Page 78 of Property of Rattler

“It isn’t one-sided, Ames.” Baring my soul, I give her the truth. “Damn me to hell, for being selfish, but I want you to stay my wife. And most of all, I want you to fuckin’ kiss me.”

She draws in air. Then she leaves her seat and looms over me. She cradles my face in her hand, and her mouth descends on mine. That cock I wasn’t sure was working? Well, it comes alive as I allow her to take the lead. Our tongues touch, dance. All of my senses leave me except for my desire to have her in my bed.

“Flynn? I can hear an engine.”

I pull away, turn my attention back to where it should be. And fuck, she’s right. There’s a car bumping its way over the damaged gate we haven’t even tried to keep upright. It pulls into the compound, comes to a halt just in front of the clubhouse. Then two men get out, earnestly looking around, guns at the ready. I hold fire, neither man is Stone.

But finally, he exits the car when his guards give him the all clear.

“Really?” she snorts. “He believes his men are inside, guarding just Pippa and me. And he still hides behind bodyguards?”

“I’ll sort that.” Pressing the trigger, I take down both men, leaving just Stone standing. He spins on his heels, but he’s too late. Saint, Freak, Bullseye, Tempest and what looks like the whole club run out of the clubhouse, all guns pointing at him.

He puts his hands in the air. “I’m not here for trouble,” he says fast. “I just need to speak to my sister.” His words come through the open window clearly.

She stands.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I growl.

She’s almost at the door when she turns around and answers, “Malachi wants to talk to me. Just so happens, I’ve got something to say to him.”

“Wait for me!” I yell. Thank fuck she slows her steps as she hears the crutches thumping against the floor, but keeps ahead of me, presumably so I won’t stop her.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

RATTLER

Fuck, these crutches are awkward as hell. I’m trying my best to catch up with Ames, but she makes sure to keep at least one step in front of me. It’s obvious she thinks I’m going to try to stop her confronting Stone, but that’s not my agenda. If she wants to go head-to-head with him, then as long as he’s disarmed, I think she’s got that right. He’s put her through hell these past few months, and she deserves the truth from his mouth.

She’s already at the bottom of the stairs. I, having found navigating the descent difficult, and only managed by sheer determination, am well behind her, as Freak and Tempest escort Stone in.

Stone’s eyes blaze when they land on her. He tries to move toward her, but Freak yanks him back. Then he catches sight of me, and his jaw visibly drops.

Raising a finger he points and snarls, “I saw you die. You and that fuckin’ man you call Prez.”

“Yet here we are,” Bullseye makes his entrance and drawls lazily, his arms casually folded.

“How the fuck?” Stone sounds stunned.

“Um, that would be me,” Pippa retorts, having exited her office. She’s got baby Jade in her arms, clearly having seen Stone’s no longer a threat. Nevertheless, Saint goes over and puts his arm protectively around both his old lady and daughter, clearly taking no chances.

He should be protecting his prez, yet he goes to his woman first.Then my eyes fall on Ames, and my gut tells me to move toward her and use my body as a protective shield. And I would, if I didn’t need both fucking crutches for support.Maybe I’m getting it now.My loyalty is to my club, but if shots started firing, it’s her I’d go to first.

Stone’s eyes go to Pippa, who’s currently projecting the image of a suburban mom, rather than the badass that she really is. If it wasn’t for her and her amazing brain and training, handling my crutches wouldn’t be a problem, I’d already be dead.

Stone sneers at her. “Sure.” He rolls his eyes. “And what did you do? Put in a call to the club’s explosive expert?”

Planting a kiss to Jade’s head, she retorts, “Iamthe club’s explosive expert.” She’s not claimed that before, but after yesterday, I’m not going to question her appropriation of the title. I do give a sideways glance toward Freak who’s looking amused. “I hacked into those amateur cameras you set up and put them on a loop. All the time you thought you were just watching Rattler, I was talking Bullseye through how to disarm the bomb.”

“B…but,” he stammers as if unsure of himself. “But I saw the bomb blow up. It was still on his lap.” He jerks his head back in my direction. “I saw the orange ball of flame before it cut out. And the house has burned down…” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe he’s having to question the evidence he saw with his own eyes.

“Ever heard of AI?” she retorts scornfully. “I just gave you what you wanted to see.”

“The men I sent here?” He looks around. “Where are they? You’d never have turned them to work for you. You couldn’t have fought them. You had only a skeleton crew here. The rest of your gang shouldn’t have been able to get back from the rendezvous site in time.” Despite the evidence to the contrary, he still seems unable to contemplate that there were holes in his plan, nor understand how he’s been completely outmanoeuvred.

Bullseye gives a slow grin. “You think Pippa’s just our resident hacker? She’s far more than that. She’s fuckin’ deadly when crossed. And…” His grin broadens into a wide smirk. “Your sister is badass. I have it on good authority she shot at least one of the assholes herself.”

For the first time, he spins around and looks straight at Ames, sneering in disbelief “You’re fucking useless. You don’t even know how to fire a gun.”