Page 120 of Depraved

She stepped back next to Trick. “I needed to get out.”

“You went alone? At a time like this?”

Tanit licked at the cut on her lip then crossed her arms. “I didn’t think they’d come for me. It’s not like I’m important or anything.”

“Cut the crap, Tanit.”

“I’m sorry, okay? I needed to get away for a few hours, so I met up with some friends. That’s it.” Her gaze drifted from mine. “I didn’t think⁠—”

“You’re damn right, you didn’t think. You can be glad you’re still fucking breathing right now.”

“Granite,” Onyx called and gave me the stink eye, a silent way of telling me to fucking relax.

I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm down. It wasn’t Tanit’s fault they got caught up in the middle of this, just like it wasn’t Alyx’s or Neon’s fault. The collateral damage in this war was increasing by the day, and I had to fucking stop it as soon as possible, before someone else got hurt.

I turned to Trick. It was impossible not to notice the worry lines on her face as she draped her arm around her sister’s shoulder.

“You okay, Trick?”

“Yeah.” She flicked her blonde curls over her shoulder. “I’m just glad she managed to get away in time.”

“How did you manage to get away?” I asked Tanit, scanning her up and down, making sure there weren’t any bruises I missed.

Her lips curled. “I have a mean-ass right hook. I’m not the only one who’s sporting a bruised eye right now, I can tell you that.”

“Good.” I placed my hands on my hips. “We’re taking you two to the safe house until things settle down.” Fuck, who was I kidding? Things would never settle down until each and every one of those Pythons ate the dirt of their graves.

Trick nodded. “Thanks, Granite.”

“Yeah, don’t mention it. You pack light?”

“We did. We only had time to grab a few things.”

“Good. We’re riding from here. Grab your stuff. We need to head out.”

While Trick and Tanit grabbed their little backpacks from the van, Onyx and I made our way to the bikes.

“Tanit doesn’t seem too roughed up.” Onyx stated the obvious.

“Yeah. She looks okay.”

“She still has the hots for you, though.”

“Jesus, Onyx.”

He smirked. “What? You can smell that pussy from a mile away whenever she’s around you.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Onyx snickered then got on his Harley.

I grabbed my lid, and from the corner of my eye I saw Tanit walk my way. No matter how roughed up she was, it didn’t stop her from sashaying those hips of hers tightly hugged with a pair of leather pants.

She pulled the band from her hair, the brown locks falling over her shoulders. “Can I ride⁠—”

Onyx whistled. “Back here, sweetheart.” He motioned to the back of his bike as he started the engine.

Tanit regarded me with huge question marks swirling in her eyes, but I played the fool, pretending I didn’t know what she was trying to do.