7
THE DINNER PARTY
Carrera
While they continued their run, Carrera finished telling Rebel what had gone down with him and Slash all those years ago.
“If this wasn’t your life, it would make for a great movie,” Rebel said.
“Sucks that it’s real,” Carrera said.
“Did you know she worked at the Bureau?” Rebel asked.
“Yeah, but we were in different divisions, so it was easy to stay out of each other’s way. It worked better when I was out of town on undercover gigs. It’s harder now that I’m back. She and my grandmother are super close. Slash takes her to her appointments, checks on her a few times a week.”
“She’s like your sister.”
Carrera laughed. “I walked in on her in the shower. There’snothingsisterly about that women.”
“You gotta work it out, or stay clear of her when we’re all together.”
“That’s just it,” Carrera said as he picked up the pace. “I don’t want to avoid her. I regret letting her go. It’s always been her.”
“I’ll help any way I can,” Rebel said.
“Thanks, brother,” Carrera replied. “This is on me. I fucked up, and I gotta find a way to win her back.”
A FEW HOURS LATER,the dinner party was in full swing. Carrera kept clear of Slash without making it obvious. If they made eye contact, which happened a lot, he’d offer a smile—which wasn’t reciprocated—or he’d hold her gaze until she broke first.
Her beautiful naked form was forever tattooed on his brain. He couldn’t shake it, no matter how hard he tried. But the fiery look in her eyes, the confidence in her voice, and the way she pressed close and kissed him made him crazy with need. She’d grown from a pretty girl into a gorgeous woman.
A woman he was determined to make his.
While he was talking to Sin and Dakota on the porch, Slash walked outside.
A hit of adrenaline sent blood whooshing through him.
Dakota smiled. “There she is. My former ALPHA partner.” He pulled her in for a warm hug. “I heard you’re kicking some serious ass these days.”
She slid her gaze from Dakota to Sin, to him. “Should I assume Carrera was talking about my performance at The Blue Suit Club?”
The twins regarded him.
“You didn’t tell us you were there,” Sin said to Carrera.
“Strip clubs aren’t my jam,” Carrera replied.
“Then, why—” Dakota began.
“He was stalking me,” Slash said, and Sin and Dakota started laughing.
“For real?” Sin asked.
“Guilty,” Carrera said.
“Did you make any progress with the case?” Dakota asked Slash.
“Someone did proposition one of the dancers, but she turned him down. When I mentioned prostitution, she told me some men like the turkey and all the trimmings.”
