Black Hills Desperado (Black Hills Wolves, #3)(17)

“Told me there were some ugly-looking men in the bar that scared the shit out of Xio. She isn’t frightened of much. I figured only one person could do that.”

“I think you’re dead-on. If I were to describe a Mexican drug lord, he’d look just like that gentleman in there.” Drew slid a couple of shells into his double-barrel shotgun and cocked it one-handed. “When this is over, the three of us need to sit down and talk. I want everything out on the table about her past—your past. I want to know the names of anyone who might be after either one of you. If you so much as farted in public and offended someone, I want to know.”

“Deal. We’ll talk. How many are in there?”

“Diego and five others, besides Xio and Gee. Look to be all armed. They’ve got Gee, and don’t ask me how they managed that. Nobody ever gets Gee. It’s like trying to stop a tank with your bare hands. It doesn’t happen unless he wants it to happen.”

Marcus nodded. That meant he had more control than he was letting on and knew they were outside. But how to surprise them without anyone getting shot and killed was another matter altogether.

The door opened. “I need this.” Marcus wrenched the shotgun from Drew’s hands and yelled as Xio stepped out with Diego right behind her. “Remember how we met?” She nodded and dropped to the ground.

Good girl.




Yeah, how could I forget? Her face had been sore for a week. Marcus lunged, jamming the butt of the weapon into the underside of Diego’s jaw, snapping his head back, and sending his weapon flying into the dirt ten feet away. Diego dropped to his knees with a grunt and did a face-plant into the wooden sidewalk. “Asshole.”

Marcus grabbed Xio, shoved her behind him, and tossed the shotgun back to Drew, who caught it. “Sorry. My mate. Handling it.” He dove inside the bar.

Xio tried to follow. Drew tightened his grip on her arm. “You heard him. He’s got this.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can, but sometimes a man has to know he can protect what is his. Let him. Sit with me. I have a feeling this will only take a second. He’s got a rather impressive law-enforcement record—and temper.” He released her arm and Xio sank beside him. Drew was right. Marcus needed to do this. He’d told her he had her back. He’d meant it and wanted to prove it. To himself—to her.

A couple of shots rang out, and the sound of smashing glass came from the other side of the door. “Marcus!”

Drew grabbed her arm and pulled her back down. “He’s fine. Just venting. We all have to do it once and a while.”

“Venting?” He could be killed. “I’m going in there.”

“No, you’re going to sit right here and wait. You’ll only distract him. I’m the Alpha and I’m telling you to sit.”

She swallowed hard and nodded. All of this was her fault, and Drew was right. Going in there would only distract Marcus. It was the hardest thing she’d ever done.

A man came flying through the door and hit the edge of the boardwalk before rolling over and landing with a loud oomph on the street. Another followed. Then three others, each with a crash as they shattered the large windows that made up the front of Gee’s bar.

Drew let go of her. “Now you can go in.” He rose to his feet, pointed his shotgun at the downed men, and signaled his men over with a whistle. Pack came from everywhere. “Put your hands up, please. The sheriff will be here shortly.”

Seconds later, Marcus walked out, his eyes glowing amber, his chest rising and falling as he took heavy breaths. He looked left and then right, zeroing in on where she crouched next to the building. He had indeed handled it—not that she couldn’t have, but something about that was so hot.

Gee walked out behind him. He looked at the windows and shook his head. “Damn wolves. Always making a mess.”

“I’d pay three times its replacement cost to do it again.” Marcus pulled his wallet out, grabbed some cash, and crammed it into the bear’s hand. “Let me know if that doesn’t cover it.” And then he smiled at her.

Holy freaking hotness. Maybe she should let him handle things more often. He was so getting laid for this. Xio couldn’t hold back. She jumped up and ran into his arms, lacing her fingers in his hair and pulling him down for a kiss. “I need you. Right. Now.”

Gee cleared his throat behind them. “After you finish the dishes and someone helps me clean up this mess.”

***

Marcus stared at the numbers on the laptop Xio had spun around for him to see. He tapped his foot under the table and he shoved a hand in his hair. “Good Lord. You stole all this?”

“No, I invested wisely.”

“Unfortunately, because it was used in a crime, all of it will be going away. I have an old friend who owes me a favor—a hacker who ensured me it can be sent out to my old field office by wire. Anonymously. They won’t know where it came from, only that it’s drug money from someone who developed a conscience and decided to come clean. Nobody will be able to track it. He’s the best.”

“That’s forty million dollars. Not all of it came from crime. Diego gave me money for stuff and I invested it instead. I sold businesses. I—”

“Used drug money to get the ball rolling. We need to start over, fresh, and we can’t do it with this monkey on our back. I’ll leave the decision to you, but I want you to know how I feel. That’s blood money. It doesn’t matter how much of it came from investments, the source all leads back to the past and a place we don’t want to go anymore. You are no longer a bank robber. You made your money once. You can do it again—the honest way. I know you can. Let it go. For me.”