Heartless (Steel Demons MC #6) - Crystal Ash Page 0,9

on the marble floor as he walked away.

“You didn’t mention anything about a gift from the governor,” I muttered, helping myself to a small paper cup of coffee.

Shadow’s eyes flicked to the spread but he didn’t move to grab anything. “When I went home last night, he, um,” his jaw ticked, “he sent a woman to my room.”

“Yeah?” I kept my voice as expressionless as possible while filing this information away. “And did you in fact enjoy his gift? Before or after you put your mouth on my wife?”

“I didn’t,” Shadow insisted, his gaze level on mine. “Nothing happened and I sent her away. She was gone before any of you got home.”

I hid my smile behind a sip of coffee. That was exactly what I’d hoped to hear. “Good man.” I clapped my palm on his shoulder. “I’m not sure if you’re aware of how this works, but while she has all of us, we cannot be with any others.”

“I understand,” Shadow murmured, turning to look blankly at the mostly-empty lobby. “I wouldn’t. I don’t want anyone else. And anyway—” He stopped talking abruptly, busying himself with a cup of coffee.

“Yes?” I implored.

“It’s nothing, president.”

“Shadow.” I turned to him. “If we share a woman, we need to be able to talk about things. That’s the only way this works. If something’s on your mind regarding her, please just spit it out.”

He wrapped his massive hands around the paper cup, staring down into the dark liquid. “I was going to say, I never imagined having a woman I could call mine, let alone one I could share with men I respect.” He swallowed thickly, raising his eyes to me. “I’m not experienced at this, but I’ll do my best, Reaper. I only want to do right by her.”

The man’s odd-colored eyes were starry with daydreams. He cradled his coffee as gently as if it were Mari’s hand. It was all I could do to keep from snickering. Shadow was completely and utterly smitten.

And Mari was too. She tried to play it cool on our walk this morning, but I could tell how excited she felt about him. I was a bit taken aback that she didn’t want to fuck him right away, but it was cute how she wanted to take things slow. Shadow was a different animal than the rest of us, that was certain.

“Hey! You all still waiting?”

Gunner’s voice floated toward us from the entrance, his boots echoing off the high ceiling.

“Governor’s finishing some business,” I muttered.

“Politicians,” Gun scoffed, moving toward the pastry table. “No one’s time matters but theirs.” He helped himself to a cheese Danish, folding the thing in half before shoving it all in his mouth.

“Mari get off okay?”

Gunner stared at me, the muscles in his jaw working as he chewed his pastry. “I didn’t exactly have the opportunity to get her off, but yes, we made it to the hospital and she’s fine.”

“Ass.” I slapped his puffed-out cheek, hoping to make him choke on his food.

The nerves in my stomach that had been twisting all morning remained, despite Gunner’s assurance. Daren’s warning filled my head like a beacon. If something happened at the hospital, would she be alright? Could I get there in time?

You’re going to have to break down the door. She’ll die if you don’t.

Fuck, I’d be as bald as T-Bone if I kept tearing my hair out over this shit. The easiest solution was to keep Mari home and guarded at all times, but she’d never go for that. I could only do it for so long too, before even my paranoid ass started to feel uneasy about keeping her prisoner. And that was if the warning was even about her in the first place. But why would my brother come to me in a dream to tell me about anyone else?

Damn it, Daren. Would it kill you to give one premonition that made sense?

“Ah, sorry to keep you gentlemen waiting.”

Governor Vance headed our way from his office wing with Josh in tow. While suited up and sharp as usual, the governor looked slightly disheveled from a few small details that were easy to miss. His voice was a bit hoarse and his tie was slightly askew. His face was flushed, skin dewy. But the most telling sign was the young woman storming away from his office, her blonde braid swinging angrily against her back.

“Daughter troubles, sir?” I inquired casually, although I wasn’t just making conversation. I wanted him to know