I wrap my arms around her and roll us so we’re on our sides facing each other. I’m surprised, and elated, when her eyes are open and her lips are curved into a smile.
“I knew we’d be explosive together,” I murmur and press a kiss to her forehead.
“Mmm.”
Content. That’s the only word in the English language to describe how I feel and how she looks.
There’s also satisfied, happy, amazing, incredi—
Okay, there are a lot of words, but I’m sticking with content. Because I wasn’t sure she’d ever experience that with me, that she would let herself experience it.
Yet here we are.
CHAPTER15
Peppermint
“Let’s get started.”
Harlow sits in her chair at the head of the table and calls church to order. Malachi and Nico were not happy about being left out of this meeting, but it doesn’t pertain to Nicholi, so they need to get over it. We still have a club to run, rescues to complete, and they’re not a part of that.
Once she’s satisfied that she has everyone’s attention, Harlow begins. “I won’t keep you long, but Brazen called this morning, and we’ve got a job,” she says, referring to the president of our mother chapter.
“Please tell me this isn’t related to Nicholi,” Spooks groans.
“It’s not. At least, not that we know of.”
“Thank fuck.”
“Give us the deets, Prez,” Mama prompts as she rubs her hands together in excitement. “I’m so in need of shedding a little blood.”
I chuckle at her. “We all are.”
“Well, you’ll get it with this one,” Harlow remarks and then turns to our secretary. “Story, can you pull up the pictures Brazen sent?”
“Sure thing.” Story opens her laptop and within minutes, a picture of a family is displayed on the wall.
“This is the Bend family,” Harlow begins. “Marsha Bend’s boss called the cops five days ago when she didn’t show up for work. The cops did a welfare check and found the house empty.” She nods at Story and the picture changes. “As you can see, there was a struggle, but law enforcement has zero leads. Brazen’s contact in the department reached out to her for help.”
“I’m surprised that happened so fast,” I say.
“Turns out the little girl has a seizure disorder. Her medication was found at the house. Because of her medical condition, the case was assigned to a task force. The problem is, they don’t have the connections the DHMC does. Brazen and her girls tracked the family to Atlantic City, and she wants us to go in and get them.”
“Where are they?” Giggles asks.
Harlow nods at Story, and the picture changes to a map of a run-down residential neighborhood.
“They’re being held here.” Harlow points at a spot on the map.
“Is the mission extraction only?”
Harlow grins. “Nope. We have blanket permission to do whatever the hell we want as long as the family is retrieved safely.”
Spooks shoots to her feet. “When do we leave?”
“At dark,” Harlow responds. “Spooks, you’ll have Giggles and Fox to breach the front of the house. I’ll have Peppermint and Mama for the back. Story, you’ll bring the van and Nate will be with you just in case the girl needs medical attention.” She glances around the room. “Any questions?”
When there are none, everyone is excused with orders to meet at the clubhouse at eight tonight. Sounds of the casino filter into the conference room as they leave in a flurry of excitement about the rescue. It hasn’t been that long since we’ve had one, but it always gets the blood pumping.