I have to trust my instincts.
I have to trust these men will keep their word. That my woman is safe around them.
Opening my door, I exit the truck and pull Cassandra out after me.
She keeps her hand in mine as we move to stand at the front bumper.
I don’t see any visible weapons on the three men, but I still take a second to focus on the weight of my throwing knives at my hip. If I’ve severely misjudged them and this goes bloody, I’m confident I can kill at least two of them before they take me out.
Which two will have to be based on proximity.
Dom strides ahead of the other two, stopping before me and holding out his tattooed hand. “Good to see you.”
I lift a brow.
He lifts a shoulder. “And good to get this debt off my back.”
Not wanting to lose contact with Cassandra, I shift my grip on her hand and press hers to my belt, like I did at the hotel.
Understanding what I want, she slides her fingers around the material, holding on to me.
Right hand free, I shake Dom’s.
I don’t miss the fact that he’s trying not to grin, but I appreciate that he’s keeping his eyes on me and off Cassandra.
King and Nero step up on either side of Dom.
This isn’t my first time standing before them, but it is my first time on their turf. And it’s a little unsettling.
“Hans.” King dips his chin.
“King.” I greet him the same way, then turn my attention to Nero.
All three of them are intense, but Nero is the wildcard. The most unhinged. Or at least that’s what the rumors say.
“Mind if we search your truck?” He stares right at me.
I hold his stare. “If you can break the security, you’re welcome to look.”
He narrows his eyes at me, then he does something I don’t like.
Nero holds his hand out to Cassandra. “I’m Nero. Welcome to my home.”
Too nice for her own good, Cassandra smiles as she reaches her hand out toward Nero’s. “Thank you, it’s beautiful.”
Her palm is an inch from Nero’s when I reach out and grip Cassandra’s wrist and lower it.
It’s rude. And juvenile. But I can’t help myself. I can’t let anyone else touch her. Not yet.
Nero doesn’t look offended. He looks like he understands. But Dom makes a noise of amusement.
King has already started to circle my truck, and thankfully, the other two men of The Alliance follow.
Cassandra tugs on my belt to get my attention.
I look down at her pretty face and speak before she can scold me. “I know.” I take a deep breath. “I know.”
The smile she gives me is so understanding my heart swells behind my ribs.
She presses her hand to my chest. “I trust you. Now trust yourself.”
She didn’t spend the past year watching my every move, like I did to her. But she still gets me. Still understands my moods. And she understands that I can’t help how I feel about her.
I place my hand over hers and nod.
I’ve fought side by side with Karmine’s army. I have no problem letting women do whatever they want. I know they’re more than capable of taking care of themselves. But Cassandra is mine.
She’s mine and that makes it different.
It makes me want to protect her. To stand between her and everything sharp in this world.
It makes me crazy.
We’re just turning to follow the guys when Nero lowers my tailgate.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he snaps.
And I can’t stop my smile.
King barks out a laugh. “At least he has good taste.”
“The best money can buy,” I reply.
“On a fucking truck.” Nero shakes his head as he puts his hands all over the locks that cover my truck bed, recognizing the thumbprint readers as one his company, Nero Security, produces. “A plain-ass fucking pickup truck.”
“Sometimes it’s better to blend in.” I state the obvious.
King leans against the side of my truck and sighs. “You know he’s not gonna let this go until you show him everything.”
“I assumed as much.” I look down at Cassandra.
She grips the side of the truck, opposite where King is, before letting go of my belt. “Go show off your toys.”
It’s ridiculous for her to hold on to the truck, like she might float away if she isn’t touching me or something I own, but it makes me feel better. And I’m once again struck by how well she knows me.
Dom is watching us closer than I care for, but I move past him and stop beside Nero. “Promise you’ll leave everything where you find it?”
Nero rolls his eyes. “I’m not gonna steal your shit.”
Dom scoffs from my other side, and I assume there’s some sort of joke I’m missing.
With no real reason not to, I press my thumb to the first lock, then the next, and the next, until all the compartments are open. Handguns, long guns, ammo, knives, gloves, climbing gear, rations, fake government employee uniforms—all on display.
The last little door I flip open is above the gas tank, and it’s full of C-4.
I lift my hands. “Now before you get your panties in a twist, this is for self-destruct. If I wanted to blow you guys up, I wouldn’t do it by driving myself, and my girl, onto your property.”
King leans over the side of the truck to look closer. “How often do you find yourself needing to blow up your own shit?”
Cassandra snickers.
“You’d be surprised,” I reply.
Dom reaches into one of the side compartments and pulls out the thick black material.
He shakes it out and lifts his gaze to look at me. “Really?”
I lift my shoulder even as Nero reaches to take it from Dom.
“See?” Nero pulls the zipper down a few inches, then slides it back up. “I told you he had nice body bags.”
“Yeah, I fucking heard you the first four times.” Dom snorts. “And I’ll say to Hans what I said to you.” He turns to face me. “A man who travels with his own body bags is either very meticulous or very insane.”
I shrug again. He’s not wrong on either account.
The front door of the house opens, and a woman I recognize as Nero’s wife sticks her head out. “Pizza is at the gate.” She calls across to us, then lifts her hand in a little wave to Cassandra. “Hi!”
Cassandra lifts the hand not on the truck and waves back. “Hello.”
“Come on in.” Payton opens the door wider.
Cassandra looks back at me.
I should let her go. I’m sure it’s safe for her to be with Payton, but I’m not letting her walk into Nero’s house alone.
I grip the tailgate and start to lift it closed. “We done?”
Nero tucks the body bag under his arm. “I’ve seen enough.”
King straightens. “Not sure how a truck full of hidden explosives and all this other shit makes you feel more trustworthy, but it kinda does.”
“It’s settled, then.” Dom slaps a hand on my back. “Let’s go eat pizza.”
On cue, one of the gate guards comes up the driveway in a golf cart–looking vehicle with a stack of pizza boxes on the seat next to him.
I circle around to Cassandra, and she takes my hand, squeezing my fingers.
Then we walk up the steps to Nero’s house.
