Page 58 of Nicolette

“Why the fuck does she need to do that? So that red-haired crotch goblin can put her back in the ring and get her killed for real this time?” Rambler snarled as he moved me to the side and ever so slightly behind him. “You can tell that fucking ankle biter his contract is over, done, void of any power. But something tells me he already knows that if he’s sent you out here to get her.”

“It’s not The Broker you need to worry about. Mortas is the one demanding her to be returned,” Gavin explained. “He’s taken over everything across the river and is threatening to kill off every last one of us under The Broker’s hold if we don’t bring her to him.”

“Well, that certainly makes this more interesting,” Rambler muttered as he pulled out his phone, hit Nine’s speed dial, and raised it to his ear. “We’ve got a situation. Mortas is looking for Nicolette. What do you want me to tell his errand boy?”

He waited a moment, listening to whatever Nine was saying, but I was more focused on the movement I spotted around the corner of the diner. Had Gavin planned an ambush? No, that didn’t seem like him, but people did whatever it took when it came to saving their own ass. Without second guessing myself, I bolted off in the direction I’d see the movement, and thanks to my new Supe skills, I was fucking fast. Zeroing in with my hearing, I could tell whoever it was, knew I’d spotted them and was trying to make a run for it.

Grabbing the corner of the building, I flung myself around the corner and spotted the person running. I knew it was a woman, but with her hoodie pulled up, I couldn’t see if I knew the person. I booked it as fast as I could, but something in my gut told me to reach out with my magic as well.

“Stop,” I yelled, sending the word out like a whip.

Clearly, I put too much behind the word because the woman came to a screeching halt so fast she face-planted the sidewalk. Jogging up to her, I paused to sniff and realized I knew that scent. It was someone from the pride that I’d met. Using my booted foot, I kicked her over, and there was Amaretto with a bloody nose glaring up at me.

“Fancy meeting you here. Did you want to come join the conversation, or is lurking more your style?” I asked, reaching down and grabbing the front of her sweatshirt, hauling her to her feet. “You know, I wondered how Gavin found out exactly where I was, seems he had a snitch helping him out. Do you know what you’ve just done? The shit storm you’re about to bring down on everyone, not just me?”

“If it gets rid of you, then it’s well worth it,” she snapped.

I gave her a pitying look. “Oh, honey boo-boo, that is not how this works when the biggest baddest vampire decides that the Savage Pride has stolen his toy. A monster like that would rather kill everyone to make sure no one dares to take what’s his ever again.”

The look of horror on her face told me she’d had no idea. “No, they said The Broker was looking for you, that you hadn’t settled your contract, so he wanted you back.”

“How could he lie to you like that?” I gasped dramatically as I grabbed her arm and dragged her back toward the diner. “I mean, all bad guys tell the truth, right? They would never play on your desperation to get rid of competition or manipulate you into believing you weren’t going to start a turf war. That would just be underhanded and downright mean.”

“Fuck you, bitch.” Amaretto snarled as she tried to pull away from me, but my grip was too strong.

“Sorry, but you’re not my type. I don’t go to backstabbers and traitors,” I quipped as we arrived back in the parking lot.

Gavin was gone, but Rambler stood next to his bike, arms crossed with an expression that made me glad I wasn’t the one in trouble. I was a tough bitch, but fuck if that look didn’t make me double-check to make sure I hadn’t fucked up.

“Amaretto, what the fuck have you just gotten us into?” Rambler bit out through clenched teeth. “Is it true that you went to The Broker and told him that we had Nicolette?”

She cowered next to me, refusing to look at him.

“Answer me,” Rambler ordered.

She let out a pitiful sob before a shaky “y-yes” could be heard. Rambler stepped up and loomed over her, hands balled at his sides. “Did you also tell them that we would be there and it was just the two of us? Are you that fucking selfish that you would not only endanger her but me as well?” He paused for her answer, to which she nodded. “You claim to have only the best in mind for the pride, but what I’m seeing right now tells me the opposite. I just told that errand boy, Nicolette is the property of the Savage Pride. If his puppet master wants her, then he’s going to have to take her from our cold dead hands.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t know,” Amaretto wailed. “Honestly, they lied to me, used me. I’m a victim in this too.”

I scoffed at the woman. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? Tell me you don’t truly think this act is going to make anyone feel bad enough for you to overlook what you did?”

“This is all your fault. I was supposed to be with Nine,” Amaretto screamed as large tears rolled down her cheeks, ruining her mascara. “Before you came along, I was the top bitch in the pride, dealing with all the girls and working together with Nine to make this pride the best it can be.”

“Really, you think you’ve done right by those girls? From what I’ve seen, you used it as a way to make yourself into a queen that you’ll never really be. You’re nothing but a fucking mean girl, gathering those around you who stroke your ego and casting aside anyone who doesn’t. Now no one can trust each other because they never know when they’re going to get stabbed in the goddamn back,” I seethed, anger at the injustice these women have suffered under her care, making my lioness pace on the edge of my mind, ready to act at a moment’s notice. “You don’t give a shit about anybody else but yourself. I hope Nine banishes you from the pride and sends you across the river to lay in the bed you made.”

That seemed to strike a chord with her as she latched onto Rambler’s arm. “Wait, he wouldn’t do that, would he? Nine would never do that to a member of his pride. We’re family.”

“Ask him yourself,” Rambler said as he gestured with his chin toward the two SUVs pulling into the lot.

Chapter 23

Nicolette

The vehicles had the Savage Pride logo splashed across the hood, making it clear who they were. Right behind them were Dice and Circus on their bikes, who pulled up next to us while the SUVs parked a little further back. Nine and the twins got out of the first SUV while two men I didn’t know or recognize slid out of the second.

When the power of Nine’s magic and anger hit me, I fought with everything I had not to take a step back. Amaretto though, crumbled to the ground, great heaving sobs coming from her, making my eyes roll.

Nine completely ignored her and walked right up to me, cupping my face and planting a searing kiss on my lips. I gripped his wrists as my need roared to life, clearly not picky about who was going to finish the job as long as someone did.