I blew out a long breath. That definitely seemed like the kind of anti-Guild behavior that would get a mercenary killed. For sure. “Do you think that’s why Blanchet wants me dead?”
Leon was quiet a moment, considering my question. “No… Or I don’t think so. For one, Blanchet was never involved in Remus. For another, you weren’t a Remus baby.”
That made my brows rise in surprise. “I wasn’t? But… I grew up in l’abattoir.” It wasn’t the official name of the group home I’d been raised in, but it was a hell of a lot more fitting than its actual name, Bright Starts.
“Lots of kids grew up in Guild-owned homes,” Leon murmured, “but that doesn’t mean they’re all Remus babies. I’ve looked through the original documentation; I would have remembered if you were listed.”
I sank back into the pillows. “Oh. That’s a good thing, I guess.”
“Unless somehow Blanchet caught wind of Remus and decided to just kill anyone he suspected to be linked to it,” Leon pondered aloud. “That could explain the target on your back. It’s something I can look into, but I’d rather find Layla’s data cache.”
“Her what?”
“Apparently, Layla had been compiling evidence and information on Remus. Shit she hadn’t shared with me for whatever reason… and she stashed it somewhere not long before her death.” He sounded annoyed as hell, and I didn’t blame him. He’d thought they were in love, but clearly she hadn’t trusted him. That had to sting.
I drew a slow breath, mulling it over. “Are you sure she’s dead?”
“Positive.” His tone was devoid of emotion, and I didn’t push for details.
“Okay, so we need to figure out where she stashed it. Where do we start?”
Leon gave a soft laugh. “We?”
I rolled my eyes. “Either you let me track down your ex-girlfriend’s data cache or I’m going after Blanchet on my own. But I’m not sitting around in a safe house, waiting to be killed or to die of boredom.”
This time his laugh was deeper, full of understanding. “I love that about you, DeLuna. I’ll see if I can trace her movements in the lead-up to her death, then you can squeeze some fuckers for info. Sound good?”
I grinned at the ceiling. “Sounds delightful.”
“Tell me about the hit,” he coaxed, changing the subject. “How’d they come at you?”
Amused at how interested he was, I detailed the failed attempt on my life after leaving the bar in Dogwood. I didn’t tell him where I was, and I carefully omitted the fact that I wasn’t alone because I wasn’t ready to deal with the Kai versus Leon fight just yet.
“You shot out his knee?” he repeated, sounding increasingly turned on.
I bit my lower lip, my own body starting to respond to the heavy desire in his voice as I described the sad attempt on my life. “Uh-huh,” I replied, my own hand creeping down my body. I was only wearing a T-shirt and panties, having taken my pants off earlier when I’d been planning a self-care session.
“And then what?” Leon asked, his breathing quicker. The hum of his car had disappeared, and I wondered if he’d pulled over somewhere. Was his dick hard right now?
I grinned, my fingers dancing over the thin, damp fabric of my panties. “I asked him a few questions, and he mouthed off. So I shot him.”
Leon groaned. “Where’d you shoot him?”
“Between the eyes,” I replied, tugging my own underwear down and kicking them aside.
“Fuck yeah,” he murmured. “Close range. What caliber?”
Why is describing a killing suddenly so fucking hot?
“Nine mil,” I replied, teasing at my own clit with my index finger.
He gave a hum. “Delicate. Very fitting. Are you touching yourself right now, mon cœur?”
I ran my tongue across my lips, considering lying to him. But after the open, honest conversation we’d just had, I couldn’t bring myself to deny it. “Uh-huh.”
Leon whispered a curse. “What’d I tell you about playing with your pussy without my permission, DeLuna?”
A throaty chuckle escaped, and I slid my fingers inside my soaking core. “You never expected me to actually obey, Marx.” Then I gave a moan just to tease him. Also because I was seriously worked up.
I half expected him to scold me, maybe threaten punishments when he saw me again. But instead, the phone beeped against my ear, and I peered at the screen.
“Accept it,” Leon growled, and I obediently slid my thumb across the button to switch to video call. “Good girl.”
My whole body shuddered at the praise, and I wet my lips. Seeing him on the screen was even better than just talking. “Hi, Bunny. I missed your face.”
He smirked back, his green eyes flashing under his car light. “I missed a whole lot more than just your face, beautiful. Give me a good view, then show me what that battery-operated dick can do.”
He didn’t need to ask me twice. I quickly grabbed a couple of pillows and put them down near my ankles, propping the phone up to give Leon an uninterrupted view between my legs. He groaned and muttered a curse while I reached for the Purple Pussy Eater and turned it on.
“Gorgeous,” he breathed as I slid the thick tip of my toy down my pussy, working slowly to get it slick and gleaming for him to see just how turned on I already was. “Christ, DeLuna, I feel like I’ve been permanently hard since that kiss in New York.”
I wet my lips, my breathing quick as the vibrations of my toy lit up all my sensitive flesh. “Are you stroking it right now, Bunny? Is your hand around your dick while you picture it sinking into me?”
To demonstrate my point, I pushed the thick vibrator into my cunt, moaning as my walls tightened around it and arching my back slightly. It was a double purpose toy, with a clit sucker as well as the main shaft—hence its name—and I’d become pretty damn good at getting it settled in the right spot without much trouble.
Leon’s lips were parted, his eyes glued to the screen as I fucked myself, and I could tell he was jerking himself off in time with my motions. So I put on a show of it, spreading my legs wider and bending my knees, really getting into the simulation. It was easy to imagine it was the real deal when I could see his hungry expression on the phone at the foot of the bed.
“Don’t come yet,” I gasped out when my own climax was right there on the precipice. “I wanna see it.”
Leon’s expression tightened, but he muttered an agreement, giving me permission to finish myself off. My lids were heavy as I pushed myself into a hard climax with the help of my vibrator, but I kept my gaze on the phone the whole time.
“Shit,” Leon whispered when I was done. “Take it out. Show me your cunt.”
I did as I was told, withdrawing the toy quickly and using my fingers to spread my pussy wide.
“Now show me,” I ordered him, and he flipped the camera. His thick shaft was gripped tight between his tattooed fingers, the four points of his piercing reflecting under the light as he stroked himself.
“Shit,” he muttered. “I don’t want cum all over my steering wheel. Hang on.” The video jostled and blurred as he got out of the car, but I held my position just as he’d requested it.