26. Grey #2
He tucked his chin and cast a confused look at Parker and me. We didn’t have time for a heart-to-heart. Not with what I actually wanted to be doing.
“Who was that guy?” I leaned my ass against the wall, crossing my feet and arms.
Lafe didn’t answer right away. He studied me much harder than he ever had. Come to think of it, he didn’t look at me that much under any circumstances.
“Yeah, who was that fancy man in a biker party? If I were anyone else, I would have thought he was with us. Clearly, he wasn’t.” Parker moved to another part of the room, picking up and scanning the decorations. “You can go ahead and speak freely. I’m fairly certain there are no bugs here.
I chuckled. Fairly certain was a fine line between safe and dead.
“The boy I saved when we were kids? The one person I was actually able to help,” Lafe said with contempt.
“That was him. He still works in the mansion but has ties to the Dirty Dogs. He passed along a burner number. Said there’s a movement that’s been in the works for years without much traction.
” Lafe swallowed and pulled the paper out of his pocket.
A number was scribbled in messy handwriting with a name beneath it. Ricco.
“And let me guess, now that Vicente is out to get us, they feel it’s a great time to bring us into the loop.
” Parker grinned and flopped back on Lafe’s bed.
“Look at it this way, we could either be gaining more support for our efforts, which would be a monumental benefit…or, this would give us yet another target on our backs.” He pursed his lips.
“Do you all think it’s strange that Danny hasn’t made an attempt on Andre’s life? ”
“Danny is a robot. He’ll make a move eventually. Unless we fold and Vicente thinks we’ve caved to his wishes to be Matías’ yes boys.” I scratched the side of my neck and turned my head toward the door.
I thought I’d want to have this conversation, but it seemed anti-climactic. There was somewhere else I’d rather be.
“What are you supposed to do with the number?” Parker pillowed his head on one of his arms.
“Call when we have time. They want to meet us, and he was clear he meant the six of us.” He was still studying the paper.
“You all know we’re not going to make any calls without Andre, so I’m going to collect our wicked little love.” I turned toward the door, but Parker’s next question made me pause.
“What do we think of our estranged brother? Should we let him into the group?” He eyed the ceiling, lost in thought.
“I can’t decide if he wants to get us all killed for fucking shits and giggles, fuck Little Love, or be an actual brother.
Fuck knows Valentina is a horrible sister.
Did you all catch the way he kept saying his? ”
Lafe’s blue eyes darkened as he shoved the paper back into his pocket. “There’s enough dicks for Killer. If he actually wants to be our brother,” he shook his head, “I don’t know that I could ever trust him.”
Trust was a commodity that might as well have been a unicorn in the Institution. It worked for my brothers and me because we grew up together, bonded in childhood. Amorette just fit in because this world was so foreign to her, she’d never maliciously stab someone in the back.
Now, the front? While they were getting head?
I wiped my thumb over the corner of my mouth to hide my smirk.
“You’re not alone. Matías isn’t part of the group. Now, I have something I have to do.”
Leaving Parker with Lafe, I crossed the hall and quietly opened Andre’s door. The lights were off and the curtains were closed. Andre’s deep breathing was the most dominant sound aside from the air conditioning.
He was asleep. Perfect.
If he had been puking his guts out, I wouldn’t be able to do this. Not yet.
I locked the door and edged closer to the bed. The light from a clock on the nightstand gave just enough light to see Amorette on her side next to Andre as she brushed his hair back from his face. Both were on top of the blankets.
She watched me as I pressed my thighs against the foot of the bed.
Grabbing her ankle, I yanked. She didn’t make any noise other than a soft gasp. Amorette was being so considerate of my brother. Another round of strange feelings filled me up. Maybe I could share. I wouldn’t ever like it. Not completely…or could I?
Hmm…I trailed light fingers up the inside of her calf, then her thigh.
“You really fucked things up for us, mamí ,” I whispered. “Andre’s going to punish you when he gets up.” I dropped to my knees and pulled her panties down her legs and tossed them to the side. “But you know what I’m going to do?”
“What?” Her voice trembled as she braced herself on her elbows to see me better.
I spread her legs, then pulled her to the edge of the bed.
“I’m going to reward you. Because, my wicked little love, watching you bleed someone when you’re enraged is delicious.
Violence turns me on. When I dole it out, or when it’s given to me.
But I find watching you cut a man who offends you to be one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen. Now relax while I make you feel good.”
I lowered my mouth.