Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(114)

“Black you going to shoot this motherf*cker or am I?” Jack growled

“He’s mine,” I hissed, pulling the trigger on both guns at the same time Boots pulled his. Jack lurched for me, knocking me down before he threw himself down on the floor, rolled over and took another shot at Boots.

Two bullets from me and one from Jack.

Boots fell backwards as his hands moved to contain the blood pouring out of his chest.

I was quick on my feet, stepping over Jack to make my way to Boots.

Boots stared up at me, his lips quivering and eyes wide with shock.

“Told you to stay the f*ck away from her didn’t I?” I seethed, adrenaline coursing through every vein in my body. “I warned you not to f*ck with mine,” I shouted. “Now you f*cking pay the price,” I hissed bending down over his body and pushed the barrel of my gun between his lips. “How’s your gag reflex motherf*cker?” I asked before I pulled the trigger, fragments of his head splattered everywhere.

“Shit,” Jack muttered, pushing off the floor. “Hate to be the one who’s gotta clean this mess,” he commented staring down at what was left of Boots.

I lifted my hand to my cheek, brought it back down and stared at the blood that covered my hands.

This one’s for Lace.

“C’mon let’s get the f*ck out of here, before we’re the two *s cleaning this shit up,” I said, shoving my gun into the waistband of my jeans and handing him over the other gun.

“Keep it,” he said, stepping over Boots and following me out of the clubhouse. Once we were outside, he leaned against his bike and pulled out his pack of Marlboros.

“That was fun,” he said with a smirk, shoving the cigarette between his lips and reaching for his lighter. “But f*ck, I’m getting too old for the Cowboys and Indians shit.” He lit his cigarette, and I grabbed a rag from my saddlebags and wiped the blood from my face.

Silence fell over us as I wiped my hands on the rag and pinned him with a stare.

“Let’s get it over with,” I started, watching as he arched one eyebrow and took a drag of cigarette. “You get one shot, right here, right now,” I said, taking two strides towards him. “Make it good because it’s all you’re going to get.”

“You think taking a swing at you will make things right between us?” He questioned, blowing out a ring of smoke before laughing in my face and shaking his head.

“So what do you want from me? You want me to apologize to you? I can’t and more importantly I won’t do that because apologizing would mean I regret it and I don’t.”

He growled or grunted, I couldn’t be sure but some animalistic sound escaped his mouth as he glared at me.

“Why her?”

“Why not?”

“Really?” He questioned before he fell silent for a moment. “She’s my daughter,” he seethed.

“I know that,” I said. “And I love her.”

“Ah, f*cking hell,” he muttered, turning his cheek to me. I reached out and flicked the cigarette out of his mouth.

That got his attention.

“Quit that shit,” I hissed. “You want to walk your girl down the aisle don’t you? Stick around and see your grandchildren, no?”

“Grandchildren,” he repeated, shaking his head. “I shouldn’t knock you out I should shoot your ass.”

“You could do that,” I said, shoving my hands into my pockets as I shrugged my shoulders. “But then you’d have to tell Lacey you shot the man she loves.”

“Come on, enough with that word!”

I bit the side of my cheek and tried not to smile.

He crossed his arms against his chest and kept his eyes trained on his boots for a moment.

“She’s not like us, you know, she’s fragile.”

“She’s stronger than you know,” I assured him

“You really love her don’t you?”

“I do.”

He nodded then straddled his bike and gripped the handlebars tightly.

“You better treat her good,” he said hoarsely.

“I will,” I paused, before extending my hand, still speckled with Boots blood. “You have my word.”

He looked at my hand before gripping it and his eyes met mine.

“Your word is gold, Black.”

And just like that Jack Parrish handed me the thing he cherished most in this world…he gave me his daughter’s life and told me to take care of it as my own.

It was time to tell Lacey who she belonged to.

Girl, I’m coming for you.





Chapter Forty-two





I yawned for what seemed like the twentieth time in five minutes and glanced across the living room at Reina, who was sprawled out on the couch eating saltine crackers and sipping on ginger ale.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I questioned as I placed my hands on my knees and stood up.

“Fine, it’ll pass,” she insisted.

“Well, if you’re sure, then I will head out. I’m exhausted,” I declared, rising to my feet.

She shot up like a jack-in-the-box, nearly spilling the ginger ale all over herself as she scrambled to her feet and made a beeline for the bathroom.