Dirty Deals by Nicole James Page 0,60
be funny?”
Hilarious. I nod. “I hate people like him. So full of themselves.”
“Exactly.”
“Why don’t you put the gun down? You really don’t need it anymore, do you? And you’re scaring my girl, here. Do you know sometimes we do threesomes?” I only hope Kara doesn’t look surprised and give me away for the liar I am.
He eyes Kara, as if considering it, as if he’s picturing us both climbing all over his body. Kara, god-love-her gives him a little wink and a sexy smile, then says in a sultry whisper, “I like it rough. Are you the kind of man to give it to me rough, Nick?”
He grins.
The window behind him shatters, and Kara screams. Then everything registers in my brain in slow motion. I’m splattered with blood as he pitches forward; the gun he was holding clatters to the hardwood floor. There’s a bullet hole in the back of his head and part of his face is blown off.
I shove him away and shuffle backward as fast as I can. The back door bursts open, and Reno and Rusty dash inside.
Reno rushes to Kara, taking her face in his hands and searching her for wounds. His eyes flare when he sees her restrained. “Butterfly, are you okay?”
His voice sounds distorted to me.
She nods and bursts into tears as he jerks a knife from his belt and slices through the zip ties.
It isn’t until Rusty drops to his knees next to me, grabbing my upper arms, and taking in the blood splatter, that my mind rights itself back to reality.
“Are you hurt, Hot Rod?”
I look into his face. His skin is tight, his lips thin, his nose flared, and his eyes wide. I can only shake my head, too choked up to speak.
He grabs me tight in his arms, and I cling to him, breaking down with a sob. I was so terrified he wouldn’t get here in time. Over his shoulder I see Reno press an open palm over Kara’s belly, his glazed eyes on hers, silently asking the question he’s afraid to voice.
She nods, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m okay, honey.”
He grabs her up in a hug, and I can finally breathe again, knowing she’s safe. I pull back and meet Rusty’s eyes. “Vee?”
He shakes his head, confirming what I already knew. “She’s dead. So is the other Rialto brother. He was behind the garage diggin’ her grave. Now it’s gonna be his.” He glances over as Reno leads Kara out of the house, then turns to me and asks, “Prospect said you’d left with Vee?”
“She had a gun on us. I was afraid she might hurt Kara and the baby, so I went along with her.”
“Why would she do that? I don’t get it.”
I lift my chin to Nick’s body. “They followed her, made her an offer. She sold us out for the grand they promised her.”
“You’re shittin’ me?”
“Nope.” But I don’t want to talk about her. I search his eyes, thinking about everything he just did to save us. “I’m glad you figured out my message for help.”
He huffs out a laugh, some of the tension leaving his face. “Took me a second, but, yeah. You were smart to do that.” He looks down at my dress and frowns. “What’s with the outfit?” His eyes move again to Nick, and he realizes the man’s dick’s hanging out of his pants. “Ashlynn—”
I pluck at the hem. “I was trying to think of any way I could to distract him.”
“I see.” He’s quiet a moment, then asks the question burning in his brain. “He didn’t—”
“No,” I quickly assure him. “It never went that far. Thank God, you got here in time. I’m not sure how much longer he would have waited before he finished us off.”
“Christ, baby. You damn near gave me a heart attack.”
“I’m sorry I dragged you into all this.”
“Shut up about that. Don’t you ever apologize for any of this again. I’m the one who didn’t keep you safe. I let you down.” He drops his eyes.
I cup his face in my hands and make him look at me. “You didn’t let me down. You risked your life for me, the lives of your men. You saved me. How can I ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me?” I shake my head. “I’ll never be able to—”
This time he cuts me off with a kiss. Its urgent and demanding, then turns soft and tender. When he finally pulls back, he brushes the