“I don’t expect you to.” I hugged him. “You think I want to talk about that? Nah, I want to know how we’re going to handle Joaquin. The bastard’s gonna want revenge.”
Cillian’s eyes lit up and he rubbed his hands together. “See? Now we’re talking.”
“If you want us to take him out before Jamie and Corbin do, we need a good idea. Can you think about anything that isn’t your dick?” I teased.
He gave me an enthusiastic middle finger as he walked toward the edge of the dock, making me laugh again. Something caught my attention from the corner of my eye, and I turned, focusing on another boat heading our way. This one was different, though, as it had more speed and was barreling straight toward Sloan’s house rather than past it. The boat turned as it got closer, but that was when my gaze settled on the men leaning against the rail. They had automatic weapons clutched in their hands and they raised them as they got closer.
“Cillian, watch out!” I acted on an impulse, shooting forward to tackle him. We both went tumbling into the water at the same time the firing began, a couple of bullets narrowly missing us as we hit the ocean like lead weights. I tugged Cillian deeper as the spray of rounds hit the surface above us, barely missing us by inches before they came to a dead stop in the water.
Cillian gave me wide eyes as we swam farther down. From here, we could see the bottom of the boat cut through the ocean, turning even more before it raced away from us again. The firing had stopped as the boat disappeared, and we kicked our legs, returning for air.
As soon as we broke through the water the sounds of shots being fired from the direction of the house confused me until Jamie, Corbin, and Rosita came running down the dock, AR-15s clutched in their hands. Cillian took deep breaths and squeezed my hand.
“What happened?” Jamie demanded, glancing around and taking in the damage that had been done. Bullet holes dotted the dock under their feet.
I panted, catching my breath. Between the adrenaline of an incoming attack and lack of air underwater, I had to wait until my body settled a bit to speak. I grabbed Cillian’s arm, swimming in closer to the dock. “I guess Joaquin didn’t appreciate us killing his cousin. Since they didn’t hang out, they were probably here to cause any trouble they could.”
“Fecking hell.” Cillian slapped his hand across the water and glared. “Motherfecking pricks.”
Jamie’s eyebrows dipped and he stared off into the distance, where the boat had clearly disappeared. “Well, shite, I guess they know we’re back in town.”
“Do you want me to inform the boss?” Rosita asked in her normal no-nonsense tone.
Jamie nodded, and she rushed off to the house. He lowered his gun and sighed. “All right, boys, no rest for the wicked. We’re not getting time to settle in. The war’s really begun now.”
“Was it Joaquin Herrera Reyes on there?” Corbin asked—ever the perfectionist. He even used Joaquin’s full name.
“Nah,” I answered. “I didn’t see him on there, but they were definitely Reyes’s men.”
Jamie sniffed in irritation. “Looks like we’ve got jobs to do.” He waved at us and grinned. “Come on, guys, there’s no time for swimming. Let’s go.”
“Ye dick,” Cillian shouted as Jamie turned and walked back up the dock, cackling as he went. I merely shook my head and elbowed Cillian. Together, we swam toward shore. Time to get down to business.
“Ya know, it’s gonna be a pain in the arse to deal with the cops now, right?” Jamie yelled, even as he was walking away with Corbin at his side. “Money, money, money. It’s gonna cost us a lot of it.”
“He acts like we planned for Reyes’s men to shoot at us,” Cillian grumbled. All I could do was laugh. Another close brush with death. I could add that to a list I hoped Vail never saw or heard about.
16
CILLIAN
I tuggedat the crotch of my dripping wet jeans and winced as we got to our room. “Is there anything worse than wet balls?” I smirked and nudged Aspen with my elbow. “Wet with ocean water, anyway. I like feelin’ spit run down ’em just fine. Oh, and cum, too.”
Aspen glanced at me and for good measure I gave myself a squeeze through my jeans and winked at him.
He snorted, shoving my shoulder. “Yeah, a bullet in the ass. That’s a hell of a lot worse.” He shook his head slowly at me, and my cock did a happy jig in my underwear at the way he dragged his hot gaze over my body. Feck, I wished we weren’t on the clock right now. “You almost got hit by one, too. Without me there, you would’ve been roadkill.”
“Ye’re no fun when ye’re this serious. What happened to the man who let me shove me cock in him?” I blew a kiss at Aspen before I peeled my wet shirt off, and I was mighty fecking proud as he gave me a once-over. I flexed my pecs like an arsehole. “I knew ye liked me. Ye think I’m sexy. Say it.” I cupped my hand behind my ear and couldn’t help smiling like aneejit.
“No. And what happened to me was I got shot at.” Aspen winked, though, and a happy sensation swooped in my chest.
We didn’t waste much time, stripping the wet clothes and flinging them into the bathroom on the floor. I hopped over our pile of clothing and snagged a towel, then tossed one out to Aspen, which he easily caught. After a longing glance at the shower, I shook my head. I would have to deal with the saltwater on my skin for a while. Hustling out into the bedroom as I dried off, I took stock of what would likely happen in the coming hours, then ran for the closet.
“We’re going on a killing spree tonight. What do ye want to bet Sloan orders us to burn the whole city to ashes?” I nearly felt like whistling, I was so fecking pleased. It had been an age since we were really let loose.
Aspen came over to the closet and combed his fingers through my damp hair. I leaned into the touch and neither one of us commented on it. “I doubt Sloan will go to those extremes. We still gotta be careful. Plus, I don’t want us getting caught. Jamie’s right. The cops will be here eventually, and they’ll need to be paid off. After the salon blew up, it isn’t a secret around here something is going on, and all those badges will be sniffing after someone to pin the blame on. Wedon’twant it to be us.”
Turning, I winked at Aspen and felt damned good with the world as his mouth twitched toward another smile. My skin tingled and adrenaline raced through my veins. I lived for this shit, and as much as I’d been in a mood after getting raked over the coals by Sloan, I wouldn’t want to be here in this mess with anyone else.
