Chapter 14 Brutus
brUTUS
Her tattoos were amazing. She was right, they were vines with different flowers on them, but those flowers had dates inside of them.
Wrapped up in the outline design of the petals.
The vines were shaded beautifully. They wrapped all the way up her arms and legs.
They also wrapped around her waist and beneath her luscious tits.
They wound all the way up her neck, stopping just underneath her jaw.
I wanted to kiss every flower and trace every crook of that vine until I memorized what they looked like.
But morning time came much too soon, and it was time for patrols.
I didn’t have the heart to wake her, either.
Anna was usually an early riser, like me. But the sun began to rise, and she still snored on top of me. Oh yeah, she snored like a goddamn freight train.
It was the cutest thing I ever witnessed.
I went slow, easing her off my body so that I could tuck her in.
It didn’t take me long to stuff myself back into my clothes, and I hated that.
I wanted to stay in bed with her until someone else decided to cook breakfast. I wanted to stay wrapped up in her.
I wanted to wake her up with my tongue between her legs just so I could clean up the mess we made.
I shoved my hand into my pants and rearranged myself.
Fucking hell, this woman had a chokehold on me.
I stood there for a moment, just watching her rest. Her expression, relaxed. Her lips, crooked up ever so softly into the smallest smile. I wondered what she was dreaming about. Was it me? Was it someone else?
Just the thought made my lips peel back in a silent snarl.
Leave, Brutus. You have a job to do.
I reached down one last time and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. I bent forward to kiss that sweet little forehead of hers. I had to leave, there wasn’t anything I could do about that. But that didn’t mean I had to lollygag on my patrol.
I slipped out of her room and got to it.
Morning patrols never took long. Most of the crew were heavy sleepers, even when something was going on.
No one really ever roused until they smelled breakfast. Which meant that after about half an hour of walking the house and checking the perimeter, I headed to the kitchen.
Cap was already awake, which wasn’t unusual.
He was usually the first up after myself.
The mug of coffee in his hand told me he’d been up at least fifteen minutes.
Disheveled. Still in nothing but a pair of sweatpants.
He sported a grin on his face, though.
“Good night last night?” I asked as I walked over to the coffee pot.
“I was about to ask you the same question,” he said as he turned to face me.
“Can it,” I said flatly as I reached for a mug.
“Hey, I didn’t say a thing.”
I shot him a glare, but I couldn’t help the grin that tried parting my lips. “Thanks for making the coffee.”
He chuckled. “Not a problem.”
“The usual, you think?” I asked as I sipped my black coffee and cracked open the fridge. “Eggs? Bacon? Sausage? Biscuits?”
“Whatever we’ve got,” Cap said, “but after we’re done with breakfast, you’re going into town.”
I popped up from the fridge and crooked an eyebrow. “Oh?”
He nodded. “Things are kicking up in town. I need someone I trust to go check it out.”
That made me put my mug down before I closed the fridge door. “What’s happened? Did King and his guys find something while patrolling?”
“Among other things, yes.”
“What’s happened, Boss?”
He gave me a pointed look. “There’s been another kidnapping. This time in King’s territory.”
My eyes widened. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
He shook his head. “No, I’m not, so while they’re doing shit in their territory, I need someone I trust patrolling ours. You’re in civilian clothes today. I need someone keeping an eye on our businesses.”
“You’ve got it, Boss,” I said as I ripped the fridge door open and pulled things out to cook. “I’ll do another outside patrol as well before I head out. I’ll go half a mile in each direction from the house. Make sure there isn’t any evidence of someone already having found us.”
“You always know what’s on my mind.”
I pulled out pans for the stovetop. “Nope, first thing that crossed my mind. If there’s a kidnapping in King’s territory, it can’t be a coincidence since we’re also in King’s territory.”
“You want me to cook so you can get at it?”
I slowly looked over at him. “Are you that worried that you want to take over breakfast?”
He tilted his head. “I think I should act that way.”
I handed him the spatula. “Then, by all means, take over. I’ll start my patrols now.”
The instant he took the utensil from me, I grabbed my mug of coffee.
I downed it in three gulps, then splashed some water in my face at the sink in the kitchen.
I clapped my hands against my cheeks, still smelling the faint aroma of last night’s activities.
It made my heart beat quicker as I reached for some paper towels and dried myself off.
“After your patrol of the outside, report back to me one last time before you head out,” Cap said.
“You got it, Boss,” I said as I headed out of the kitchen.
“And Brutus?”
“Yeah, Boss?” I asked as I turned in the doorway and faced him.
He shot me another grin. “It’s about damn time.”
I rolled my eyes and flipped him off.
It only made his laughter follow me down the hallway as I made my way to the exit.
I couldn’t leave this place until I knew it was absolutely safe.
Then, and only then, would I leave Anna’s home without my presence.