The man scrambled into a sitting position, holding his shoulder, his chest heaving. “No, sir.”
Rom pointed the gun at him. “We don’t mind paying you the money. It’s not a loss. The taxpayers will always give us more. What we do not tolerate is attitude. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, ah. Yes, what?”
Fucking military bastards, the man thought. “Yes, sir.”
“Good.” Rom walked over and patted him on the head. “Don’t fuck this up, Clark,” he called, walking to the door.
Clark scoffed. “You think I’d miss a chance at forty million?”
Rom turned, chuckling. “Well, if you fail, you’ll be going to prison.”
“What?”
“The United States government doesn’t like loose ends. Doss is a loose end, and if you don’t complete your mission, boy, so are you. Have a good day.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ash
The first stretches of sunlight streamed through Angel’s bedroom windows, a chorus of rays, highlighting the mostprecious of her things. The tall stack of books in the corner, their spines hard, soft, new, and worn. The cup of colored markers and pens on the small wooden writing desk across from her bed, facing the window that overlooked the sea. The end of her bed, where her cream knitted throw was bunched up over our feet. Her enchanting curves were covered by a thin sheet. The freckles on her shoulder. The golden band on her pinkie.
I’d been awake for nearly two hours, not daring to move, to end this. Angel’s head was on my chest, her arm curled, her fingers woven through my chest hair. Her leg was thrown over mine, her body close, my hand resting on her waist. Slowly and as quietly as I could, I twisted my neck, eyeing our phones on her nightstand. Any moment now, my alarm would sound and reality would burst into the room, chasing away the sunlight, her warmth, and everything we shared in the last forty-eight hours.
My team had gone quiet, aside from a text from Hayes that read:Rest and keep her safe. Update soon.
Marg’s Place was closed for the time being, not only to grieve, but to also give Angel time to decide on what to do. Kolby had offered her the position of head chef, and after everything, Marg agreed with it. Angel needed time. She didn’t think she was ready or qualified enough to fill his shoes. I thought different. Marg had asked for Angel to come in early this morning for a meeting. Whatever choice she made, I knew it was going to be the right one, and I was ready to stand beside her. To support her.
Whichever path she chose, I would follow.
My life was beginning again, just as we were.
We couldn’t hide from the world forever, despite wanting to. There was too much at stake, and with a target on my back, I needed to meet with the team and get briefed about everything they’d pulled together. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind, after learning Angel had been in witness protection all this time, thatRed Snake wasn’t on top of this. I was uncertain on a lot of things, but Angel and my family were my only constants. I was going to do whatever I needed to do to keep them safe, even if that meant leaving. For a time.
From the confessions to the sex…the filthy fucking sex. I never once expected that from her, and when she pulled up that curtain, revealing that part of herself to me so unabashedly?Fuck. I lifted my free hand, pinching the bridge of my nose as my cock stirred beside her soft thigh. “I’m never going to get enough of her,” I muttered, rubbing my hand down my face.
“Is that a bad thing?” she mumbled, nuzzling her face in my chest.
My lips twitched. “Good morning. Did I wake you?”
“No,” she yawned, stretching. Her arm swooped above my head as she rolled to her back, arching and groaning. Her knees shot up and then back down, pulling the sheet with them, revealing her tits to the soft morning glow. My mouth watered at the sight. When she finished her stretch and two more yawns, she curled back into me. “Goodness,” she whispered.
“Yeah,” I agreed, my hand resting just above her ass. My eyes were on the sea, my mind in the past. Both were far away, too far for me to reach. It was time to get back to reality.
“Ash?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you all right?”
I dropped my chin, finding her eyes and a crease of concern etched between her brows. My jaw clamped shut, the weight on my shoulders moving to my chest, crushing me. “We can talk about it later,” I said, brushing a kiss on her forehead.
Just a little more.
“But—”
