Page 5 of Hunted Innocence
Although, I can’t deny that the thought of controlling Nadine makes my cock twitch. We’ve been dancing around one another for over a year, but I haven’t made a move yet.
I thought once we were in a forced proximity situation, it would be easy. But then she told me about her past, and I knew I couldn’t do what I wanted to her. I want to fuck her, brutally, but I know that Theron will be pissed if I screw it up—if I screw her up… or over.
He loves her and says she’s the best secretary he’s ever had. I understand why she’s so damn good at her job now. The girl is not only a hacker, but we also discovered who her brother is. She knows what not to see and doesn’t get nosy or squeamish at what she does witness.
I’m not sure how much longer I can stay away from her. I can’t even count how many times I’ve almost caved, standing outside of her bedroom door, wanting nothing more than to burst inside and take what’s mine. Because she is mine. I notice the way she looks at me when she thinks I’m not paying attention. Pretending I don’t see her is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and it’s to keep from pouncing on her.
Now that I am going to have full access to her apartment alone, without Vaughn being able to just walk right in at any given moment, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it. Since she’s beenin the safe house, it’s been somewhat easy because Vaughn has had twenty-four-seven access.
Not that I would have given a fuck, but I’m pretty sure that Nadine would have. She doesn’t seem the voyeuristic type. She turns red when I look at her fully clothed. I can’t imagine what she would do if someone else walked in on me fucking her.
Before leaving her apartment, I check my app to make sure that everything is turned on and ready to catch any nearby motion. We’re golden. As much as I want to go back to the safe house, I don’t. At least not yet.
Vaughn is going to keep an eye on her until she’s ready, then send me a text to come and pick her up. I packed up my shit from the safe house last night after Nadine went to her room and loaded it up in my car before I left this morning.
But I need to do a clothing switch and get some new shit from my closet into rotation. My apartment is only a few blocks from Nadine’s. I climb up the staircase, something that I tend to do unless it’s a high-rise. Mainly because I don’t want to be locked into that fucking cage with no way to get out. When I reach my floor, I open the door and step into the hallway. Turning my head, I see Prez from the Night Devils MC standing next to my door. Well, leaning against the wall beside my door.
Nadine’s brother.
Fuck.
“To what do I owe the goddamn pleasure?”
Chapter Two
GRAYSON
Prez,who Nadine has informed me is named Brody Ashford, follows me inside my apartment. I only let him inside my space because we’re not going to have a sensitive conversation in the hall in front of my doorway, where all my neighbors could possibly overhear any part of it.
“Nice place,” he says as I close the door and lock it behind us.
I don’t reply to his comment. Instead, I watch as he walks over to the couch. He reaches out and slides his fingers across the back of my fawn leather cushions. This couch I bought from a furniture store with my first big cut of the business after I set myself up in this condo.
Some of the guys bought expensive cars and clothes, but I wanted somewhere comfortable to rest after work. I wanted a space that was mine, something that nobody could take away from me. And it sounds stupid that a couch is what I chose, but it’s mine.
Continuing to take him in for a moment, I observe as he stops in the middle of the room and turns around to face me. Hecrosses his arms over his chest, tilting his head to the side as his eyes search mine before he speaks.
“What are your next steps?” he demands as if he has any say in what we do or how we do it. As if he even has the fucking right to know.
“Next steps?” I ask.
Because he found me here, ready to demand some answers, and I’m not sure why exactly, I’m playing stupid as fuck. I’m also not offering up any extra information. And if he thinks he’s getting any details, he’s about to learn a hard truth.
He knows we have his sister’s back. He knows we won’t let anything happen to Nadine, so what the fuck is he doing here? If he’s questioning me or our ability to protect her, we’re gonna have a serious fucking problem.
“That fucker has been sniffing around my clubhouse. Now, normally, I would just end whoever did that shit on my own, but I can’t do that with this guy. The last thing I need is for ATF to open an investigation or inquiry of any kind when it comes to my dealings.”
Well then, that only changes things slightly. It's not enough to have Brody join us at any meetings, but I’m sure he doesn’t want Landon Tate sniffing around his operation at all. And we don’t need this headache, either. No doubt, Brody’s doing more than just a little illegal activity at that clubhouse-slash-compound place he’s got.
Tilting my head to the side, I watch him for another moment before I speak. “We’ve changed tactics,” I state.
“Are his finances drained?” he asks.
“They are. Decimated, actually.”
I’ve only updated Brody once, and it was right when we decided that Nadine needed to be in a safe house. I also told him the plan for Landon Tate and how Lucille could take care of at least some of the issues from her computer—bleeding thefucker’s bank accounts locally and offshore as well, if he had them.
I’m not sure what else Brody thinks he’s entitled to here. I’m also fairly certain he isn’t going to like the way the plan has veered in a different direction.
