Page 40 of Lucky 14

For a brief second, my dick hardens. I eyeball her, wondering how many hits Manson could get in before I remove her head from her body. The thought makes my blood sing, and I suck in a deep, smoke-filled breath. I feel life curling back into my body. My heart is starting to thump a war drum in my chest.

The last time I saw these three, they were teaming up with the guy who got the first weapon. Whoever he was. So where is he? And why isn’t he here with them?

“Where’s Fourteen?” I ask, having to speak up over the raging sound of the fire. I’ll get the fire put out. I’m not sure how, but I will. I already see some employees at the basement door gawking, then running inside.

Riley shrugs. “He didn’t play tonight.”

I catch the briefest look Manson throws at her and focus in on her words. He didn’t play? Why in the fuck would he not play? Hunters are usually the most excited on night one, getting out the jitters and fighting each other to establish pack dominance like dogs. There are massive bragging rights to be had if you not only catch up to but kill your number with no weapons on day one.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that Fourteen was a little off. He seemed…skittish. Was he afraid of me? Is he here to take me down?

Slowly, I feel that murderous focus settle over me. Fourteen wouldn’t be the first one to try to upend my operation both here and back in the states. I always vet my players closely for this reason.

My brain runs through a million different options. Who exactly is Fourteen?

I spend the next few hours fighting the fire with what limited resources I have. I spot a few melted gas cans, most likely from my golf cart.

So it was on purpose.

An excited calm settles over me. I’ve never dealt with this before, and I can’t keep the smile off my face. As much as this pisses me off, I finally feel alive. Someone’s going to pay. And they’re going to pay in blood.

How fun.

But first, I have to put out the fire. Light is just coming back into the sky by the time we have the blaze at least a little under control. My employees and even some hunters came out to help. We needed to cut a line in the trees and clear out the brush there to contain the fire to one area. Because the forest is so wet, the fire spreads more slowly than it would if we were still in Oklahoma. There was also a limited amount of accelerant.

As soon as I can, I step back inside to pull up the information I have on Fourteen. And what I have is…a whole lot of nothing.

I stare at my screen, rubbing the soot from my fingers. What the fuck? Fourteen is some Oakley King, twenty-nine years old, from the city, but not a member of the club.

My body gets hot. I search through my paperwork for his application, and when I find it, I stare at the sloppy handwriting. I don’t remember approving this. Sometimes I let employees help me, but only after I’ve vetted the applicants.

Not only did I not approve Oakley, but he brought a woman. As in, his prey is female.

I stare at the application, a boiling mix of emotions filling my system. Rage, confusion, and suspicion bounce around in my mind. Standard operating procedure is being thrown out the window, and not by me. The fact that Riley is here only proves that. Powerful women are my kryptonite. I was absolutely drunk, because a sober me would never have allowed that.

Scouring the application, I see a scribbled signature. It’s illegible.

My body feels both heavy and weightless. Staring at the application, I narrow my eyes. Is Oakley here to try to kill me? Or to infiltrate my game? To get leverage to take my job?

I know I’m being paranoid, but paranoid is how you stay alive in this business.

Standing, I pace.

Who is this woman that Fourteen brought? Is she working with him? Does she mean something to him?

I could take her for myself. Use her as leverage. Make sure he sees me making her mine, then deal with him as I see fit.

As I think it, that delicious thrill curls up inside me. I feel my skin tingle, and the air smells fresher. Sharper.

Yeah. Maybe I’ll kill Fourteen’s woman before he can. And then I’ll make him pay.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Day 2

There’s a moment where Seven is frozen on top of me. The moment when both of us recognize who the other is. Then, he’s gone.

I roll over, getting to my knees. As soon as I’m up, Seven glances behind us with wide eyes. I look too.