The good times I’ve had since meeting the Kings flash through my mind, giving me a sense of warmth that had fled the scene earlier. The chill slowly evaporates and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The sun is finally starting to shine through. All of those recollections are good ones. At least to me they are. There’ve been some bumps in the road, but nothing that has made me want to backtrack and run away from them. The good outweighs the bad. These men are rough around the edges, but inside, when it comes to women and children, they’re fluffy marshmallows.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been lost in la-la land before more lights and sirens are heard. I hear the words, Rangers, FBI, and lawyer mentioned which tells me that one of them called in their markers. And those people who owe the Kings, made sure to show up. I don’t know what entity it is that invaded our house,and frankly, I don’t give a damn as long as they’re lassoed and taken down a peg or two. They are not the end all that beats all—they aren’t the highest men on the totem pole, which they’re learning now. The fuckers who came barging in and snaring me are now the ones being interrogated and facing the wrath of the Kings and their cohorts.
Maloney finally stepped in it now, because if he thought he was walking a tight rope before, he’s in for a surprise since that cord is now razor thin and fraying around the edges. There’s no way he’ll be able to traverse it without freefalling and I hope I’m there to witness his downfall.
I close my eyes and let the exhaustion drag me under. I’m safer in my dreams, including my nightmares, than I am at the mercy of these vigilantes. And that’s exactly what they are. Cowards who preen when they’re standing over someone who’s nowhere near as strong as they are. Especially when they come in as a unit and work together as a team. One to four is not good odds. There’s no way I could’ve stood up to them on my own, not without coming out with more bumps and bruises than I already have, courtesy of them.
“Letti. Goddess,” I hear said as rough, calloused hands gently comb through my hair’s tangled strands. “Wake up, baby.”
“Don’t wanna. Safer with my eyes closed,” I sleepily grumble.
“Not anymore. I’m here, it’s all taken care of. They’re gone,” he promises, which has me peeping my eyes open as I twist my head and scan the room.
I feel the relief from the ties being snipped away from my wrists and ankles. Then, the feeling of pins and needles stabbing me rush through those inflicted areas, causing me to cry out as the blood begins to flow. My man begins rubbing them, switching from one area to the other as he works to help it wake up faster.
“Damn, did they have to make them so tight?” I ask, complaining.
“No, they didn’t,” Viking roughly says. His tone sounds textured, as if he’s been gurgling rocks. “And they’re going to pay for doing it.” Shit. I know that tone, he’s preparing for a different sort of war. One that has everything to do with decimating anyone wearing a badge. At least to those responsible for making my life miserable.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Icer
“Areyou sure you’re good with watching the kids after what went down yesterday?” Rip asks, juggling little G in that contraption he calls a swaddle.
“Yeah, we’re both good with it,” I tell him, watching that sling in case it slips from the clasps. Little man must be above the weight limit with those chubby rolls he’s sporting. He looks like a mini version of the Michelin Man these days. It’s hardly holding him in, he could wiggle free at any moment which makes me uneasy. “We’re staying at Letti’s apartment. Apparently, even though that’s where she was taken by those imbeciles, she feels safer being there than at our place… for now.”
“You did have a state of the art security system installed for her,” he reminds me. “And last night's events are still fresh in her head, unlike the one where the Onyx’s took her.”
“If she’d ended that lease when I wanted her to, we’d be at the clubhouse where I’d have more eyes helping me watch over her,” I complain.
“You know why she didn’t, Icer,” he says, his tone berating.
“I know why, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it,” I retort.
“It’s not about you. Don’t take it personally, brother. It’s the first place she had that’s hers. She got that on her own esteem. It’s gotta be hard to let that go,” he reasons. “Especially after the childhood she had.”
“Whatever,” I grunt, giving him a dirty look for not understanding my issue with this and jumping on the bandwagon beside me.
“This isn’t me taking sides, Icer,”
“Kinda feels like you are,” I say, filleting him with a sneer.
“I think I like it better when you don’t speak,” he says, sighing. “Now that you’ve found your voice you’re pretty damn mouthy.”
“Am not,” I argue, crossing my arms across my chest. “I wanna be done with this conversation.”
“Why? Because it’s not going your way? Icer. Brother, welcome to adulthood where nothing goes as planned or expected. I’m not ever going to placate you. When you’re wrong, I’m gonna call you out on it.”
“I don’t feel like I’m wrong in this instance,” I harrumph. “I don’t wanna talk to you anymore. Hand me the kid and get gone. You’ve got a woman to woo or whatever it is you're doing.”
“I’m giving her a night to remember,” he says, shaking his head as if he can’t understand me and unclipping my littlest friend from the swaddle thingymabob. It’s a death trap for babies and I’m not a fan of it. When they’re an infant, I can see the merit behind using it, but when they become rolly pollys and outweighthe recommended weight, it should go in the trash. Which is where it’s going the second I’m alone with it and unattended. He and Van watch me too much around things I don’t care for. They know I’ll dispose of it when their attention turns elsewhere.
“You dropping him off tomorrow or are we picking him up?” Rip asks.
“Shouldn’t y’all take an extra day off? You’re not getting younger, pres. You and Van may need a recovery day from your late night rendezvous.”
