He gulps before clearing his throat and returning his focus to my arm. I try not to squirm on the bed as desire pools low in my belly, and my pussy aches with fresh need.
His hair is back to messy today, and damp strands fall into his eyes. Without thinking, I lift my free hand, weaving my fingers through his hair. He stalls again, sucking in a soft gasp he probably thinks I can’t hear. “I love your hair like this,” I murmur, leaning forward and pressing my nose into the tangled waves. “So soft.”
He turns his head, and our noses brush as I straighten up. There is barely an inch between our mouths, and my eyes drop to his plump lips the same time his gaze lowers to mine. My heart is pounding, and butterflies are running amok in my chest. Every part of my body is acutely aware of Galen Lennox’s proximity, and my fingers itch with a craving to touch him.
He tried to murder you. That nasty inner devil cackles on my shoulder, effectively breaking the spell we’re under. I sit back and look away, feeling heartsick and confused. After a few seconds, he resumes his ministrations on my arm, fixing the new bandage securely in place.
He stands, shoving his hands deep in the pocket of his jeans as he eyeballs me. “I need to check on my mom. I want you to come. The others have stuff to do.”
“Okay,” I say before I’ve had time to second-guess myself. Galen and I need to spend time alone to start healing, and he’s extended an olive branch.
His eyes land on mine. “Okay. I’ll wait outside. Take your time.”
I rummage through the bag I brought with me last night, finding a wrinkled green knee-length jersey dress. I pair it with black-and-white-striped leggings, my white Vans, and my black leather jacket. Letting my damp hair hang in soft waves, I slick some gloss on my lips and apply a light layer of blush to my cheeks and a thick layer of mascara to my lashes. I grab my purse and cell just as it vibrates.
I curse as I read the message from Dar, slipping my cell in my purse and bounding down the stairs.
The lower level is empty, so the guys must be either in the workout barn or they’ve gone someplace. I walk to the wall with the framed posters, taking a few quick pics of the naked women, smirking as I head outside to meet Galen.
He’s already behind the wheel of my Lexus, so I slide in the passenger seat. “You sure you’re okay to drive?”
“I’m fine.” His eyes rake over my body in appreciation. “I barely register the pain in my ribs anymore,” he adds, starting the engine.
“Darrow just messaged me,” I say, bringing my knees up to my chest.
“Shit. When does he want to meet?”
“Later today, but I told him midweek.”
He smirks. “Bet that went down well.”
“I really don’t give a fuck. I’m not at his beck and call, and he needs to remember that.” I glance out the window as we approach the gate that hides their place from prying eyes. Galen pops out, and I slide into the driver’s seat, maneuvering the car out onto the road. Galen secures the gate and sets the alarm through his cell before climbing back in the car. I crawl into the passenger seat, and we head out.
“Has Dar reached out to you since you met with him?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“Nope, but I’m not surprised. I fully expect him to drag this out now that he thinks you’re going to feed him intel.” He punches a button on his cell. “We should update the others.”
I nod, listening as Galen tells Saint Dar has reached out.
“I need something to give him,” I say.
“We have it covered.” Saint’s deep tone does funny things to me even through the phone. “Sinner has a truck coming from Mexico next Wednesday.”
“Since when?” Galen asks, frowning.
“I overheard him on the phone just now.”
“You’re at the house?” I ask.
“Yeah. He summoned me.”
“For what?” I sit up straighter.
“Probably an update on the Lowell Academy situation. He’s eager to lock Lowell down tight. Jase and Chad gave up their supplier. This is the guy we’ve been trying to find. He’s the only other dealer on the street, so we’ll get the academy and sole ownership of the town as soon as we take him out.”
“Why’d they give up their supplier?”
“Idiot raised his prices in some misguided notion that he has a monopoly,” Galen says, smirking.
“Your jock buddies don’t like being ripped off, so he’s delivered his turf right into our hands.”
“What will you tell Sinner?” I ask.
“I’ll feed him a few nuggets to get him off our back but not enough that he’ll be pushing you to complete your other two initiation tasks.”
“What about this truck?” Galen asks. “And why is he bringing supply in from Mexico?”
“That’s not usual?” I ask, my interest instantly piqued.
“No. We get guns from the Irish and drugs from the Italians, but he’s always looking for cheaper options, and I guess he found it.”
“Weird he didn’t tell us,” Galen says, taking a turn that leads us to the rougher part of Prestwick. My brow creases as I stare at him. I assumed we were going to his house in Thornton Heights, but this is in the opposite direction.
“I know.” Saint sounds tense.
“You think he suspects something?” I inquire, tucking my hair behind my ears.
“Maybe. Maybe not. Anyway, you can give the intel to Darrow, and that way, we’ll find out exactly what’s going on, Dar will have a win over the Saints, albeit a small one, and Sinner will shit a brick,” Saint says.
“Sounds like a plan,” I agree. “I’ll still make Dar stew until Monday.”
“Gotta go, man,” Galen says, pulling up to the curb across from a neglected three-story townhouse. It sits on its own plot of land, surrounded by forest at the rear and a boarded up corrugated fence in front. We’re parked in front of the fence, and I peer at the old, weathered sign hanging overhead, noting it was once a gas station and car repair workshop. Apart from a couple houses we passed a mile back, this place is isolated and creepy as fuck. It’s giving me a major case of the heebie-jeebies.
“Call if you need backup,” Saint says. “Watch your back, princess,” he adds before cutting the call.
“Where are we?” I inquire as Galen kills the engine and leans his forearms on the steering wheel.
A different kind of tension bleeds into the air.
He looks up at the dilapidated building across the street. Shutters are hanging off the cracked windows, the grass at the front of the house is waist high, and paint peels off the wooden façade. Crumpled cans, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and other trash rolls around the sidewalk in front of the property.
“What’s going on?” I ask, angling my body so I’m facing him.
“This won’t be pleasant,” he admits, turning to look at me. “The new housekeeper I hired to keep an eye on Mom called me this morning. She never came home last night.” He sighs, looking back up at the house again. “This is usually where I find her.”
Understanding washes over me. “It’s a drug house?”
He nods, pulling a gun out of the glove compartment. “I shouldn’t be too long.” He hands me the gun. “Keep alert. Don’t hesitate to use it if you need to.”