Property of Drex (Death Chasers MC 2)

“Only one pair of panties,” I admit, and he grins bigger when he reaches his hand under the shirt I’m wearing and discovers they’re not on.

His hands roam over my bare ass, groping and possessing. I lean into him, feeling safe again as I wrap my arms around his waist.

This feels different. It’s not the same as it was a few days ago. It feels like he’s actually mine now, and this feels so much more… real.

“I could get used to this. No underwear, no clothes… It’s like you’re my own personal little dirty secret and you can’t go anywhere,” he jokes, which prompts me to actually laugh.

“That meeting must have been really productive if you’re in such a good mood.”

He tenses under my touch, and that immediately sours the playful air for me.

“What happened?” I ask, peering up at him. “Never mind,” I add quickly. “I don’t want to know. It’ll just make it look like I’m spying.”

He shrugs as though it’s no big deal. “Pop might think you are, but I don’t. Neither do my boys. We’re handling things. In the meantime, I’m keeping you out of Pop’s path.”

I don’t know if that’s supposed to comfort me or scare me. The president of the killers thinks I’m a spy that deserves to die.

There’s no happy place to go to right now that will make that go away.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got you. Trust me.”

Trust. That word is the crux of our relationship. At least it’s finally a relationship.

He bends, brushing his lips against mine, showing me that tenderness that I never thought he was capable of.

And the crazy thing is that I do trust him. With my life.

He catches my wrist, bringing it around so that he can see it, and anger flashes across his face when his eyes narrow on the fingerprint bruises Dash left behind.

“I should have hit him harder,” he says under his breath.

I start to question it, when a knock sounds at the door. It’s late… or early… depending on how you look at it. After the chaos the last twenty-four hours has divvied out, I jump.

Drex sighs. “I told you to trust me. It’s just Axle.”

He kisses the marks on my arm, before moving to answer the door. Sure enough, Axle walks in, completely avoiding glancing in my direction while he focuses on Drex.

“The feds are hanging back around Herrin and his men. They’re not posting up outside anymore. Apparently their focus has returned to only him and the north warehouse. And some of the guys who’ve been sleeping are taking the first shift.”

Drex nods, not seeming to care that I’m overhearing this. I move to the bed, wrapping up in the soft covers and hiding my bare legs.

“Eve needs to go shopping tomorrow for some new clothes. I’m giving her my card. Make sure she has a ride.”

That surprises me.

“Do you want someone to drive her, or do you want me just to score her some keys.”

Drex looks at me, winks, then returns his attention to Axle. “Just get her some keys.”

He’s letting me leave? With keys? No chaperone?

Something so small shouldn’t thrill me, but it does. It’s trust. He trusts me. Then, panic sets in.

“What if they attack me like they did you?”

Drex and Axle both look at me this time. Drex frowns, but Axle is the one to speak.

“They won’t,” Axle tells me. “Drex was the target. This hasn’t got anything to do with you, but some of the guys will be in town. We’ve already gotten you a new phone. Benny isn’t stupid enough to strike in public. Our guys will follow you into town, then you go shop while they go work. You can call us when you’re ready to head back if you don’t want to drive out here on your own.”

That’s a lot more freedom than I’ve been having. Maybe Drex finally does believe me. Most importantly, he trusts me.

I actually smile—much too big—and Axle hands Drex a phone that I assume must be my new one.

“You can’t come with me?” I ask Drex, already willing to cede my freedom if it means I get some alone time with him outside of this damn warehouse and his friends. I loved our time alone in his home.

His eyes… I really love those blue eyes when they’re soft instead of hard. And I really love the way he’s looking at me right now.

“I would, but I have a lot to do this week. All week. I won’t be getting out much. And it’d be dangerous for me to be out with you right now. I don’t want you put at risk because I have a bounty on my head.”

That definitely kills my smile.

“I can just stay here. It’s not like I want to venture below, so not having any clothes isn’t a big deal.”