“Shit, what’d it cost you to have them look the other way?”
André half smiled. “They might’ve gotten an anonymous tip about a shipment of guns at one of the LCs’ warehouses.”
Christ. “Why’d I ask?”
He ignored me. “Nicole’s a good woman.”
“Never said she wasn’t.” I pulled into Blaze and Layna’s development and waved at the guard in the guardhouse to open the gate.
“You ever think about settling down again?”
“Nope,” I lied, turning into the driveway behind two black SUVs.
André smirked.
THE FIRST THING I NOTICED when I walked in was Neil sitting at the dining room table with Siren having a hushed conversation. The second thing I noticed was how she was leaning toward him.
I saw red.
Knowing my projectile before I even took a step, André grabbed my arm. “Leave it. He needs to talk to her.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I seethed.
André stepped in front of me and got in my face. “He’s apologizing. Leave it.”
Siren dropped her gaze to her lap. Neil reached for her shoulder and she put her cheek—her fucking cheek—on his hand.
Six motherfucking hours. That was how long it took her to find the next asshole willing to pick up her cause? Neil could fucking have her.
Kendall strolled up. “Do you have any friends who aren’t muscle-head assholes?” She glanced at André and rolled her eyes. “Besides the little Cuban boy?”
André smiled at her. “Good to see you too, sexy.”
Roark walked in with his dog Missy on his heels, nodding as he passed me. “Talerco.” He set a large black duffel on the kitchen table next to two others just like it.
“Roark,” I grumbled, glaring at Siren, silently daring her to look in my direction.
Kendall glanced at Roark then Neil. “Do they fight each other for gym time or just shoot each other up with steroids before they lift?”
Siren put her hand on top of Neil’s and I lashed out at the nearest target. “Shut the fuck up, Kendall.”
She ignored me. “And the Irish-looking one’s dog hates me. She stares at me like she’s going to have me for dinner.”
Roark passed us on his way back to the garage. “I’m Scottish, not Irish, and she’ll only bite you if I tell her to.”
Right then, I would’ve handed over the deed to my house for a distraction like that. Roark had never said, and I sure as fuck wasn’t going to ever mention it, but I knew Missy was a PTSD service dog. Afghanistan had fucked us all in one way or another. And now I was getting fucked by a little blonde who’d used me and wouldn’t forgive me but was rubbing all over the man who’d actually pulled the goddamn trigger.
Kendall stepped out of the dog’s way and moved closer to André. “Charming,” she dripped sarcastically.
André threw an arm around Kendall’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
I was so intent on Siren, I barely noticed that André didn’t incur the wrath Kendall reserved for anyone who touched her.
Roark came back with two more duffels and set them on the floor next to the kitchen table. “That’s it.” He looked at his watch. “The plane will be ready at nineteen hundred hours.”
“Let me guess,” Kendall said dryly. “He served in the Marines with you two.”
“Semper Fi.” André grinned.
Neil stood and helped Siren to her feet. Eyes wet, she looked up at him like he was her fucking salvation. He pulled her into his arms.
I was going to kill him.
He finally released her, turned and came straight at me.
“What the fuck was that?” I hissed.
“What needed to be done.” Deep, quiet and threatening, his tone said it all. Drop it or I’d be sorry.
Fuck him. Fuck Siren. I wasn’t good enough for her but this asshole was? I fumed. “You gonna fuck her too?”
“You done being selfish?”
My nostrils flared and I was intent on only one thing—my hands, Neil’s neck.
“Talon?” Siren quietly asked.
My head snapped in her direction.
“Can I talk to you outside for a minute?” Her hands twisted in front of her.
I was so fucking mad, I couldn’t speak. I nodded.
She turned and I followed her to the lanai. She stopped in the front of the seating area but she didn’t sit. Inhaling, she faced me. “I know you didn’t kill Randy.”
I didn’t react.
“Neil told me what happened.”
I stared at her.
She glanced at her feet. When she looked back up, her face was softer. “I don’t blame you. Or him.”