Tongue (Ruthless Kings MC #8) - K.L. Savage Page 0,63

married.” Our bloody hands lock together, and he slips the knife into another pocket where it can be seen. We walk out of the alley, and I wait for someone to notice the mess on us, everyone is laughing, drinking, and ignoring us.

We pass the Bellagio, and the fountain is putting on a show with different colored lights flashing. Tourists are stopped, pointing at the tall sprays of water. We pass a sad-looking Elvis who is overweight, and the wig is crooked, but people are paying him for pictures anyway. There’s a man painted silver, standing stock still.

I think it’s a man.

I don’t know. He’s really convincing. I lean forward as we walk by, and his eyes follow me. I jump, holding my hand to my chest and laugh, then wave as Tongue pulls me behind him. I’m thirsty, and my skin is sticky with sweat from the humidity in the air. When we stop in front of the hotel, I’m surprised when I notice the Circus Circus Casino, but the name is gone, blank, and everything is under construction.

“Maximo is rebuilding this piece of shit. The inside is classy. Perfect to marry you in. Then, we can get a room, maybe after we visit the underground fighting ring. Shit! Your ring. I haven’t gotten you one.”

“It’s okay. I don’t need one. I just want to be with you.”

“No, no! You need a ring. Fuck.”

“Tongue? That you? You crazy son-of-a-bitch!”

I dip behind Tongue’s back to hide behind his massive back and peer around his shoulder.

“Maximo. The man I wanted to see.”

“Really? That’s interesting. What can I do your for? You want to get in on some fighting action? God, you’d make me a lot of money.”

“Can I cut out tongues?”

“You can do whatever the fuck you want. You do that for me, anything is yours.”

I tighten my hand around Tongue’s and push up my glasses with my fingers. Maximo leans to the left and eyes me, smiling.

“Well, look at you, Tongue. I had no idea a man of your caliber was interested in women.”

“You never asked. Don’t look at her or I’ll fucking kill you.”

“How can I not look at her? She’s cute, a little geeky, which I’m surprised because you’re big and scary,” Maximo laughs, pulling out a long cigar from his pocket. He rubs it under his nose, sniffing it, which reminds me of how Tongue smells books.

“Mine,” Tongue snarls at him and pushes me behind his back more to completely block me from Maximo.

Maximo rolls his eyes, and he snaps his fingers in the air. Immediately, a guy the size of Tongue lights a match and places it on the end of the cigar. Maximo puffs until the orange glow is constant. “Don’t be a caveman. I’m not interested in your librarian. What do you want? Why is a lone Ruthless King on my property? Is this about my brother?”

“No. I’m here because we are getting married. Can we do it here? Penthouse Suite, the works. I need a ring too. I’ll pay any price.”

“You fight three fighters, and it’s all yours.”

“I’ll kill them,” Tongue states. “I don’t fight to wound, Maximo.”

“I know. That’s what I love about you.” Maximo brushes off the lapels of his expensive suit. The lapels are black but the suit itself is blue. He’s a good-looking man. Tan skin, pretty hair that’s combed back in waves. He points the cigar at Tongue’s hair. “You aren’t getting near anything expensive with that hair. I have a reputation to uphold.”

“It isn’t that bad.”

I chuckle when I hear the pout in Tongue’s voice. He isn’t the kind of guy to pout.

“It’s bad. You did it, didn’t you? I swear to god, a guy cuts for a living but can’t cut his own damn hair. How does that make sense?”

“You want those fights or not?” Tongue marches forward, and I yelp when I’m jerked forward unexpectedly.

“Hey!” Maximo snaps his fingers. “I’m serious. You aren’t going in there with that haircut. I’m building a business here. I can’t allow just anyone in. You have fucking blood on your shoes. You aren’t tracking that in. Jesus, did you kill on your stroll over. I’m going to call Reaper and tell him his psycho fled the building.”

“Don’t,” Tongue warns, the hint of the playful side of him gone. “Don’t call him.”

Maximo tilts his head up to meet Tongue’s eyes, grinning like a scum who just figured out something he could use for himself. Knowledge is power and the only