Chapter Four #2
Letting out a frustrated growl in anger, I spin to face her, gritting my teeth.
“This kind of confrontation, wildcat, is not fun and games. It can get messy. We’re not the bad guys in this scenario, but we might do bad things to the bad guys to ensure the safety of the people we love.
I don’t know what the hell you’re about to witness, but I don’t apologize for what we have to do to make sure that Millie comes home to her father.
That she comes home to Will. You have to understand that if you’re going to come with us, Defiance going into the Hidden Hand Casino is a breach of the treaty we formed with them.
We’re breaking the rules by doing this, and in doing so, we could get hurt.
You could get hurt. So, if you’re willing to be injured or possibly die for this part of your story, then by all means, Elizabeth, tag along,” I snap mockingly, hoping like hell it will deter her.
But the crazy bitch just smiles, reaching for her bag containing her notebooks and recorders, then throws the long strap over her shoulder. “I’m not easily scared, bossman. I’m here for the scoop. To me, this is where the headlines start. I’m coming. You won’t talk me out of it.”
Groaning, I throw my hands in the air in frustration and spin, stomping my boots as I head for the exit. “You’d better keep up and don’t lose us. We don’t want to save Millie and then have to go in to protect you too.”
“Got it. You won’t even know I am there,” she states. The happiness in her tone makes me question if she even cares that Millie is in danger, or if she only cares that she is heading into the heart of chaos to get her shot at some sort of epic story right now.
Stupid, crazy woman!
I step up beside the SUV and glance at Will. “Prospect, take Elizabeth and keep a close eye on her while we’re heading into the casino. I know you want to go in all guns-a-blazing, but we need to play this right. We’re going into their turf, we play by their rules, or everyone will end up dead—”
“But, Pres—”
“Prospect, don’t be a fucking hothead! For the sake of Millie… Do. You. Understand. Me?” I snap.
Will slumps his shoulders as Elizabeth steps up to his side, looping her arm with his. “I got him. We’ll be okay. We’ll hang back and let you guys take the lead, won’t we, Will?” She smiles kindly at him, and he exhales and then slowly nods.
“Yeah. Can we just go, though, please?” Will begs.
I dip my head in thanks to Elizabeth, then turn to face the rest of my brothers.
“All right… we know what can happen when we enter the Alliance’s turf.
They don’t know we’re coming, so they probably won’t greet us with open arms. If we show no hostility toward them, this might go smoothly.
Don’t be a fucking hero. We just want to get Millie back and leave.
It’s too close to bringing in the new year for any Iron Man, End Game shit. ”
My brothers laugh as Elizabeth tilts her head at me with wide eyes. “Who knew you were a Marvel closet geek?”
Snorting out a laugh, I lean past her, opening the SUV door for her.
“Not a geek at all. Once a month, we have a movie night, and a brother gets to pick the movie. Every time it’s Ghost’s turn, he picks the next in line from Marvel.
We’ve been slowly going through the franchise…
again. Last time, it was End Game. It’s just the freshest reference I could find that I thought the guys would remember. ”
She smirks, sliding past me to sit in the car. “I see… well, hopefully, I get a chance at picking a movie one night while I’m here.”
I snort out a laugh. “Yeah, maybe.” I close the door, and she rolls down the window as I rush for my ride, throwing my leg over.
“Hey, Sin?” she yells as my bike growls to life.
I tilt my head, the leather of my club cut creaking with the motion, a silent question.
“Do I look like the kind of woman who needs the car door opened for her?”
Her words, sharp and teasing, cut through the rumble of my engine like a blade.
“You’re no woman, Elizabeth. You’re a banshee.
You won’t fucking shut up.” My jaw tightens.
Rolling my eyes, I rev the throttle in response, the growl escaping my chest, deepening as if it could drown her out.
But it doesn’t. It never does. Her laugh rings out, light and melodic, effortlessly slipping through the noise like my insult only enlightens her.
That laugh.
Dammit, that laugh.
It twists something deep in my chest, like nails dragging across raw skin.
So tempting.
So fucking sexy.
My cock jerks against the seam of my jeans, making me even more furious at her.
How can someone be so goddamn infuriating and so fucking stunning at the same time?
I grind my teeth, fighting the heat building in my veins.
God, she’s so impossibly annoying.
The frustration boils over, and I slam the throttle, the bike roaring under me as I tear out of the compound.
Gravel sprays in my wake, the rear tire skidding just enough to jolt my balance.
A cloud of dust from my back tire spinning over the sand rises behind me, matching the haze clouding my mind.
My fingers clench the handlebars like they’re the only thing tethering me to reality, the tension so fierce it makes my knuckles ache. The cold bite of the wind stings my cheeks, but it’s not enough to snap me out of it.
Elizabeth Hale—she’s everywhere, under my skin, in my head, a relentless itch I can’t scratch.
I don’t know what it is about her—her sharp tongue, her fearless grin, or the way she looks at me like she knows exactly how much she’s messing with me, but it keeps pulling me in whether I like it or not, and it’s driving me insane.
I grit my teeth, forcing my thoughts to shift.
There’s no room for this.
Not now.
Millie is in danger, and we’re about to enter enemy territory. I need my head in the game, not spinning over Elizabeth-fucking-Hale and the way she somehow manages to tear me apart and piece me back together without even trying over and over again.