The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward Page 0,141
no discount on them, but there are also no numbers, and we didn’t have to worry about dealing with legit human channels.”
Rhage nodded. “Fritz has got to be on some kind of watch list by now.”
“What else can we get from them?” Butch asked as he palmed up a third, the sound of metal-on-metal rising from his quick hands.
“Like they have a catalog or some shit?” V shrugged. “I’m thinking ask and ye shall receive.”
“Can we BOGO some rocket launchers?” Rhage asked. “Or, I’m telling you, we could use some anti-aircraft guns.”
Butch punched Rhage’s biceps. “If he gets anti-aircraft, I want a cannon.”
“You two are a pair of fuck sticks, you know that?”
Rhage took the duffel with the ammo, and Butch took the two suitcases so V could lock up and light up. They were about halfway across the cobblestones when V hesitated. Wobbled. Shook his head.
“What’s doing?” Butch asked.
“Nothing.” The brother kept going, taking the stone steps two at a time and opening the vestibule’s door. As he put his puss in the security camera, he muttered, “Just hungry.”
“I feel you on that one.” Rhage rubbed his belly. “I need food stat.”
The comment was casual. The look he and Butch shared was not. The reality, however, was that even Brothers could be hypoglycemic, and not everything was an emergency. Going by the cop’s grim expression, he was going to be on it, though, when he and V went back to the Pit for the day.
“Where you want this stuff, V? In the tunnel?”
When Vishous nodded, Rhage took the suitcases from Butch and walked the load behind the grand staircase to the hidden door to the tunnel. Unlocking things by entering the code, he placed the load of metal and lead on the landing and triple-checked that things re-locked as he shut the panel once again. With Nalla crawling, nobody took any chances with guns or ammo, even when the shit was separated.
Doubling back, he headed for the dining room.
Inside the beautiful space, there was lots of chatter and laughing, with people everywhere, and doggen making sure drinks were served before they brought out the food. Mary was over by Marissa, and at first Rhage started to go around to them, but then he caught the tension and backed off, taking his normal chair across the way.
Meanwhile, Mary was leaning into her boss, speaking urgently. Marissa nodded. Then shook her head. Then spoke. And now it was Mary’s turn again.
Had to be about work.
Maybe even about Bitty?
Manny pulled up a chair. “How we doing, young man?”
“Hey, old fart. Where’s your better half?”
“Payne’s having a lie-down. I tired her out, if you get what I mean.”
The two pounded knuckles, and then Rhage went back to trying to look as if he weren’t lip-reading. Which, P.S., wasn’t going that well.
“Cabbage nightmare, juicing machine cassette player,” Mary said.
“Movie magic twelve times a day.” Marissa took a sip from her wineglass. “Then tennis with the can-can. Peanuts and Philly steak, bagel bagel cream cheese.”
“Saran wrap?”
“Toothpaste.”
“Garage bay, Christmas bikini wannabe Grape Nuts with Dr Pepper.”
“Fuck me,” he muttered. And considering how many food references his brain was pulling out of their mouth positions, he was so ready to eat.
Mary eventually got up and the two nodded. Then his shellan came around to him.
“You okay?” he asked as he pulled out her chair.
“Oh, yes. Yes.” She smiled at him and then sat down and stared at her empty plate. “Sorry. I’m just…”
“What can I do to help?”
Turning to him, she rubbed her face. “Tell me that everything’s going to be okay?”
Rhage pulled her into his lap and ran his palm up and down her outer thigh. “I promise you. Everything is going to be fine. Whatever it is, we’ll make it fine.”
The doggen of the house filed in with silver trays of roast beef and potatoes, chicken and rice, and some steaming veggies and sauces. As Mary shifted back onto her own seat, he was bummed, but he understood where she was coming from. He would just end up feeding her until she was stuffed while he starved—and then he would wolf everything that wasn’t nailed down before dessert came.
They’d been through this before.
“Sire,” a doggen said behind him. “There is a special preparation for you.”
Even though he was worried about his Mary, Rhage clapped his palms and rubbed them. “Fantastic. I’m ready to eat this entire table.”
A second member of the staff removed his charger and pushed his silverware setting wide. Then a large silver