Up to Me (The Bad Boys #2)(25)
Author: M. Leighton

“Especially when it’s important.”

He nods again. “And this girl is obviously very important.”

I don’t answer.   I don’t know what to say. It’s true, of course.  I just haven’t really thought of it that way—of her being important to me or the exact degree to which she’s important to me.

But it’s a lot.  There’s no doubt about that.

“Just stick with the plan and do what I ask and I think we can pull this off.”  I look behind Gavin to Nash.  He’s pretending to ignore me.  “Can I trust you to do what needs to be done?”

Slowly, Nash turns his cool eyes on me.  “Yes, but when it’s over, and you and your girlfriend are all safe and sound, it’s my turn.  My turn to get what I want.”

Revenge is in his eyes.  I recognize it because I fought the urge for a lot of years.  And I lost for the most part. I just found less…violent ways to exact it.  Or at least to try.  Giving these books up will set me back years, but it’s worth it to make sure Olivia’s safe. I can start again, maybe talk some sense into Nash and get him to let me use what he’s got.  I don’t know, but I can’t worry about all that now.  Tonight the most important thing is getting Olivia to safety.  Tomorrow will come soon enough.

“Fair enough.  But right now, it’s my way.”

He looks at me long and hard before he nods.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Olivia

Rest?  While he’s out there plotting and planning with his not-dead twin brother and probably-more-than-he-seems club manager? I think not!

By the time Cash comes back in, I’m up and dressed.  Waiting.

As always, just the sight of him kindles a fire in the pit of my stomach.  His very presence touches me. It’s undeniable.

I take a deep breath, pushing those feelings aside so I can think.

“So, what’s the plan?”

Cash looks back out into his office.  “Have a seat. We’ll be right back out.”  I hear snickering that presumably belongs to the pleasant and mildly flirtatious Gavin.  I can’t imagine Nash snickering.  I can barely imagine him smiling.  I think his default mode is “menace”.

Cash closes the door and turns to me.  I can see by his expression that he thinks I’m not going to like what he’s about to say, which makes me think I won’t.

I sigh.  “This must be a humdinger.”

He chuckles.  “What? I haven’t even said anything yet.”

“You don’t have to.  That look says it all. It makes my butt pucker.”

“Makes your butt pucker?”  I nod and he laughs outright.  Shaking his head, an amused expression still on his face, Cash reaches out and pulls me into his arms, snugging me up against his chest.  “You’re crazy, you know that, right?”

“Of course.  Was it supposed to be a secret?”

“No, I think that ship has sailed.”

I turn my head slightly and bite his flat male nipple.

“Ouch!  Keep doing that and you’ll get the best damn spanking you’ve ever had.”

“I’ve never been spanked before, so the bar is set very low.”

“Well, that’ll be the first thing on the agenda when I get you back home then.”

I lean further back.  “Get me back home?  Where am I going?”

Cash sighs.  “Your mother’s house.  It’s the safest place for you right now.”

I push out of his arms.  “What?  You can’t be serious!  There are a dozen places I can think of right off the top of my head that would be safe and give me a reasonable expectation of retaining my sanity.  Why in the world would you want me there?”

“Because there is a recent trail to almost everyone else in your life.  Everyone except her.  You haven’t talked to her in how long?”

“A couple years, but that’s not the point.”

“That’s exactly the point.  Where else would you be less expected to go?”

My mind goes completely blank, probably because he’s right.

Dammit!

“Fine, but you’ll have to let me drive myself.  She would never understand something like this.”

Already, Cash is shaking his head.  “Nope. Sorry.  Gavin will be taking you and staying with you until it’s time to bring you back.”

“What?  No way!  If I have to take someone, why can’t it be you?”  The more I think of it, the more I like that scenario.  That way, Cash would be sure to be safe.

“Gavin is the most…capable one of us.  You’ll be safe with him, no matter what comes up.”

“Are you expecting an army of mafia bandits to accost me at my mother’s house?”

“I’m not expecting anything.  But I’m going to be prepared for…whatever.”

“If Gavin’s the most capable one, maybe you should send him to make the trade with Nash.”

“I have to go. I have to do this.  I can’t trust Nash with it. I need to make sure it gets done and it gets done right.  I can’t have them threatening you, Olivia.  This has to stop.”

“But…but…”

I can’t think of a single argument other than I want him with me and I want him to be safe.  Neither of those are enough to change his mind, though.

“This is the best way.  The only way.  Just trust me.  Can you do that?”

Cash’s head is tilted slightly to the side and he’s looking deep into my eyes.  He’s so sincere.

I feel the sting of tears at the backs of my eyes.  With a fist lodged in my throat, I don’t even try to speak.  I just nod and drop my eyes to Cash’s mouth.

Tenderly, he pulls me back into his arms.  He strokes my hair and rubs circles on my back.  “I’ll keep you safe.  I promise.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” I murmur against his chest.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Cash

The ride to the hotel with Olivia is a special kind of torture.  Even after devouring her an hour ago, I still feel that familiar twitch in my dick when her hands stray too low on my stomach.  With my eyes wide open, I can still picture her tiny hands wrapped around my shaft, picture her lips closing over the glistening tip.