heard Roan did to you to get information, I'm inclined to believe you. But that doesn't mean you're getting off that easy..."
Not a second of that was easy.
But I didn't like the look in his eyes.
"Oh, no?"
"No, see... you're my fucking patsy now..."
Fuck.FOURTEENReeveI almost threw all that away.
That was what was running through my head while I threw on clothes, made my way out into the common area, and grabbed a cup of coffee while we waited for everyone to filter in.
I almost went and threw away the chance to get to have what I had just had back in my room.
If ever there was an argument for letting go of your shit, not letting it keep you from experiencing other things, that was fucking it.
Being inside her.
Watching her face as she looked at me with motherfucking wonder.
Hearing her moans, feeling just the tiniest hint of tears on my neck after she came, hearing her say that - even after hearing all the shit in my past - being with me felt right.
And it did.
It felt so right.
That was fucking terrifying.
But things had changed. I had changed. I could and would protect her. I would never allow anything to touch her, to ruin her.
"Alright," Reign said when everyone was gathered, each a different degree of exhausted from being on the road in their case, or pulling guard duty here in ours. Everyone wanted their own beds, their women, their kids if they had them.
But they could have none of that.
