Page 10 of Sinful Empire (Mount Trilogy 3)
“You need to sleep. Rest. Because you have hell to rain down on this city so everyone knows that no one fucks with Lachlan Mount or his woman.”
Again, shock flashes over his face, and he stares at me like he’s never seen me before. Maybe he’s right. Because I’ve never felt like this before.
“My woman?”
I narrow my eyes on him. “You’re the one who wanted me to admit that I’m yours. Turns out, life-and-death experiences have a way of clarifying things pretty damn quickly.”
His gaze shutters before he speaks. “It’s the drugs talking. By the time you’re out of that bed, you’ll be railing against me again, demanding I let you go.”
I purse my lips and cross my arms over my chest, hiding the wince of pain that breaks through the pain meds they’ve pumped into my body.
Is it the meds? I refuse to believe it. The possessiveness I felt, and the willingness to claw through glass to get to him as he was taken away from me, was no function of drugs. Adrenaline, maybe. But it was the absolute truth.
“I guess we’ll see who’s right about that. Because I already know exactly how this is going to play out.”
“And how’s that?” he asks, but the door opens before I can answer.
Mount
As soon as V walks in, I can read everything I need to know in the expression on his face. Shit is bad. Really bad.
I learned long ago that if he’s not texting me, the only way to get answers is yes-and-no questions. And because my phone is nowhere to be found, yes-and-no questions are my only choice.
“Have they found the shooter?” I didn’t have to give that order. J would already be searching as soon as the report came in about what happened.
V shakes his head.
“Did they take care of the cops?” Someone would have called in the accident, and I need the cops who might have made it to the scene before it was cleaned up to forget anything they saw. No one can know about what happened. It would upset the power balance if word got around that someone had the balls to try to take me out. Luckily, a solid chunk of the cops in this city answer to me rather than the other way around.
V nods.
“Was the car towed to the garage and the scene swept?”
Another nod.
“Bullet retrieved?”
He holds up a hand with two fingers about an inch apart. I know that means not yet, but they’re close.
“Tear that car apart. The bullet’s gotta be in there. I didn’t see an exit hole. Find out where the fuck it came from and trace the shooter. We need to know who the hell was stupid enough to attempt this.”
Another nod. V turns to leave, but I stop him.
“You did good. Her safety is always your first priority—no matter what. You always see to her first, just like you did.”
Keira pipes up, interrupting the conversation. “Uh, no. I disagree with that.”
I shoot a look at her. “You don’t get a say in this. It’s not something I’ll ever compromise on.”
“Not at the expense of your own safety. Don’t make me bear that burden. The price is too steep.”
V swings his gaze
between us, no doubt shocked at the new subject of our argument.
“Who do your orders come from, V?” I snap, bringing his attention back to me. When he obediently points at me, I look at Keira. “Doesn’t matter what you say, I overrule.”
“I’m calling bullshit.”
