He sighs.
“Unless you cheat on me,” I tell him. “If you do that, I’ll chop your dick off.”
Hans gives me a soft smile that’s completely inappropriate for what I just said. “Butterfly, no force on earth could make me touch another woman.”
I swoon.
And the front door opens.
Our hands slide from my face as we look at the three men walking down the steps toward us.
They’re all tall and built, like Hans.
And they’re all handsome, each in their own way.
The dark-haired, dark-eyed one who looks a little feral. The one with rich brown hair and an air of arrogance. And the one with all the tattoos, buzzed hair, and an amused smirk.
The leaders of The Alliance.
And of-fucking-course they’re all in suits.
CHAPTER 93
Hans
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.”