Les saunters over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck; he slides his hands down her back until they are braced on her hips. “If he’s going to be a part of us, he needs to go. Evander and Mateo didn’t leave him untrained.” She pecks his lips. “This is just a reminder to Moretto. If it gets bloody, we can handle it and protect Leo.”
Ryder jerks a nod. “Got it.”
She pecks his lips again before stepping back. “I need to change.” She looks to Gage. “Fit Leo with a holster and weapons. Let him know not going is not an option.”
“You got it, Pretty girl.”
She walks out of the room, and when she’s out of earshot, Gage looks at Ryder. “Everything good?”
“Yeah. We worked it out this morning.”
“Good, because the next time you make her cry like that, I will drown you in your own blood,” Gage says, then grins like the crazyperson we all know is there, but he hides so well. He leaves the kitchen without a reply from Ryder, searching for Leo.
“Crazy fucker,” Ryder mutters under his breath.
“Are you sure you can do this?” I ask Ryder. I know he would tell me the truth, and the last thing we need is for Les to get hurt because of this.
He sighs. “I’m trying. It’s still hard to see her with someone else, but I have to remember how fucking happy she looks with Gage.”
“And Leo,” I point out, “And Holden.”
His head jerks towards me. “Holden? When did that happen?”
“The day you left for your dad’s. Les, Gage, and Holden had a...teaching lesson by the pool.”
His eyebrow shoots up. “Teaching lesson?”
I chuckle. “Holden’s apparently a virgin.”
Both brows shoot up. “No shit? And he gets Les as his first? Damn.”
That’s exactly what I’m thinking. Holden doesn’t have to deal with the awkward first time with a girl just as inexperienced as you. He gets a girl who is a fucking goddess in bed and four guys to help him not fuck up. I don’t think he realizes how lucky he is.
I’ve watched Holden over the past year come out of his shell, but this last week he’s been out of his office more than I’ve ever seen. I know he and Ryder are close, so he’ll be happy to know Ryder is back. I don’t know how close, though. I’ve witnessed Holden staring at a shirtless Ryder a little too long, sometimes in the gym, but that could be admiration for the work Ryder puts in. I feel it has to do with a little more than that. Not that I’m going to mention that to Ryder.
“We roll out in ten,” I tell Ryder, sliding off the stool.
Time to show this Moretto motherfucker Les is not tobe fucked with.
We all pileinto Ryder’s Explorer because he doesn’t care if this car gets shot up. He doesn’t get into the cars like Les and Gage; he’s like me. He likes fast bikes and vintage cars. He doesn’t care what he drives daily. I prefer my truck to the fast-ass cars Les and Gage like.
Les sits in the back between Gage and Leo, so I won’t have to be squished between them, for which I’m grateful. But she also doesn’t seem to mind them rubbing up against her. She came downstairs in black ripped skinny jeans, a tight blue shirt, a black leather jacket that hid her holster, and her high-heeled boots with spikes on the heels she always wears. I asked her why once, and she said it’s to remind these assholes they’re dealing with a woman of power that can still kick your ass in heels. And she can. I’ve seen her fuck up more shit in those heels than I ever have with her wearing anything else. Her dad taught her everything she needed to know. He also made sure she could run in any footwear because you never know when your enemy could attack; it was fucking brilliant. Plus, it gave height to her five-foot-four frame.
“Pull over right here,” Les tells Ryder, pointing to the curb across from two teenagers hanging out by the corner. “I guess Joe didn’t listen.”
I shake my head. “Doesn’t look like it, Boss.”
“This should be fun,” Gage says, practically bouncing in his seat’ This is his favorite thing to do.
She turns to Leo. “I don’t know who else is here, so stay behind us.”
“I got it, Baby,” he assures her.
“It’s Boss or Les out here. Okay?” she tells him, squeezing his hand to soften the blow. He jerks a nod in understanding.
We sit and watch several cars pull up, money and drugs exchanging hands. Les snaps a picture that I’m sure she will shove in Moretto’s face if needed. “Come on.”
We all climb out of the car, Ryder to her right and me to her left, Gage and Leo behind us. It’s the formation we always walk in, with Les in the position of power. Ryder and I are there to step in front of her if needed for protection.
