Cowboy Gangster 03 - Outlaws of Love by CJ Bishop Page A

sudden compulsion to call Clint. The cowboy had been in the wrong. Cochise had seen it in his eyes –he’d been prepared to spare Venetti’s life. That had never been option, not for Cochise. Not when Shay lay dead in the hospital morgue by Venetti’s doing. His “reasoning” was not Cochise’s concern. Shay was his concern. And he would slaughter each and every motherfucker who’d had a hand in orchestrating the boy’s death.
    And Venetti’s son had been guilty by association.
    Cochise stared at the cell in his hand, an indecipherable weight in his chest. When his thumb moved over the keypad, pressing numbers, he wasn’t fully aware of who he was calling until the low male voice answered on the other end –hesitant and uncertain.
     
    ♦
     
    The bedroom door closed just moments before his phone went off. Kane stood at the door and stared at the device on his nightstand, anxiety knotting his gut. It made no sense to think the man would be calling him. Why would he? To set up a fuck date? That seemed unlikely. The Egyptian made no pretenses –he just showed up to collect. There would be no courtesy call ahead of time.
    Still, Kane’s steps were heavy, unwilling as he moved across the floor and set the coffee cup on the stand and picked up the cell. There was no name to accompany the number, but a name wasn’t necessary –he had memorized the damn number long before he’d drank himself into oblivion two nights ago.
    Don’t answer. Whatever he’s offering –you don’t want.
    The words chanted inside his head as he accepted the call and slowly raised the phone to his ear. “Hello?” he spoke quietly, his voice thick, anxious.
    The line was open but there was no reply.
    “What do you want from me?” Kane whispered thickly.
    Nothing. No response.
    Please just leave me alone. He tried to form the words, but they refused to come. He swallowed thickly as an unexpected pressure squeezed his chest and he was hit with the sudden sense that something was wrong. But even if that were the case –why would the man call him?
    He licked his lips anxiously, confused as to why he gave a fuck and asked cautiously, “Cochise? Are you…okay?”
    The line went dead seconds later.
     

Chapter 7
“Out Of The Light”
    ♦
     
    Anthony gripped Angelo’s hands and brought them to his lips, then kissed his mouth softly. He held his hands against his chest and leaned into the kiss without force or demand. The need to make love to the man was nearly more than he could resist, but it shouldn’t happen like this –if it should happen at all. Shay’s death and almost losing Cory as well…it was wreaking havoc on their emotions.
    “Just lay with me, and hold me,” Anthony whispered against Angelo’s lips. “Let me fall asleep in your arms.” He mapped the lines of Angelo’s face with a single fingertip, lastly caressing across his lower lip and kissed him again. “Is that enough…for now?”
    Angelo nodded and shifted closer. His arm slid around Anthony’s body beneath his open shirt. “I think it has to be,” he said quietly then nuzzled Anthony’s neck and sighed softly. “I’m sorry for…wanting more.”
    Anthony kissed his head, his lips lingering. “Don’t be sorry.” He lifted his face and laid another warm kiss on his mouth. “Don’t ever be sorry for wanting more.” He cupped Angelo’s neck and drew him deeper into the kiss, moaning softly. It felt so good to kiss him…to just let go and give into the passion. He pulled back from the kiss just enough for their lips to graze lightly together, tugging gently.
    It was strange, Anthony thought, how a passion that had lain dormant for so long…could reignite so suddenly and without warning. His fingertips played along the cord in Angelo’s neck, then the line of his jaw as he grabbed soft kisses from the man’s lips.
    Or maybe it hadn’t really been dormant at all…merely quiet .
     
    ♦
     
    “Let’s go for a walk instead,” Gabe said when