Page 45 of His Loyal Rebel

"Hang on." She stopped and turned, digging in her purse.

He rubbed the back of her neck, feeling the tension she carried with her. He'd come into her room every night and slept with her. She'd lost a lot of sleep, and it was starting to show. He'd even caught her yawning while she worked.

A small part of him wasn't the least bit guilty, knowing she was a passionate woman and had wanted him as much as he'd wanted her. Running on a few hours of sleep was worth having his dick inside of her every night.

She handed him cash. He refused to take it.

"It's for the food and drinks I've had since staying here." Her gaze softened. "It's okay. I'm saving the rest of my money to afford rent when I move out."

"I don't want your money."

"But, I want to pay my way."

"No need." He kissed her. "You've paid your way."

She slapped his chest and leaned away from him. He chuckled, realizing his mistake.

Shaking her head, she stormed off toward the hallway. The music switched tracks, and in the lull of noise, a door slammed.

Aware of others watching, he looked around the room and connected his gaze with Priest, who frowned at him. He shrugged. Her temper had nothing to do with their plan. Twyla remained unaware of what was happening around her.

Rick, stretched out on the couch with his hands latched behind his head, said, "Take care of her, brother."

"I don't need you to tell me how to take care of a woman." He stepped over and kicked his brother-in-law's boots off the coffee table. "Go home to my sister."

"Can't." Rick grinned. "She and Nicole went over to Curley's place to help Faye in the greenhouse. There are things she can't do being pregnant."

He tensed. "Where are the kids?"

Now was not the time to run around town. Cusclan would be looking at any opportunity to attack, and they'd hit low. Getting to their women and children would devastate Tarkio.

"With the women. Priest put the prospects on guard duty over there." Rick noticed Whip's concern. "Curley's there, too."

He drew in a breath, easing the pressure in his chest. Clasping Rick's offered hand, he dipped his chin. Out of everyone, he trusted Rick. They'd spent too much time locked in a prison cell together not to depend on each other.

With everyone else taken care of, he walked over and opened the fridge at the side of the room, checking to see what kind of food was left. Finding a pile of sandwiches in a sack, he took out two of them and went to share dinner with Twyla.

Her door was locked.

He knocked.

A shadow fell over him, and he looked over her shoulder and found Priest approaching him.

"There's pizza in the meeting room," said Priest.

He looked down at the sack, changed his mind, and stepped over to the locked room. Priest used his key and let him in. He dumped the sack on the table and picked up a paper plate, piling slices of barely warm pizza on top.

"Two Cusclan members were spotted over at Kelly Island." Priest stopped him from leaving the room.

"We have guys at that location?" He cocked his head. "There's nothing there."

"I had a hunch and sent a crew out earlier." Priest lowered his voice. "What do you think about backing away from Twyla when she's at work? Give Big a little nibble of the bait."

"Fuck no." There was nothing to think about. He wasn't going to throw Twyla out there to fend for herself.

"I hear you." Priest stroked his beard. "The more time we give them to get a better game plan, the more damage they'll put on Tarkio."

"Then, let me be the bait."