“I put out some feelers.My father hired that crew—the Hellbound Heathens—through Josh Cunnings.You remember him?Foreman he brought on when I enlisted.”
“Yeah,” I say, crossing my arms.“I remember.”
Micah mutters something that sounds like a curse.And I don’t blame him.Josh Cunnings is a motherfucking cockroach.
I only met him once ten years ago, and it was enough.
“Look, our next run happens in a few days,” I say, cutting through the tension.“I reached out to my contacts, and no one has heard a whisper about the Heathens coming back for more.So I’m hoping our little skirmish was enough to dissuade them.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Micah says without looking up.“Even with only two of us on a delivery, we’ll be able to cover ourselves.I’ve got the new rig ready to go—state-of-the-art surveillance, reinforced locks updated with all the new biometric tech, bullet-resistant cab.No one’s sneakin’ up on us this time.”
“Good,” I say, nodding.“We got this, boys.Just like old times.”
I pause, glancing at them both.“But I feel like I should tell you all that Bit?—”
Micah snorts, finally looking up.“Bro, we really don’t give a damn who you’re shacked up with.”
My hackles rise instantly.“I’m not shacking up with her.This is different.”
Benji chuckles under his breath.Micah smirks, but I’m not smiling.
“And I know it’s fast,” I continue, leveling a hard stare at both of them, “so I’ll let you off with a warning.But you only get one.”
Micah raises his hands in mock surrender.“It’s like that, hoss?”
“Damn straight,” I growl.“Just watch your mouths about Lil Bit.Do that, and we’ll be good, brother.Got it?”
“Copy,” Micah says, the humor gone now.
Benji studies me for a moment, his expression thoughtful.
“Well, hell.So you really do care for this woman?”
I nod once.It’s not enough to explain it, but words aren’t my strong suit.
Care fordoesn’t come close.
It’s an understatement the size of Texas.
I obsess over her.
I ache for her.
Hell, I think I love her already.
But that’s not something I’m saying out loud—not here, not yet.
She deserves better than a confession tossed around a barn office between shipment schedules.
“Thing is,” I say instead, voice lower now, “one of the Heathens—the prick who started all this—he’s got history with Bit.He’s why she came running here with those guys, the Destiny’s Enforcers MC.”
Micah frowns.“What do you mean, history?”
I clench my jaw.
“Asshole came on strong, wouldn’t take no for an answer.Started a bar brawl over her, and the DEMC boys got her out of there.Turns out he’s a full-patch Heathen, and that crew likes to dabble in human trafficking.”
Benji slams his hand on the desk.“The fuck?”
