Page 33 of Bullet

But the way Guard spoke just now sent a chilling shiver down my spine.

Violet left out a very important part of the story, Bullet said. The missing pieces could cost him, War, Roscoe, or Blade their freedom. I can’t imagine Bullet being taken away from me. The thought is like a punch in the gut.

“Okay, Bullet. I don’t like it, but I understand,” I say quietly. He pulls me closer, his arms coming around my waist. I hold him to me as he kisses the top of my head.

“Hold on, baby. We’ll get to the other side, and this will be nothing but a bad memory,” he says. God, I hope he’s right.

“Can we go home?” I ask.

“Not yet.” He lifts his head. “The Lady Pride are hurting. Maybe you can go shine some of your light and love on them while we wait for Guard.”

I come up on my tiptoes and touch my lips to his. It’s only a whisper of a kiss, and yet I can see that this calms my man. He needs to know that I’ll stand with him and his brothers. Bullet slowly releases me, and I go back to sit next to Quinn, Priest’s fiancée.

An hour turns to two before Guard emerges from his office to join the rest of us. Ghost is with him, but Crush and Violet are not. My heart skips a beat when I don’t see Violet with them, and I glance over at Bullet. He’s focused on Guard.

Guard looks around the room, his eyes settling on his wife, who is still very upset. “Ava,” he says. When she doesn’t move, he asks, “Are you with me?” Ava gets up and walks to stand beside her husband. Relief flashes over his face.

Guard clears his throat before beginning. “Violet’s safe and will remain under our protection until this mess is over. Crush’s job is to make sure she stays out of sight. Later tonight, he’s going to take her to another club and will stay with her while we extricate ourselves from something that should never have landed on our doorstep. Violet’s seen too much. That makes her a target. She didn’t go to the cops because she knows the names of the cops who are being paid off by the mob that Sal got himself mixed up with.”

“Why didn’t Violet just tell you?” I ask, coming to my feet.

“Unfortunately, this train wreck stretches further than we could have imagined. She didn’t want to admit to knowing more. The Irish mob is already looking for her, and the crooked cops would be after her too,” Guard answers. “Violet needs to disappear for a while. Having her here with you women and our kids makes all of you targets. I’m not risking this family. Ever.”

Orion interrupts. “Violet identified the car, and I got names for you. You might want to get Risk to make a call.”

This all sounds very ominous, and I don’t understand any of it. I’m learning quickly that being Bullet’s girlfriend isn’t always going to be easy.

“Right,” Guard answers. “For now, I want the women home and going about their business as usual. Men, make sure each of them is covered. Hawk’s willing and ready to send men to help out. His men will stay with us at the club.”

Guard makes no apologies for his behavior or terse words, but I can see that taking the time to explain the severity of the situation goes a long way with everyone in the room, including me.

“Can I see Crush before he heads out?” Bullet asks.

“Yeah. He’s in his room with Violet,” Guard responds. “It’s been a long night. The rest of you, go home.”

The room disperses, and Bullet comes over to me. “Give me a few minutes. I want to check on Crush.”

“Of course,” I answer. I plunk myself back down on the sofa and drop my head on the armrest. I’m emotionally exhausted. It’s not every day I find out that the men walking our halls at the local school are either dirty cops or mob hit men.

A gentle hand on my shoulder wakes me. “Where am I?” My head is muddled with sleep.

“At the club, babe.” Bullet doesn’t wait for me to get up but lifts me into his arms.

“I can walk.”

“I like you in my arms,” he answers, and takes me out into the evening air, before settling me in the passenger seat of his Ford Bronco. He holds my hand all the way back to my house. I’m so worn out that I don’t even have the energy to make dinner. Bullet helps me make omelets, and instead of eating at the table, we snuggle on the couch.

“Tonight, without knowing it, you promised me forever,” Bullet says.

“Forever is a long time,” I tease.

“Not long enough for you and me,” Bullet replies, then leans into me for a long, sweet kiss.

Eighteen

Business As Usual

Amelia