They come for us, and we’ll shoot them in the head too. Sam’s hogs will be well-fed this year.
I’d walked into Yoshiro’s basement a bit nervous but determined. I’d walked out a murderer, ready to tear any enemy apart that rushed for me. And no guilt pumped in my heart. No sorry coursed through my blood.
I’d had nightmares of Wyatt already. They’d plagued me in these past five years. Horrific dreams of him sneaking up on us and killing me.
Tonight, I knew without a doubt that I would sleep at ease.
Fuck that. You’re gone now. If you’re dead body comes to my dreams, I’ll fucking laugh. What can you do now?
It took us ten minutes to pull those wagons to the other property. I was out of breath, but I kept Yoshiro’s pace. Every few steps, he checked me, but knew not to ask if I was okay. I no longer wanted him to see me as some charity case or helpless female. I needed him to understand that I could hold my own, that I would do what was needed regardless of what came against me.
A short man stood next to a huge pen of hogs. His big belly pushed over his pants waist. He smoked a cigar and grinned. “Yoshiro, you’ve met a lady?”
“Hello, Sam.” Yoshiro stopped the wagon in front of him, dug in his pants, and handed a thick envelope. “I added a little extra.”
“You always do. I love doing business with you.” Sam puffed his cigar and gestured toward the house behind him. “The wife made five fruitcakes for Christmas. You would be doing me a favor by taking them all.”
Yoshiro laughed. “They don’t taste good?”
Sam tipped cigar ash near his feet. “Not even the hogs will eat them. And that’s saying a lot.”
“It is.” Yoshiro pointed at the wagons. “Get rid of those too.”
“Of course. I’ve got a buddy in Oregon that would want some wagons.” Sam patted his large belly. “I’ll take them over to him tomorrow. Maybe, he’ll take the fruitcakes too.”
“Thanks, Sam. I’ll see you later.” Yoshiro waved and headed away.
I walked off with him.
Sam called back to us. “You won’t introduce me to your lady friend?”
“Another time. It’s been a long night.” Yoshiro looked over his shoulder. “I’ll have you over for dinner.”
“Don’t forget.” Sam coughed. “I’m a vegetarian.”
“I remember.”
We returned to the basement, but didn’t go in.
Yoshiro opened the door and looked in. “Everything’s clean.”
I checked too. The space resembled the way it did early, spotless and stacked with guns and ammo. “Are we done?”
Yoshiro shut the door, locked it, and then studied me. “We just have clean up and burn our clothes. There’s some old clothes in this house. We shouldn’t shower at the main house. We don’t want any of the kids walking up on us covered in blood.”
“Yeah. That wouldn’t be ideal.”
“So. . .”
I stared at him. “What?”
Yoshiro ran his fingers through his hair. “Take off your clothes.”
I quirked my brows. “Here?”
“We don’t want to bring them inside.”
I smiled.
“What?”
I whispered, “You look nervous.”
“I am nervous, Ebony.”
“That’s what put you on edge tonight, asking me to take my clothes off? Really? After everything we’ve been through. We’ve just killed somebody and cut him up.”
He shrugged. “I may be a bit. . .psychotic, but I am still a gentleman.”
I laughed for the first time that evening. It might’ve came out harder and louder than intended. And once I started, I couldn’t stop. Maybe, I was past going insane. Perhaps, I just needed a moment to decompress and lose it.
When I finished, I cleared my throat, grabbed the end of my shirt, and lifted it up.
Yoshiro turned around.
My shirt fell to the ground.
Then, he began to undress, taking off his shirt first. Muscles layered his back.
So impressed, I fumbled with unbuttoning my jeans. When my jeans hit the ground, I stepped out of them. When he took off his pants and shoved them off, I had to stop myself from drooling.
Relax, Ebony. You just killed somebody. Maybe, you don’t want to now fall into a state of horniness.
Still, it was hard to not gaze at his thick thighs and well-developed ass. His boxer briefs remained on.
“How are you doing?” he asked.
“Huh?” I’d been staring at him with my panties and underwear on. A chilly breeze brushed by, but I barely noticed.
“The front door is open. You can run into the house and shower first. There should be towels in the one upstairs.” He grabbed his waistline and slipped the boxer briefs off. When he stood, his thighs were separated. His cock bobbed between his legs, thick and long. “Ebony?”
“Uh. . .”
“Are you okay? I’m turning around.” He did, trying to cup his cock, but he couldn’t shield it. “You still have your bra and panties on.”
“I’m just. . .checking out the view. I got distracted.”