Chapter 20
Dex
This morning, I had a text from Les telling me she had to take care of something before we paid a visit to Moretto. That something has to do with the sappy way she and Ryder are staring at each other.
I’m glad to see it because I was starting to worry they wouldn’t be able to fix whatever’s between them.
I was also afraid I would have to fucking kill him after the state Gage found her in at Micah’s.
After they brought her back to the house, they took her outside by the pool with wine and got her to talk to them.
They were out there for hours, but when she came back inside, she seemed to be back to herself.
I wanted to go out there, but I couldn’t comfort her the way they do, and it pissed me off.
It’s not for lack of trying because I want to move past the mental block that told me all touch is terrible, but I can’t, so that’s why I told her she needs to push me.
Last night watching Gage and Leo make her come, I was almost there.
She looked at me with those blue eyes, begging me to touch her by taking off her shirt and revealing those gorgeous tits.
I made up my mind and then fucking froze.
I had a moment of such intense panic that I thought I was going to puke. Then I ran like a coward.
How much longer is she going to be so understanding?
She has four other guys who can make her happy.
Hell, even Holden. They don’t know it, but I saw what went down by the pool, heard Gage coaching Holden on how to pleasure Les, and my feet stayed frozen to the ground.
We never had sex, but I know what it’s like to watch her come apart for you.
Her body is still so fucking responsive.
“Earth to Dex,” Les says, waving her hand in front of my face.
“What?” I ask lamely. I was so far inside my head that I didn’t even see her standing beside me.
“I’ve said your name like four times. You okay?” she asks, concerned. Concerned because I ran out of the living room like my ass was on fire.
“I’m good,” I assure her.
“Okay,” she says doubtfully, not that I blame her. “How are we doing this? Just us or full crew?”
“I think we go full out on this asshole,” Gage says, walking into the kitchen. Gage spots Ryder leaning on the counter and squeals like a fucking girl before running and jumping into Ryder’s arms. Ryder stands up to catch him just in time before Gage knocks him over. “You’re home!”
“Damn it, Gage,” Ryder grunts, peeling Gage off him. “Yes. I’m home.”
Gage whips his head between Ryder and Les, then grins like a fool when his gaze lands on Les. “That’s where you snuck off to this morning.”
She shrugs nonchalantly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Gage advances on her. “Snuck out of here with those fucking shorts on that I love.” He walks her backward, then cages her against the counter in between his arms. He runs his nose up her neck, making her shiver. “Smelling good enough to eat.”
I watch Ryder for a reaction and see the tightening of his eyes. I still wonder if he can do this.
“Oh, trust me,” she purrs. “He did.”
Ryder chokes on a laugh, all uneasiness disappearing from his body. “More than once,” Ryder says, his eyes heating up.
Gage groans. “Tell me more.”
She wraps her arms around Gage’s neck. “He fucked me so good, Gage,” she tips her head back with an exaggerated moan, “In his bed. On his desk. In the shower.”
Gage steps back and looks down before looking up at her. “Now look what you did,” indicating what I assume is his hard cock, because mine is just as hard. I see Ryder subtly adjust his through his jeans.
“You asked.” She pecks him on the lips before ducking under his arm. “Where’s Leo?”
“Shower,” Gage replies, jerking his head towards the stairs.
“I think he should go with us,” Les says, surprising all of us. “One, I agree we need a full force against Moretto for breaking the rules, and two, Leo needs to know what he’s getting into.”
I acknowledge that with a nod. “I agree. I say we ride into Moretto’s territory and see who he has on the streets.”
“You want to take someone untrained with us to go against another family?” Ryder asks with a muscle ticking in his jaw.
Les raises an eyebrow. “I thought we moved past this. “
He slices his hand through the air. “It has nothing to do with this being Leo.”
Les saunters over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck; he slides his hands down her back until they are braced on her hips.
“If he’s going to be a part of us, he needs to go.
Evander and Mateo didn’t leave him untrained.
” She pecks his lips. “This is just a reminder to Moretto. If it gets bloody, we can handle it and protect Leo.”
Ryder jerks a nod. “Got it.”
She pecks his lips again before stepping back. “I need to change.” She looks to Gage. “Fit Leo with a holster and weapons. Let him know not going is not an option.”
“You got it, Pretty girl.”
She walks out of the room, and when she’s out of earshot, Gage looks at Ryder. “Everything good?”
“Yeah. We worked it out this morning.”
“Good, because the next time you make her cry like that, I will drown you in your own blood,” Gage says, then grins like the crazy person we all know is there, but he hides so well. He leaves the kitchen without a reply from Ryder, searching for Leo.
“Crazy fucker,” Ryder mutters under his breath.
“Are you sure you can do this?” I ask Ryder. I know he would tell me the truth, and the last thing we need is for Les to get hurt because of this.
He sighs. “I’m trying. It’s still hard to see her with someone else, but I have to remember how fucking happy she looks with Gage.”
“And Leo,” I point out, “And Holden.”
His head jerks towards me. “Holden? When did that happen?”
“The day you left for your dad’s. Les, Gage, and Holden had a...teaching lesson by the pool.”
His eyebrow shoots up. “Teaching lesson?”
I chuckle. “Holden’s apparently a virgin.”
Both brows shoot up. “No shit? And he gets Les as his first? Damn.”
That’s exactly what I’m thinking. Holden doesn’t have to deal with the awkward first time with a girl just as inexperienced as you. He gets a girl who is a fucking goddess in bed and four guys to help him not fuck up. I don’t think he realizes how lucky he is.
I’ve watched Holden over the past year come out of his shell, but this last week he’s been out of his office more than I’ve ever seen.
I know he and Ryder are close, so he’ll be happy to know Ryder is back.
I don’t know how close, though. I’ve witnessed Holden staring at a shirtless Ryder a little too long, sometimes in the gym, but that could be admiration for the work Ryder puts in.
I feel it has to do with a little more than that.
Not that I’m going to mention that to Ryder.
“We roll out in ten,” I tell Ryder, sliding off the stool.
Time to show this Moretto motherfucker Les is not to be fucked with.
We all pile into Ryder’s Explorer because he doesn’t care if this car gets shot up. He doesn’t get into the cars like Les and Gage; he’s like me. He likes fast bikes and vintage cars. He doesn’t care what he drives daily. I prefer my truck to the fast-ass cars Les and Gage like.
Les sits in the back between Gage and Leo, so I won’t have to be squished between them, for which I’m grateful.
But she also doesn’t seem to mind them rubbing up against her.
She came downstairs in black ripped skinny jeans, a tight blue shirt, a black leather jacket that hid her holster, and her high-heeled boots with spikes on the heels she always wears.
I asked her why once, and she said it’s to remind these assholes they’re dealing with a woman of power that can still kick your ass in heels.
And she can. I’ve seen her fuck up more shit in those heels than I ever have with her wearing anything else.
Her dad taught her everything she needed to know.
He also made sure she could run in any footwear because you never know when your enemy could attack; it was fucking brilliant.
Plus, it gave height to her five-foot-four frame.
“Pull over right here,” Les tells Ryder, pointing to the curb across from two teenagers hanging out by the corner. “I guess Joe didn’t listen.”
I shake my head. “Doesn’t look like it, Boss.”
“This should be fun,” Gage says, practically bouncing in his seat’ This is his favorite thing to do.
She turns to Leo. “I don’t know who else is here, so stay behind us.”
“I got it, Baby,” he assures her.
“It’s Boss or Les out here. Okay?” she tells him, squeezing his hand to soften the blow. He jerks a nod in understanding.
We sit and watch several cars pull up, money and drugs exchanging hands. Les snaps a picture that I’m sure she will shove in Moretto’s face if needed. “Come on.”
We all climb out of the car, Ryder to her right and me to her left, Gage and Leo behind us. It’s the formation we always walk in, with Les in the position of power. Ryder and I are there to step in front of her if needed for protection.
“Hello, boys,” Les greets, getting their attention. These aren’t the same ones we found the last time. “What do you have there?” she asks. She won’t hurt them, but she will scare them until they told her where the product came from.
“None of your fucking business,” one of them sneers, oblivious to who she is. I cross my arms over my chest, dragging their attention to me. A closer look tells me they are twins and no more than sixteen or seventeen.
Ryder walks up behind them. “You see, that’s where you’re wrong.” He throws his arms around their shoulders like they’re old friends. “It is her business.”
The shorter of the two swallows and I know they haven’t been doing this long, so they will be easy to fold without the threats. “Tell her what she needs to know,” I tell them.
“We can’t,” the taller one says, trying to step away from Ryder. He clamps a big hand on his shoulder, jerking him back.