Red Hot(Sex & Mayhem #5)(116)

Jack groaned and pulled his hand away. “I don’t want you there when I fake-eat pussy.”

Adrenaline shot straight into Loki’s brain. “I wanna be there. I can’t just sit here like Candy, all doe-eyed, and wait for my man to come back.”

“You shoulda become an outlaw then.” Jack crossed his arms on his chest, and even now Loki’s eyes wandered to the dark nipples. Lucy had been right - they were distracting as hell.

He exhaled, knowing he needed bigger guns. “If you won’t let me come, I’ll tell everyone who dented your side,” he said, nodding at the still-fresh scar on Jack’s body. He found it strange that it was him who put it there, like it had happened in some alternative reality.

Jack’s eyes went wide. “You have a death wish or something?”

Loki swallowed and stepped forward, lowering his voice. “I don’t want to be on the sidelines.”

“Fine!” Jack hissed at him and stomped off.

Loki watched him disappear in the doorway to the living room. He knew he was playing with fire, but he couldn’t let it go, be more worthless to this mission than Candy, who at least made the croissants.





Chapter 32



Jack refused to talk to Loki for the remaining minutes in the house, but Loki knew his man would eventually come around. The big, fragrant T-shirt was a bonus.

It took them twenty minutes to drive all the way to Paxton’s house. Just like Jack’s it was located by the beach, on a picturesque hillside, with the nearest neighbor’s windows shining in the dark far enough for them to feel safe about their mission. With everyone but Lucy banned from the front seats, the drive passed on Sam’s banter with Jack.

They all sat in the back of the van when Lucy went off to Paxton’s house with a bag of croissants and a sob story about one of the Nails hurting her. She wore a wire, so they could keep tabs on the developing situation, and so far so good. Lucy was in the house, and in the shaky picture from a tiny camera attached to her button, they could see Paxton chew on her lip in a sparsely decorated living room. There were stacks of boxes in the background, and it almost felt as if she hadn’t unpacked since her last move, which according to Monster was over a year ago.

Paxton put a glass of water in front of Lucy and sat back in the armchair. “Do you need medical attention?”

“No, I think I’ll be okay, I just want it to be over.” Lucy sobbed and Loki had to admit that her acting was top-notch. “I overheard Red Jack bitching about you liking croissants over donuts, so I brought you some. He’s such an ass.”

Sam snorted in the darkness, the pale light of the monitor giving the side of his face a white sheen. On the screen, Paxton raised her eyebrows. “Crude and unappetizing. Like all of them are. I’m sure you know much more about it than I do, considering your profession. No offense.”

“Yeah, I do it for the money, but I wouldn’t let any of those guys in my pants. And God knows, they try. Every freaking day. And the abuse they hurl at me if I don’t want to suck their dick…” Lucy made a gagging sound, and the picture shifted to the table, as she changed her position slightly.

Paxton’s voice was still very clear. “I don’t have anything against a woman in your profession, but I am sorry when I see some of you girls go through all that abuse in a place where you aren’t safe. What happened now that you decided to talk to me?”

“Their new prospect got drunk and all of a sudden he thought he could just do whatever he wants. He chased me, pulled my hair, slapped me. I just got on my bike barefoot and told myself enough is enough.”

“And no one came to help you?”

“They were away. I was just hoping to crash here, since you’re a female cop. I felt really unsafe. Some of my girlfriends had bad experiences at the station. I got these as a thank you in advance sort of thing.”

“That’s very nice of you. Where did you get those at this hour?” asked Paxton, and Loki chewed on his lip, nervous from just listening to the conversation. If Lucy fucked this up, she’d be in big trouble.

And there it was. Hesitation. “From the drive-thru Starbucks a few blocks away.”

“Didn’t know they have such nice croissants. They look like they just came out of the oven.”

And just like that, the van became ice cold.

“Shit,” muttered Sam as they watched the shaky picture of the glass of water on the table.

Jack bit his lip. “What can she possibly suspect her of?”

“Depends on how good Paxton is. There are cracks in Lucy’s story. Not good at all.”

Lucy continued. “I know, right? I was surprised to see them so fresh and lovely at this time. Maybe they reheat them, or something. I’d try, but I don’t do gluten. Maybe you can tell me if they’re any good.”