Talon (Uncompromising #1)(85)

Hope surged like a cruel joke and I dropped my wall. “I’m angry you lied but I’m not judgin’ you. I’m not walkin’. I’m standin’ here offerin’ us a chance.” I knew I shot at Randy. I knew we had a mountain of baggage between us. But I was staring at a woman who’d made me feel human for the first time in two years and goddamn it, despite everything I wanted a chance at happiness with her.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Maddie is my priority,” she said carefully.

My heart sunk and I reached for any other way I could interpret those words but I couldn’t find one. Worse, I couldn’t blame her. Her daughter should be her priority. Everything she’d kept hidden, everything she’d done, it was for her daughter. She thought she was keeping her safe. I didn’t hate her for lying, I fucking admired her strength. But I was done playing hero.

I locked down my expression and turned.

“Wait,” she called, panicked. “I wasn’t finished.”

I didn’t even pause. “I am.”

“Talon!”

I didn’t bother to look back. I walked out.





I GRABBED MY CAR KEYS instead of the rental’s keys and was at a bar in South Beach before my conscience could kick in. On a roll with bad decisions, I snagged the first blonde who made eyes at me and an hour later I was shit-faced and she was worse.

“Fuck.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “What shot number is this, Huntress?”

The blonde giggled then slurred, “I dunno. Three? Ten?” She tried to look sexy as she leaned toward me. “Does it matter?”

“Suppose not.” I threw back another shot. “I ain’t fuckin’ you.”

Her bottom lip stuck out like a cartoon caricature. “Why not?” she pouted.

Because she wasn’t Siren. “I don’t do blondes,” I lied.

She leaned back, affronted. “Seriously? What kind of bullshit is that?”

I threw a few bills on the bar and stood. For a second, I had sea legs. “The kind you’ll thank me for later.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I took in her straight blonde hair, cute face, and fake tits. She was decent. “Lemme ask you somethin’. Why you in a bar on a perfect beach day?” The sun was hot and the waves were big for south Florida.

She drunk grinned. “To get laid.”

I smirked. I was right, she was a huntress on the prowl.

She pointed a finger at me. “Why are you here?”

“Good fuckin’ question.” I tipped my chin at her. “Thanks for the distraction, darlin’.” I aimed for the exit.

Too shit-faced to drive and too sober to pass out in a hotel, I stripped off my shirt and hit the beach. I could use a run but with the alcohol coursing through my system, I didn’t have shit for motivation. I walked to where one of the hotels had umbrellas and lounge chairs set up on the sand and claimed one. A cabana kid was on me in a flash, asking for my room number. I pulled a hundred out of my wallet and shoved it at him. “Just takin’ a nap.”

“Yes, sir.” He took the cash and left.

Five minutes later, I was out.

I woke up as the sun was setting. I put my sunglasses on anyway and made my way to the Challenger. Five meters out, I let out a string of cuss words.

André was leaning on my car, doing something on his phone. He didn’t even look up when I approached. “I was about to come get you. Make sure you didn’t fall in.”

“Fuck you.” I unlocked the doors with the remote.

André shoved off the car and looked up. Then he grinned. “Nice fucking haircut, jarhead.”

“How’d you find me?”

“Tracker on the Challenger.” He made a show of looking at my head and laughed. “You didn’t actually pay for that shit, did you?”

“Fuck you again.” Wait. “You’re tracking me?” Damn it, I knew I should’ve taken the rental.

He held up his cell and showed me a map-looking app. “And your phone.”

Jesus Christ. “Is anythin’ I do private?”

“Nope,” he said cheerfully.

I got in my car and he followed to the passenger side. “Find your own ride, dickhead.” I leaned my head back. Reeking of sweat and booze, my mind a mess, I felt like I’d been chewed up and spit out.

“And let you get a DUI all by yourself?”

“I’m not drunk.” Not anymore. “Whatdaya want?” I needed a gallon of ice water.

His voice went all business. “I talked to Nicole.”

My chest took a hit. “Good for you.”

“Going radio silent for six hours, you didn’t leave me much choice.”