Pucci pointed to the third one from the main lodge. “You can have that one, but your men will have to stay in the main bunkhouse unless they hook up with someone who has a cabin.”
“Good. I’ll get her settled.” Aiden took my hand and moved toward the cute little cabin.
“Same. Let’s meet in ten in the main lodge,” Pucci called out.
Aiden kept walking and I did the same; my kitten heels solid on the firm dirt trail. Trees rose all around, and a campfire was already going a little beyond the lodge. A lazy river wound behind the cabins, visible as we approached.
Two identical looking men strolled, or rather patrolled, right by us. They both stopped and looked me up and down. Aiden stiffened and set his stance.
“She’s pretty, Devlin,” the first said. “I get first dibs tonight.”
His twin smiled and showed a gap in his front teeth. Okay. They weren’t identical. My mom had told me that everyone was beautiful in their own and unique way.
She hadn’t met these guys.
They had to be in their early forties and had both cut their hair short, dyed it red, and had used enough mousse to spike it up through the rapture. Their eyes were a beady brown, their noses too big for their slender faces, and their clothing dirty. Like they hadn’t showered in a month.
Aiden sounded bored again. “I don’t share. Pucci is spreading the word, but feel free to try me. I haven’t gutted anybody in a while, Rhino.”
The guy with the gap in his teeth was nicknamed Rhino? Seriously. The men didn’t back away like any intelligent human would have.
“You’d look good with a BGC PROPERTY stamp,” Rhino said to me. “That makes you protected by the entire brotherhood. You’d be ours.”
His brother nodded. “Then you’d get all of this.” He gestured to them both.
I burst out laughing. Oh, it was totally inappropriate and probably stupid, but it was a natural defense mechanism.
Their expressions darkened.
Aiden took my hand, and we walked past them and closer to the cabin. “You okay?” he asked quietly.
“Not sure,” I said honestly. “Let’s get inside and talk.”
“No. The place is wired for sure. I’ll try to find cameras and bugs later, but for now, watch what you say and definitely don’t take off your clothes for any reason.” He strode up the stairs to the door as if he was in complete control, while Saber and the other Lordes guy flanked us.
It was like something out of a movie that I’d missed the first fifteen minutes of.
He opened the door and stepped inside first, scouting. “Looks good.” Then he drew me in.
It was adorable, actually. Queen bed covered with a red quilt in the corner, sweet kitchenette, sitting area with a fireplace, and a bathroom by the kitchen. I headed for the round table between the kitchen and living area. “Looks like my new office.”
He nodded. “Just stick to your case and nothing else, Angel.” In other words, no investigating. “I’ll have a guy on the door all day, and if you need anything, ask him. It’ll be either Saber or Drag, and if it’s anybody else, start yelling for me.”
I winced. My head spun. Yep. Here came the panic attack.
Chapter 29
Iworked for a couple of hours familiarizing myself with the case and the witness statements. From the police report, all of the witnesses on the prosecution’s side had been fairly intoxicated, and I could work with that.
A knock came on the door, and I looked up as Krissy and Kelsey walked inside with what looked like sandwiches.
Kelsey smiled shyly. “I brought, um, supplies from town. Do you want salad, turkey, or pastrami?”
“Turkey,” I said, stretching my neck. “Thanks.” I looked at the sisters. “I’m glad you’re here. Since you’re both on the defense’s witness list, I’d like to talk about your testimony tomorrow.”
Kelsey shifted and handed me the sandwich. “I’m nervous because I’ve never been in court. Does the other side yell at you like they do on television?” She drew out a seat and plopped the salad in front of herself.
Krissy rolled her eyes and grabbed three diet sodas from the fridge before joining her sister at the table. “Nobody is going to yell at you.” She popped open her soda and unwrapped the pastrami sandwich. “How’s the trial prep going? I’ve never gone to court, either.”
