Motown Takedown (Motown Down Book 3) (28 page)

If there was anything sexier than a female putting on lip gloss I did not know what it was. However, Cinn doing it took sex to a whole ‘nother level. Content to watch her forever, I look beyond her and see movement which ruined the moment. The hair on my neck stood up and I warned her, “Don’t move.”

“Huh?
”
she asks facing me.

“Do not move, Cinn,
”
I say again and then whistle for the mutt. “Ares come.”

Looking around the bathroom, wondering why I’m losing it, she follows my line of sight, stops and grins. “Why do you need Ares?
”
she asks trying not to laugh.

“Because a bullet would ruin the wall and the mutt is a killer, this is what the fuck he does. I’m going to let him do it.”

Reaching for the toilet paper she wraps it around her hand and moves forward. “No,
”
I growl. “Do not get near it!”

Laughing loud, she shakes her head, reaches high and snags it. “There,
”
she says dropping it in the toilet. “All better. Ares can stand down now.”

“This is not funny,
”
I growl down at her.

“You’re right,
”
she giggles. “It’s fucking hilarious.”

“I don’t like spiders,
”
I huff.

“Clearly,
”
she says running her hands up my chest. “But I just saved your life, Eros. I think you owe me.”

Tagging her neck and pulling her to me, she smiles again and I swear to Christ there was nothing like her smile. I had few fears in life but spiders was at the motherfucking top of the list. It was a stupid fear for a criminal to have but that didn’t make it any less real. “What’s my queen afraid of?”

“It used to be water,
”
she confesses while meeting my eyes. “But you cured me of that. Now, I’m afraid of nothing, Monarch. As long as I have you, I’m fearless.”

Watching her sleep was the only time I felt any semblance of peace. During the waking hours she avoided me and even when I approached her she only answered when spoken to. While we ran our business she sat completely still letting me handle shit. My woman was next to me, I could feel her heat but emotionally she was miles away. There wasn’t time to do anything about it right now. Between shipments never coming in, training the new recruits and word of the competition wanting my woman, I had no time to fix this rift.

But I was also not letting her off this property and the men on the grounds knew it. They also knew if she left and I found out one of them let her, I’d kill ‘em. Power plays were being made, all for the sake of taking what’s mine. I’ll be God damned if I’d put her in danger again so she could have her fucking toes polished. Running my fingers down her arm, she shifts away from me.
Doesn’t even want me in her sleep…

Sleep did not come easy. I suspected it was my own actions to blame but I was too tired to sort it out. Pulling her to me despite her reluctance to be near me, I held her in place. “You’re hurting me,
”
she whispers and I ease up immediately. “Not physically, emotionally.”

Not knowing what else to say because in war we all had to sacrifice. I kept it simple. “Get over it, Cinn.”

“And if I can’t?”

“You will.”

“And if I
can’t
?
”
she says again. Rolling her onto her back, I cage her in and make it real fucking clear.

“It is up to me what freedoms you get. It is my job to protect you. War is on our doorstep, Cinn, and until it’s over you will do as I say. I would rather you hate me then see you hurt, get me?”

“The war will never end, Monarch! We will always have threats because of who we are!”

“Not if they’re all dead.”

“Get off me,
”
she whispers but I don’t move. “Get off me,
”
she says thrashing. When that doesn’t work she screams with it getting Ares attention. Alert and ready to defend his momma, I release her. Shooting off the bed, she grabs her robe and leaves the room. With a grunt, I follow. Two turns later I watch her just as she plops into her chair. Curling up with Ares and a blanket, I storm into the room looking for a fight but stopped myself when she looked up at me.

“Mo chuisle…”

“If that day comes,
”
she says sadly. “That I look into your eyes and see him there, you won’t have to worry about my love or my loyalty.”

“What the fuck?”

“You won’t have to worry about it because it will already be gone.”

“This is temporary,
”
I remind her.

“Is it?
”
she laughs. “I don’t think so, Monarch. This war will never end. I know because I’ve lived it for years. I barely survived it. The only reason I did was the promise of you. You said I was your queen, that we ruled together, made decisions together. Your men are my men, you even asked me to command them, to command
you
! You gave me everything I have ever wanted and at the first threat took it away as if it never was!”

“I need you to trust me.”

“I need to
live
, Monarch.”

“I need you to trust me.”

“I need to
breathe
, Monarch.”

“I need you to trust me.”

“I just need...
”
she starts but I was fucking done. Grabbing her and taking her mouth hard, I scream into it. “I need you to trust me, Cinn!”

Closing her eyes and turning her face away, she quietly says, “I just need you, Monarch.
”
Letting her go, she calls for Ares and leaves the room.

Falling into the chair, I look at the title of her latest book not giving a shit. Tossing it, I close my own eyes wishing I had a do-over.

“Want my advice?
”
He asks from the door.

“No.”

“You run a business,
”
he says. “You don’t run a woman.”

“You’re my boy, Ransom. I’ve trusted you with some heavy shit. Make no mistake, I do not trust you with my woman. Unless she’s in danger, or it’s ordered by me personally, stay the fuck away.
”
Standing, I approach quickly pinning him to the wall by his throat. “And if you ever cross me like you did by telling her shit she did not need to know, boy or not, I’ll kill you.”

“Noted,
”
was all he said on his way out.

Slamming the door behind me, I made my way back to Cinn.

Whether she liked it or not.

“Does it ever get old?
”
Camo asks from somewhere hidden in a tree no doubt. The female could blend into any scenery and you’d never see her unless she wanted you to.

“Old was years ago,
”
I tell her while perched in a chair in the kitchen. “Shit getting old got old and now I’m just resigned.”

“You don’t do resigned, Cinn,
”
she reminds me. “So what’s really going on?”

“Nothing I can’t handle,
”
I promise her. “And believe me, I’m handling it.”

“You know I can – ”

“Pepper,
”
I say softly. “I’m handling it, I swear.”

“You’re a lot of things,
”
she says just as soft. “But never a liar.”

We both stayed silent, but after a few heartbeats it was Camo that broke it. “Death’s calling, gotta go.”

It’s been two and a half weeks since he made it clear my will was not my own. Unfortunately for me, old habits didn’t die hard, they didn’t die at all. During this time, I stayed in contact with Demo often. In fact, I also worked closely and secretly with Pope, Gunner, and Ransom too. I didn’t want to do sneaky but he’d left me no alternative. I shut down his spyware bullshit long enough to handle business and then when it was finished turned it right back on.

Monarch spent a lot of time plotting, threatening and avoiding Ransom totally. He was pissed at him and Ransom explained why. When I heard I could only roll my eyes.

Since he refused to end the war, I decided to do it for him. Let’s face it, I was excellent at it and had the time. However, nighttime was the hardest because he would come to bed drunk and thinking I’m asleep whispering his love for me in my ear. Monarch swore he didn’t want to be Savage but he also couldn’t seem to help himself. So at night, when he held me I held him back. When he spoke, I listened. But he had to work this out on his own. Until he did, I kept my ear to the ground and my eyes wide open.

One of us had to run shit and clearly he wasn’t up for the job.
Hello Groundhog Day…

According to Demo, he joined the den to keep an eye. Apparently Casper saw me as a prize worth killing to acquire. The thing was, he hadn’t started killing yet and was not behind the attack at the riverfront. My guys, including Demo, agree that Monarch is too caught up with coveting me to see the threats for what they are. A distraction from a bigger problem. While Monarch was strong-arming our men into following
his
lead, they made it clear they wanted to follow mine. They also made it clear they’d be willing to follow
ours
, but he refused citing my presence put me in danger. The men, according to Ransom thought this was some bullshit. That he was pulling some Savage shit.

I agreed.

Because of this division there was a discord. When and if Monarch removed his head from his ass and realized what I’ve been doing, odds were good he’d lose it. He’d also not consider that even when he lost his focus, I kept mine. Keeping our men alive, keeping us alive, was priority one. If I was going to spend my days behind these walls then I was going to spend them strategizing. Because I’ve seen this movie before only this time I’m rewriting the ending. If Monarch doesn’t want to get on board, he can be cut from production. Either way, I wasn’t down with being a prisoner twice.

Flash forward to now, with Ares swimming alongside of me in the pool. Tossing the tennis ball, we both make a mad dash for it but like usual, Ares wins. “What’s shakin
’,
little mermaid?”

Spinning toward her voice, I squeal when I see Camo squatting down next to the steps. Calling Ares, who was stoked to have company, we both dash from the pool with Ares soaking her first. Licking, shaking and rolling at her feet, Camo rubs him all over before reaching for me. “Missed you, Cinn,
”
she smiles.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was in the neighborhood.”

“Bullshit.”

“I was,
”
she swears. “Then your guy, Ransom, let me in after I threatened to blow the place if I didn’t get to see you.”

“Monarch didn’t…
”
I start then stop myself because he doesn’t have a say. “I missed you too, Camo.”

“Where did you get that suit?”

“Ransom bought it for me.”

“Ransom, huh?
”
she asks raising an eyebrow.

“It’s not like that,
”
I assure her. “Monarch sent him. My other one didn’t fit right.”

“And that’s what he came back with?
”
she laughs pushing my boob with her finger.

“How’ve you been?
”
I ask motioning her to a seat and wrapping up in a towel. Ares jumps up on the lounge next to me and passes right out.

“I’ve been fucktastic but I want to know how you are.”

“I’m good,
”
I smile but she doesn’t buy it.

“As far as prisons go, at least this one has a pit and a pool.”

“It’s temporary,
”
I said it and I wanted to smack myself for doing it. Fuck, now
I
sound like Monarch.

“You want out?
”
she asks low. “Just say the word, Cinn and it’s done.”

“Camo, I’m good.”

“No,
”
she says narrowing her eyes. “You’re not good. You’re almost back to being a flawless void like you were with Savage. Except you love this asshole. But guess what, Cinn? Only difference is you’re trying to convince yourself he isn’t the asshole he clearly is. He’s not Savage yet but if you don’t check him, he will be.”

“Gadget’s perfect?
”
I counter.

“Fuck no,
”
she snorts. “He was an asshole too. Knock the asshole out of him before he takes everything from you. I’ve got some experience with this and you know it. I spent years getting kicked in the lady balls for him and you spent years trapped with a man you hated. You love Monarch, I know this without a doubt. But you are not meant to be trapped, Cinn, don’t fucking allow it.”

“What am I supposed to do?
”
I whisper.

“You’re a queen,
”
she winks. “Do queenly shit.”

“I am,
”
I confess in a roundabout way, in case he’s listening.

“Then do
more
.”

Before I could ask what more meant, Monarch came in and shut me down. “Oops busted!
”
Camo giggles not afraid of him in the slightest.

“How’d you get in here?
”
he asks crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’m sneaky,
”
she winks. “That and nothing keeps me from my girl, not even
you
.”

“I tolerate you for
her
,
”
he nods at me. “Don’t make me regret it.”

“Funny,
”
she says getting in his space. “I killed The Greek for
her
so she could have
you
, don’t make
me
regret it.”

“You think because you’re female that pardons you from punishment?”

“He’s cute when he’s clueless,
”
she smiles over at me and I just roll my eyes.
Here she goes
…”You think because you’re male that pardons you from the site my hubby is watching you through?”

“Get out.”

“Yeah yeah, I’m going,
”
she says heading for the door. “Cinn? Karaoke tomorrow night, I’m saving you a seat.”

Looking up at Monarch I tell her firmly and with a smile, “I’ll be there.”

“That’s my girl,
”
she whispers on her way out and then it was quiet.

Deathly quiet.

“Mo chuisle,
”
he booms and it bounces off the walls to where I felt his need. “Step to me.”

And out of habit, I did.