“You’re not alone in that,” Grim growled. “This was on all of us. We got distracted. Lost focus with the casino and how good things had been. That shit cost us.”
The room fell silent.
His words stung, mainly because they were true, and we all knew it.
“He’s right. We lost focus, but that shit changes now.” Prez cleared his throat before saying, “We’ve been in talks about pulling away from the casino. We aren’t needed like we used to be. Doesn’t mean we won’t be there if they come calling, but for now, we’re adjusting our priorities.”
“That’s going to be a financial hit.”
“We’ll manage. We always do.”
“So, that’s that?”
“That’s that,” Prez answered. “Time to tighten our perimeter. We keep our eyes open, and no more blind spots. We’re Fury, and we don’t lose. Ever.”
The Rebel Coyotes thought they’d made a statement.
All they really did was take the first step in their own undoing and made us stronger than we’d ever been. I was enjoying the moment of reprieve when I felt a pair of warm hands slide over my shoulders. I opened my eyes and found Misty smiling down at me.
She ran the flat of her thumb down the base of my neck, massaging the tense muscles as she purred, “How you feeling, handsome?”
“Better now.”
“I sure hate you guys got hurt.” She kept massaging as she added, “But I gotta say… Those bruises make you look even hotter, and that’s hard to do.”
Memphis snorted, and Ghost chuckled.
I did neither. I knew she was flirting, but I had no interest in getting cozy with her. I just wanted her to work on the knot in my shoulder, so I just stayed quiet and let Misty work her magic. “You’re so tense.”
“Been a long few days.”
The words barely left my mouth when the air in the room shifted.
I opened my eyes, and there she was.
Presley was standing in the doorway next to Skid, and her eyes held mine for only a moment before dropping to Misty’s hands on my shoulders. The color drained from her face, and she looked like she’d been punched in the gut when she muttered, “This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have come here.”
Without another word, she turned and darted down the hall.
I shrugged Misty off, and I was moving before anyone could say a word. I charged toward the door, and when I got up to Skid, I shook my head. “A heads up would’ve been nice.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Skid chuckled, unapologetic as hell.
I grumbled as I rushed past him. I wanted to punch the shit-head in the throat, but I didn’t have time for that. I had to get to Presley before she made it to her car.
She was halfway out the door when I shouted, “Presley! Wait!”
She didn’t stop.
And she sure as hell didn’t slow down. If anything, she moved even faster. I called out again, “Presley! Wait!”
This time, she stopped, turned to face me, and her expression was a mix of heartbreak and disappointment. “You don’t haveto say anything. You don’t owe me anything. I had no business coming here.”
“But you did.”
“Only to find you with her.”
“Oh, come on, now. That wasn’t what…”
