“I’m only letting you know on the very small chance that this might drag me back into their world,” Grayson continued, staring at his hands. “And if that happens, it could be dangerous. For you all.” He let out a deep breath. “I can take care of myself, but it might be a good idea to have extra security until I can ensure that the past remains where it belongs.”
“You did what you had to, man,” I told him, not remotely upset. Our life was a bag of fuckups this year anyway, so did it really matter if we added one more criminal organization to the mix?
Grayson’s gaze met mine, his cool and a little detached. Not quite his scary face, but a close second. “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry. I just wanted to warn you all so you’re cautious moving forward. Don’t go out alone. Don’t take stupid risks. Don’t answer phone numbers you don’t know—the usual shit we do anyway because we’re Bellerose—but in this case, take extra precaution.”
He clearly wasn’t asking for input, and when we nodded, it appeared that conversation was done. The night was done, everyone heading back into the dark and quiet house. Billie and Angelo were already in bed, and I tried really fucking hard not to think about them behind that door together. Were they fucking quietly? His hand over her mouth to muffle her moans as he pounded her tight cunt?
More to the point, why did that mental image still make me sick with jealousy? Once upon a time, I’d been there too, bringing her more pleasure than her small frame could handle.
Fucking fuck.
Probably not a good idea to burst in and beat my former best friend to death in front of Billie. Especially if he was the father of her child.Child.She’d said something alarming earlier, and I knew I’d have to ask her about it eventually. I couldn’t find the strength to do it now.
I had the sense that the truth would be more than I could handle this week.
In the shower I palmed my dick, wishing that fucker didn’t turn into a rock every single time Billie was around, but this was her superpower. Billie Bellerose, the cock whisperer. Closing my eyes and dropping my head against the wall, I pictured her on her knees, perfect fucking lips wrapped around my dick, and it took only a few minutes before the tingles in my balls exploded up the shaft, and I came hard.
Motherfucker. I needed to get laid properly, and soon. This life of limited booze and pussy was killing me, and we weren’t even a week in. Too much time to think, too much time to mourn. When I was cleaned up, I pulled on a pair of shorts, since we were in a shared house and my usual naked attire wouldn’t work if I stumbled out half-asleep in the morning, and thankfully, fell asleep immediately.
It felt like minutes later that I was roughly shaken awake, heavy hands gripping my shoulders as I jerked up and started to shout. A hand covered my mouth before I made a sound. “There are people outside the house,” Grayson whispered near my ear. “They’re coming in dark, so I can only assume they’re here with bad intentions.”
He removed his hold on me, and I shook my head, a new surge of adrenaline helping to clear my sleep-addled state. “What do we do?” I rasped.
“You get Flo and Rhett, and I’ll get Billie and Angelo. That fucking gangster should have some weapons stashed in his shit. Then we’ll figure out the best route to get everyone to safety.”
“Oka—” I couldn’t even finish that one word before he was gone, and I was up and moving in the same instant.
Rhett was in the room beside me, Flo beside him, and I managed to wake both of them in a slightly gentler fashion than Grayson had used. We were all confused, pissed off, and more than a little worried by the time Grayson and Angelo strode along the hall, Billie between them.
The guys had guns in their hands, and I could see another weapon or two tucked into their jeans, since they must have slept fully fucking clothed in anticipation of being ambushed.
Thank fuck I’d at least put shorts on.
“Okay, here’s the plan,” Grayson said shortly in a drill-sergeant manner. “Angelo and I will be the distraction, take out those up front to scare the ones behind into thinking we are more armed and prepared than they expected. That will give all of you time to get out of the house and take off into the paddock with the horses. There’s a house three miles south of here, the closest neighbors. From there, you will call the police and Brenda and get a fucking armed guard here if necessary.”
“No,” Billie said in a croaky voice. “You two don’t get to sacrifice yourselves so the rest of us can live. We stick together or—”
“Take her,” Angelo interrupted, roughly shoving Billie at me. “Don’t let her double back to try and save us. She has a savior complex, and it’s going to get her killed.”
Billie’s fatigue vanished as fury lit up her features. She opened her mouth to shout, so I covered it with my palm, wincing as she sank her teeth into the fleshy part. Little bitch. Fuck, my dick was hard again, and this was not the time.
“Go,” Grayson pushed us toward the back door, and we crept along, me half carrying Billie, who, thankfully, wasn’t fighting or biting me any longer. Maybe she’d realized that this wasn’t a battle she could win.
When we reached the exit out toward the barn, Angelo and Grayson split up, hiding in the shadows either side as they watched silently. “They’re out here too,” Grayson muttered. “We need to draw them into the house first. You four hide, and when I send out the signal, get the fuck out of here.”
“Stay fucking safe,” I warned him before nudging Flo and Rhett toward the large closet off the hallway. It’d be a tight fit, but we’d have to manage for a minute.
Damp heat brushed across my hand, and I realized Billie was silently sobbing into my palm. And just like that, it was my heart and not my dick aching. In her state, this was too fucking much, and I had to ensure she survived. Her and the baby.
“I’ve got you,” I crooned softly, using my best weapon to calm her. My voice. “It’s going to be okay.”
There was no way for me to know that, but I had to reassure her. To be her fucking knight and protector one last time.
When the four of us were squished in tight, Grayson closed the door behind us, and I tried not to react to the feel of all Billie’s curves pressed against me. Despite the small belly, the rest of her was thinner than I’d like, as if she’d been starved lately. I couldn’t imagine Angelo hurting her like that—we’d both loved her curves in a way that probably should be illegal—so it must be Billie’s choice. Maybe grief? Maybe she hadn’t wanted to leave as much as I'd initially expected.
The maudlin thoughts vanished when a crash echoed through the house and into our space. Whoever had surrounded the house had finally made it inside, and it appeared Angelo and Grayson, our two criminal masterminds, were making their presence very known. Shots rang out, followed by shouts and cries. I hated hiding in here while my brothers were out there, but I had no weapons or skills to survive in a gunfight, so it was better I spent my time ensuring everyone else survived.
More shots rang out, and I heard Angelo shouting, which faded as he appeared to run from the house. Maybe to clear the outside. A second later there was a knock on the door. Gray’s voice floated through. “Backyard is clear. Get outside now.”
