Page 55 of Sleeping with the Dark (The Righteous 3)
“If you’re caught…”
“Then it’s on like Donkey Kong.” Arek winked at him, and he swallowed the unsettled feeling swimming around his gut.
Fuck.
Releasing Arek’s arm, he continued on his way toward Spike, where he stood in the bed of the truck. The raised pickup truck was like the black pearl of the sea and glittered with its custom paint job. He nodded to Spike as he looked his way.
“Ice Man.”
“Spike.”
“What brings you to the races?” he asked, the tip of his cigarette glowing and casting a shadow on his face.
“I need a few new races.”
Spike pulled the smoke from his mouth and tossed it on the sidewalk. “I don’t have any races for you,” he finally said.
“Not right now, but maybe there will be a matchup for me next week?” Cody asked. Spike’s eyes flicked to Arek, who was playing the part of a statue well. “I have a new number, and maybe you can let me know if you can fit me in?” He held up the sleek new phone he’d purchased.
“Hey, Spike. Who won?” The guy who was running the finish line called out.
“Blue Bonnet,” he answered, not looking the man’s way but instead keeping his eyes fixed on Arek.
“Who is he?” Spike leaned on the edge of his truck bed, the large silver rings he wore standing out against the dark vehicle.
“This is my new navigator—it was time for a new co-pilot. He is…” Cody looked to Arek, whose eyes were locked with Spike’s, in some sort of silent pissing match. “Extremely good at what he does, I needed his skill set for the more challenging races that are to come.”
Spike turned his head, the multi-colored mohawk flopping slightly with the twist of his head. “Are you going to try and take over my races, Ice Man? I’ve heard you’ve been on quite the journey lately. A few of my better racing participants have had some unfortunate crashes, and the mangled wrecks have been reformed. Planning on cutting my brake lines?”
Cody gave a small laugh. “Word gets around. I have taken in some strays, but even I don’t have ambitions that high. I can’t say I’m crying over the unfortunate wreck that Tyson and Alejandro were in—you race that fast on a hairpin turn long enough, your luck is going to run out.”
Spike gave a snort but pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll let you know if there is room for you next week. What’re your new digits?”
Cody relayed his cell number before stuffing it back in his jeans. Spike stood, now towering over them from the truck bed, he gave Arek another once over before resuming his leaning position against the roof of his truck. They’d been dismissed. Either the ploy worked, and he’d get a text. Or they were fucked.
They watched a few races, but Arek never said a word. His eyes didn’t even flick in the direction of the woman hanging out of the winning car, shaking her naked tits for the crowd.
He leaned in and whispered. “How many could you kill if we had to?” he asked out of curiosity.
There was a slow intake of breath that spoke all of its own the distance Arek had run to become this harbinger of death. The Sandman and all his jagged scars were laid bare in Arek’s face as he turned in his direction.
“There are some questions in this world you shouldn’t ask.” Cody swallowed hard as the breeze of another set of cars ruffled Arek’s hair. “And there are some things you don’t want to know the answer to.” Cody searched his face for any sign he was kidding. The locked jaw and flat dead stare made his blood run cold. Arek always had jokes, but he was quickly learning there was this complicated layer of truth to everything he said. Arek looked away once more. Arek gripped his bicep and leaned in close, the whispered words as potent as a viper bite. “Sometimes, I don’t want to know the answer.”
Well shit.
Aknock sounded at his office door. Trev lifted his head from the paperwork he was reading over. “Come in.”
Sally opened the door and came in carrying a tray of assorted finger foods. “Sally, you know you don’t have to keep making my lunch?”
Her weathered face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I know, but I genuinely love being here and doing this. It’s been so long since there was anyone around other than my own company to cook for—besides, I wouldn’t have a family again without you.” She blinked back the coming tears and cleared her throat. “Enjoy. Oh, and Arek and Cody just arrived back. They are currently bickering in the hallway.” A sly smirk lifted the corner of her mouth.
“What else is new with those two? It has become a sport. Thank you, Sally. You can leave the door open. They will just fling it open anyway.”
He could hear his brother and…what was Cody? He was certainly more than a friend, but boyfriend seemed too formal for what they had. He could be his lover, but that seemed inaccurate since they’d only had one sexual experience in the last three weeks. Cody refused to do anything more than cuddle him at night or exchange a few kisses while he healed. No matter how many times he tried to convince Cody that his setback had nothing to do with what they’d done, he wouldn’t budge. It was causing a serious case of discomfort at night when all he could feel was Cody’s body pressed up against his own. His body wash strong in his nose as his arm draped over his body. Cody had a cute snore, he didn’t think he’d ever use those two words in the same sentence, but the rhythmical soft rumble had become comforting. He was a blanket hog though and on more than one occasion he had to wrestle the blankets back as if he was trying to steal from a hibernating bear.
His fanciful reverie was burst with a jolt as the two stormed into the office, their yelling loud in the small room.
“You didn’t have to kill the guy,” Cody growled as he and Arek stomped into the room, coming to a stop in the middle of the much smaller office. He was fine with the penthouse situation, but he did miss his larger office, especially at times like this.
