Celine
I could feel Bricks call, and I looked up, both him and Rabid looking at me like they didn't know whether to hug me or yell at me. I would prefer the former.
Rabid took a big breath. “Look, Celine, thank you for being there for Dino and Duce. It would…” He looked away from the rearview mirror as he softened his voice. “It would cripple the club if we lost these two. We owe you a debt of thanks.”
Bricks wouldn't stop staring at me, looking at me like I was the most amazing person in the world. “Stop it,” I whispered as I looked him in the eye. He smiled and kept staring.
Why would I do that when looking at you is much more preferable? You are a beauty among a pack of wild and broken beasts, and yet you never run. Just face everything head-on. I'm so proud of you, Temptress.
My heart swelled at his words, making breathing in this car full of big, burly men difficult. Duce grabbed my hand and said, between his kisses on my knuckles. “Let's have a barbeque tomorrow. We can celebrate a job well done and give Celine a big thank you for saving our butts.”
Rabid took a second to think but easily said, “Sure. I think that's a great idea, Duce.”
Once we got to the house, we were all dead tired, but we still sat around the “church” table and went through all the details.
Bricks went first, letting everyone know he took out two guys who were hiding in the bushes outside on the side of the building. He made sure to cut their heads off and placed them near the back exit, knowing we were going to put one of the explosives there. He stayed outside until he saw us leave and then caught up with us before we all walked to the car. Rabid was in the car watching out and staying in contact with Gears. When it was our turn, I let the guys mainly tell it, plus Duce was good at it.
I saw respect in everyone's eyes as they voiced their gratitude, which made me feel awkward. I liked it better when Dino looked at me with disdain, when Rabid kept his distance, when Gears and Bricks would silently have conversations about me, and when Duce would just look at me with sex on his mind. That was safe. Making sure we were not too close. Now I could see the acceptance in their eyes… and something else. Something that I lost faith in a long time ago.
I didn't like seeing that change, so I took the coward’s way out as I stood up and stretched, seeing their wandering eyes with a smirk. “Well, that was all kinds of exciting. You boys sure do know how to show a girl a good time, but I think I'm going to hit the hay.” When they started to get up, I waved them down. “Don’t get up. I'm just going to shower off and then hit the hay. You guys stay up and celebrate. You got Killian back for his past misdeeds, stopped his operation, and got out of doing his dirty work.”
What about what you needed to find out?
Bricks called out without moving his lips, and I opened my mouth to answer when Duce called out, “Hey! I’m onto you two!” His finger bounced between Bricks and me. “When we are all here together, no doing your little mind vocal trick. The rest of the class would like to know.”
Bricks smiled, lifted his hands, and signed what he asked me before motioning towards me to continue. “I found out enough, and I know what he looks like, so I can work backwards from there. Nothing else left for you all to worry about.” I winked as I turned around, even as my heart was dropping at the thought of leaving tomorrow. I had no other excuse to stay.
Duce suddenly shot up out of his seat, his voice was steady, but the vibrations around him screamed desperation. “The barbeque tomorrow.” When I paused and gave him a questioning look, he clarified, “Do you need clothes for it? I'm sure Emma wouldn't mind lending you some again.”
My heart tugged at the thought of Emma, the only girl that has ever been my friend. It would be nice to see her one last time before I left. Maybe give her my number to stay in touch and talk dirty books with. I nodded. “That's a great idea. I will see her in the morning.”
I turned as I felt water behind my eyes, trying to break free. My fucking body was betraying me at the most inopportune time. I briskly walked away, waving behind myself as they all mumbled their good nights.
I refused to cry. I was not going to be a blubbering mess. I have gone through worse heartache than this. I had a mother who never loved me. This was nothing.
I made my way to Duce's room, stripped off my clothes, and immediately went into the shower. I dipped my head under the scalding water, my body easing at the lightly pounding heat on its already worn muscles, and I sighed.
This was the right choice. I could barely feel the water tracking down my face from my eyes. With blurry vision, I grabbed the soap and lathered up, telling myself that everything was going to be fine. That I didn’t need anyone. Like always.
As I finished my shower, I was wholly composed, ready to face any one of them now that I had built myself back up. I wrapped the towel around me and walked out into the room and sat on the bed.
I listened out for footsteps before I pulled out my work phone from underneath his bed where I had placed it. I saw one text message from Glenn,Update?
I knew I was going to need to give him something this time. I quickly replied with a description of the vampire I knew was blood-crazed and put a money emoji, so he knew it was the backer, and left it at that. Once I got out of here, we could meet up and strategize a plan to take out that fucker. Although, for now, this would get Glenn off my back. Plus, he won't see this until tomorrow. I looked at the clock and realized he would be asleep already.
I didn't know how they would feel if they learned that the assassin they knew as The Songbird was actually employed by the government, trained, and hired to take down criminals. That the reason this all happened in the first place was because I killed the head of the Rodriguez family. What would Dino think of that? He didn't seem to be close with his extended family, since they were the ones who killed his immediate one, but you never know when you're faced with the facts.
I heard boots hit the wood floor outside the door, shoved my phone underneath the mattress, and splayed my hands on the ground, stretching, just as Duce opened the door. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway. “Well, don't you look as yummy as a cupcake that just came from the oven?”
I squinched up my nose. “Without any frosting? Yuck!”
He laughed as he came in and shut the door. “I will take you however I can get you. Frosted, unfrosted, cooked, uncooked… hell, even glass filled.”
He sat down next to me on the bed, his hands grabbing my legs, effectively pushing me back as he lifted them onto his lap. His fingers rubbed circles along my calves as a devious smile crawled up along his mouth. “I’m here to fulfill my promise, but if I knew that you would look this delicious and ready, I would’ve been here sooner.” His hands slid their way up my legs as his eyes heated up. “You've got me all hot and bothered just thinking about how I’m going to dirty you up.”
I closed my eyes, my body lighting up at his touch, when he paused. My eyes flew open to watch him examine the red spots on his sleeve before noticing more down the front of his shirt. “How about I hit the shower first? I don’t want to wear these fuckers while I’m worshiping you.”
I lifted my hand, cupped his cheek, and kissed his lips softly as I breathed out, “I don't care. A little blood doesn't scare me, but if you would prefer to, then I don't mind sitting here thinking about all the things you're going to do to me to make me cum.” I licked at his lips, and he groaned out in pain.
