She swallowed, tucked her hair behind her ears, and stepped close to stroke his chest. “Be careful.”
“Always.” He touched his lips to hers.
She raised an eyebrow as though not believing him.
“What?” He chuckled.
“I know whatdon’t die oldmeans.” She tapped his chest, over the inked words she’d just spoken.
“When my time’s up, my time’s up. But I ain’t ready to meet the bullet with my name on it just yet.” He paused. “I’ve still got things to do … things to do to you.”
She nodded, just a little. “Call me?”
“Sure.”
“Make sure you do.” And then she was gone.
He closed the door, not wanting to witness the Phoenix chapter leave. He couldn’t explain it, but it felt as though a piece of him was going with them. It was a crazy notion. He hadn’t known Belle long, but already his need for her, his craving to have her at his side, was intense.
He shoved his hand down his jeans and adjusted his hard cock. Fuck it. He’d have to jerk off now. If he didn’t, it was going to be a long uncomfortable evening.
****
The Mexican sky was a vast expanse of brilliant blue as Wyatt and Taff made their way east of Tijuana. The pockmarked road was lined with cacti that grew from the dusty earth—mean spikes acting as a warning to stay away.
“I hope these assholes don’t fuck us,” Taff said, lighting a cigarette from the glowing butt of a stub.
“Yeah. I don’t trust ’em.” Wyatt remembered Belle’s words about the goatee guy. He wasn’t impressed with the deal that had been struck. Wyatt and Taff were vulnerable without their club brothers. And being over the border, off their home turf, that also didn’t help the nervous itch scraping up and down his spine.
He took a left, the road turning to more of a track, dust billowing from their tires into the stifling air.
“Your weapon loaded?” Taff asked.
“Sure.”
“Got the cash?”
“You’ve asked me that three times.”
Taff didn’t reply. He blew out a stream of smoke then snorted, a gross nervous habit that was making Wyatt grip the steering wheel even harder.
After a few minutes, Wyatt nodded ahead. “I see their place.”
“Yeah, dump, ain’t it?”
“Pigsty for pigs.” Wyatt grunted and went through the plan again in his head. The sooner they loaded the weapons into the van, made an attempt at concealing them with the oranges, and handed over the money, the better. Then they could get the fuck out of Mexico—as long as the usual bribe was taken at border control, that was. After that, Hudson and Rigor would take over selling the weapons to give the Barbarians a much-needed financial boost.
Which would make the trip to Pierce all the sweeter … oh, and of course, his sweet lady would be there.
Stop it.
He frowned and shook his head. Now was not the time to think of Belle. She was a distraction with those cute titties, round ass, and seductive eyes. A distraction he couldn’t afford right now.
As they drew closer to the high-wire fence that enclosed a single-story building and several shipping containers, the Mexicans appeared. Like sleeping dogs waking, they slunk from the shadows, watchful and quiet. Sunlight glinted off their bikes and weapons.
“Fucking hate this place already,” Taff muttered, flicking his butt from the open window.
“Let’s just get in and out with the goods.”