De Santo scrambled out of Hound’s grip before running away like an animal with its tail between its legs. It was reassurance.
Hound took the phone from Melody, “Much appreciated the assistance.”
“We are practically family. Nice to have friends in good places.”
Hound was a sly fuck, thinking of every angle, trying to control what he could. He pocketed his phone and turned around, looking at our shocked and confused faces. “What?”
“You had a mafia don in your back pocket, literally?” Hank snarked. “This entire time?”
Hound Dog shrugged. “Desperate times, I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to use him, but we needed extra fire power.”
“How?” I asked.
“You heard the man. I reached out to Memphis in North Carolina, spoke with Rawlings who had his own connections.” He said it like it wasn’t a big deal. “He crawled into that bed.”
What kind of world did we live in that it wasn’t a big deal. Two opposing sides of organized crime coming together. It shouldn’t work. But it did. It could.
Relief washed over us as we knew that the next couple of weeks meant that we were to see the end of our bargain through. Putting the city back in our control, ruling it all.
As we were dispersing, I grabbed Otis, “You got those papers?”
“Ready for a signature,” he nodded.
I looked at Amelia, a smile beaming on her face. “You ready to be free?”
“It’s really over?”
“Yeah, peaches, your nightmare is over.” I kissed her head, bringing her in close. I glanced back at Otis. “You think we can get the bastard back to the compound? Preferably in a shed?”
I saw the glimpse of fear in her eyes. “What are you going to do, Shooter?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to take care of it from here. Or at least until we get back from our little vacation.” I winked and then winced as a sharp pain hit my ribs. “I think my evil nurse needs to give me an exam.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Is that a fact?”
I pouted. “I have been a very good boy for you. I think you owe me.”
She rolled her eyes. “You are impossible sometimes.”
I reached for her, pulling her into me. “Patch me up and then I’m taking you somewhere.”
“Yeah to the beaches.” She sighed, a plastered smile on her face.
I shook my head. “Somewhere else.”
Pink colored her cheeks; I wondered what naughty thoughts just rushed inside her head.
Chapter 48
Shooter
Pain wasn’t forever, healing would come next. And I was about to show what forever was going to look like.
Her eyes wandered around, trying to piece together what was happening, but she didn’t speak a word. Her thoughts scattered around her.
My hand possessively laid in the crevice of her thigh, gripping it tight, trying to settle my own nerves and excitement. One stop before I could take her away. Scar from the Virginia Beach chapter owed me a favor. It’s what happens when you try to bet on your ride and then lose and then practically beg to trade for a favor. Especially knowing that favors didn’t have a limit. When I reached out to him, cashing in my favor if he could find a beach rental. After a few “connections”, my favor was cashed in. But of course, after a welcome from his president to come on through, I knew I couldn’t wait to have my girl on a beach, easing her pains away.
Street lamps lit our path until we came to a small development that had spaced out houses, giving enough privacy but enough to feel like a small community. Also away from the business ofthe city. An area where we weren’t too far from the compound but away from where I could escape when I needed to and come home to my safe place. My Amelia.
