Chapter 139
Alyssa
rae sits daintily on her lap, as if we’re
“Took you long enough, Christine scoffs, sliding into the backseat in a skin–tight pink dress. Her matching purse sits actually going shopping instead of plotting a break–in…
King’s jaw ticks, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. I see the retort brewing on his lips, but he swallows it down. I squeeze his hand, silently begging him: Let’s just get this over with. Please don’t strangle her and toss her body out on the side of the road.
This isn’t good. He’s already this wound up, and we haven’t even met up with War yet. Am I going to have to blow him in a gas station bathroom or something just to get his temper under control
The thought makes my mouth water before I can shove it back into the gutter where it belong
Focus, Alyssa
“What are you thinking about, kitten?” King asks quietly, his tone amused, but there’s a razor–sharp warning beneath it. He pulls the SUV out of Gray’s driveway with smooth precision, his fingers Bexing on the wheel.
u to be a good boy for me today.”
I glance at him, batting my lashes with feigned innocence. “How I could get you co
His eyes darken instantly, the comer of his mouth twitching into a dangerous smile. “I can think of a number of ways, actually,” be rumbles, his voice rougher now. “Starting with shutting up that bossy mouth of yours the way I know you love.”
I almost worry about Christine overhearing our conversation, but honestly, why should I care if she does!
I hum thoughtfully. “Maybe if you behave for me, I’ll let you do whatever you want to me tonight”
“You’ll regret that,” he warns, his voice dropping lower. “But deal”
His free hand slides between my thighs like he can’t stand the thought of not touching me. It sends a thrill through my body, but I push it away.
Now’s not the time to get distracted.
sync my phone to the Bluetooth and hit shuffle. The opening notes of “Granite play solily through the speakers, Vessel’s angelic voice grounding me in the moment. King’s hand on my leg adds to the tether, a steady reminder of his presence.
Nothing will go wrong today. Nothing will go wrong today. Nothing will go wrong today.
If 1 chant that enough, can I speak it into existence?
The car remains silent.
- t. Whether everyone’s enjoying the music or just trying not to kill their best friend’s wife, I don’t know, but I take it as a win I’m halfway through humming along to the song when Christine decides to run it.
“What the hell is this trash music?” she mutters,
disdain dripping from every word.” Can we put on something elset”
I pause mid–note, slowly turning toward King. “Pull over, Right The Fuck Now?
His lips tip with suppressed laughter as he obeys, guiding the car to a smooth stop on the shoulder.
I spin in my seat to face Christine, locking eyes with her. “Listen here, Barbie. You ever call Sleep Token trash again, I don’t care what you threaten to sell Gray–you’ll be too dead to say a word.”
Her face twists in disbelief. “Are you seriously threatening me over a band”
“No, I’m promising,” I snap. “You’ve called me a whore more than once, questioned my ability as a mother, made me envy a woman who, by the way, has zero interest in King–maybe go look into her and Gray’s history–and you’re also blackmailing us. But I draw the line at you talking shit about my favorite band.”
Christine roll her eyes, waving me
e off. “Fine. I’m sorry. Can we go now!
1 look at King and gesture toward the road. “Go ahead, baby”
As the car pulls back onto the asphalt, Mason’s laughter breaks the tension, low and husky in my ear. “I swear, you make me fall more in love with you every single day, little warrior”
In un’t long before we pull into the parking lot of a rundown motel. My stomach tightens when I spot War leaning against his bike. Dressed in black
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Chapter 139
jeans and his club jacket, he flashes us a menacing smirk as we climb out of the SUV.
War removes his dark shades, slipping them into his pocket, and flicks his fingers in a silent command to follow. We trail him across the lot to a dingy motel room. He unlocks the door with a key, gesturing for us to step inside.
The room is dimly lit, with hideous lime–green wallpaper peeling in sad curled strips. The bed sags like it’s given up on life after years of questionable use, and the old TV hums in the background. Mildew clings to the air, and thanks to my heightened pregnancy senses, it takes everything in me not to fucking gag
God, if I puke in here, I might add to the biohazard already festering in this place.
No one sits. No one even leans against the wall. It’s like we all silently agree that touching anything in here might infect us with something terminal.
“My skin is crawling,” Christine mutters, clutching her bag like someone might come out of the wall and grab it
War shoots her a glare. Then talk faster.”
His attention shifts to me, his lips twitching into a smirk. “Lile psycho
“Big asshole,” I retort without missing a beat,
His grin widens as he drawls, You’re in a mood today”
I roll my eyes. “Tell me about it We’ve got enough on our plate, and now we’re standing in a room covered in. God–knows–what”
“Gray said you just needed another babysitter for a mall trip,” War says, his eyes glinting. “But I figured it was a lie when King texted me to meet up here.
yeah, i
it’s a bir
more than that,” I admit.
War chuckles darkly, folding his arms. “Alright, let’s hear it
I glance at King and Mason. Neither of them speaks, their unreadable gazes fixed on War. They’re leaving this to me, Great. No pressure.
“We’re breaking into a house,” I start, mirroring his arm–crossing. There’s something we need to retrieve
His brow arches, clearly intrigued. “Go on
“It’s Gary Phillips’s house.”
For the first time, War’s smile falters. His jaw tightens, and he straightens slightly, his easy demeanor slipping. The police chief,” he says slowly, disbelief lacing his tone. “Yeah, that’s gonna cost extra”
of
“Of course it will,” I say dryly. “Name your price*
Wait, did Gray offer to pay him! And if he did, I don’t think I’m authorized to increase it, considering I don’t have any money. But I don’t back down, completely immersed now in my role as group negotiator.
War’s eyes narrow,
assessing me. “What could a litle Disney princess like you possibly offer me?”
1 hold my ground. “I said name your price. War”
His laughter fills the room, a dark, throaty sound that sends a shiver down my spine. “How about a few home–cooked meal? Haven’t had one in a
His answer catches me off guard. “You…you want me to cook for you?”
Do I look like Betty Crocker to him?
odem w
He tilts his head, studying me like a puzzle he’s half–interested in solving. “Unless you don’t know how! I heard how you modern women feel about cooking—it’s too gender roles.‘ right?”
“Who said I didn’t!” I snap, bristling at the implication.
His smirk returns. “You did, with that weird response”
I straighten, refusing to let him get under my skin. “I just wasn’t expecting that, that’s all. How exactly do you plan to receive these pa
payments!”
He shrugs. “However you want. Drop them off or I could come over and have dinner with you and your old man. That sounds fun, doesn’t it
“Like hell you will. King growls.
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1 shoot hum a look that says behave. He inhales sharply through his nose, but doesn’t argue further.
Chapter 139
They wanted me to handle this, and I am. And with the plan we’re about to execute, we’ll definitely need War’s help, so if we have to sit have a few meals with this asshole, so be it.
we love to sit down
and
“Fine. I’ll cook for you.” I say, stepping closer to War and grabbing the front of his jacket. My voice drops to a venomous whisper. “But keep pushing my buttons, and I might just poison your ass.”
War’s grin
stretches wide, full of dark amusement, “Wouldn’t put it past you, little psycho. You are full of surprises, after all.”
firmly in place. “So, what’s the plan? Or are we just winging this shit?”
He turns to the rest of the group, the smile
le still
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