It was because of him. He pretended like his tests didn’t shape and mold, but I saw through that. His tests took me and woke something up inside of me, something that might’ve never woken if he hadn’t guided me.
Now I was his, and I was going to use all my newfound strength to help hm.
I pulled back, breaking the kiss, and ran my fingers through his hair.
“Call the guys together. Call them into my shop later today.”
He let out a frustrated growl. “Make it worth my while.”
I reached down between his legs and felt his hard cock strain against his boxer briefs.
“Promise you’ll call.”
“I swear.”
I dropped down to my knees in front of him and slid his briefs down to the ground. His thick cock barely fit in my mouth but I sucked him anyway, let him slide his shaft deep into my mouth. I listened to his mouths as I pulled back and stroked him, staring into his eyes, and I knew in that moment that this was right where I wanted to be, the place I needed to be.
I sucked him faster, let him growl and grab my hair, and when he came on my tongue I swallowed every drop with a smile on my lips.
I got to my feet and he kissed me, slow and deep.
“This better be a good plan,” he whispered, giving me a lazy, drunken smile.
I laughed as he grabbed my ass then went off to make the calls.
I stood in front of the crew and let my eyes roam over them. Danny sat toward the front of the room next to the windows eating a Snickers bar while the others stood in loose clumps around the shirt racks. I leaned back against the counter and Owain stood next to me, arms crossed over my chest.
“I know we don’t get everyone in one room like this often,” he said as the tense, nervous conversation died down. “But Leigh has something she wants to bring to everyone’s attention.”
I looked around and half expected Camillo to make some comment. Instead, he stared back at me with a flat expression, both his eyes covered in thick black bruises.
“Last night wasn’t enough.”
I saw a couple angry expressions. Rolan looked unhappy, and the twins seemed like they were personally offended. Owain held up his hands before everyone could start talking at once and kept the peace while I continued.
“Last night was a start, but if we keep going this way it’ll only drag on for a long time.” I took a breath and met their gaze with as much confidence as I could muster. I thought about Owain’s hands on my body, his lips close to mine, and pushed forward. “I want to do something drastic. The Jackals know about me and they know I’m directly involved in the pill business. I think they’ll come after me if I put myself out there.”
Owain stared at me with a hint of anger and betrayal. I tried not to look at him because I knew it might change my mind.
But the fact was, I was the perfect bait. The Jackals knew me and they thought I was weak. They’d want to hurt me after what happened last night, after their clubhouse was burned to the ground. If I put myself out there in a position of weakness, I didn’t think they could resist.
“So you want to be bait?” Martin was the one that spike up first, which surprised me. He didn’t come to the raid the night before.
“That’s the idea, broadly speaking. I think they’ll see me as the weak link here and take any opportunity. I want to lure Clifton out and take him down, chop the head off the snake, and I’m willing to risk myself to make it happen.”
“No,” Owain said. “We’re not using you as bait again.”
“It’s my idea this time.”
“I don’t care. I said no.”
“If she wants to do it, she has a right,” Martin said, his expression studiously blank.
Owain’s nostrils flared as he turned to the older man. “Watch what you say,” he rumbled. “I don’t have a lot of patience for you right now.”
“And I don’t have a lot of patience for a protracted war. If she thinks she can take Clifton out in one attack, we need to consider it.”
“He’s right,” Rolan said. “I think she has a good idea here.”
“Of course you do. None of you give a shit whether she lives or dies.” Owain’s hands clenched into fists.
“Maybe you’re too close to the girl,” Viktor said.
“Mother fucker,” Owain started, and took a step forward, but I put a hand on his chest.
He seethed for a moment, staring at them, before turning to me.
“Just think about it,” I said before he could argue. “Clifton’s going to want to project strength after what happened, right? What better way than to kill me himself? My plan’s simple. We’ll leak that there’s a new pill delivery coming, and I’m the one picking it up. I’ll take a van down somewhere safe with all you guys around and basically wait for the Jackals to attack. Once they come for me, you all show up and murder the crap out of them.”
Rolan laughed. “Murder the crap out of them. That’s putting it nicely.”
“You’d be in too much danger,” Owain said. “No way we can do it.”
“We’ll find a spot that’ll work. I trust you guys.”
Martin snorted. “Lord knows why.”
“She means she trusts me.” Owain glared at him again then shut his eyes and took a breath. I could tell he was struggling to keep it together, which surprised me
I knew he wouldn’t like this plan. It really was a big risk for me, but he put me in harm’s way once before and I thought he could do it again.
Things changed since then. Whatever bond we had grew deeper, and
