going to happen.” El
leaned forward, placed his elbows on his knees, and dangled his
hands between them.
“ I do believe you
expressed those same words when your brother issued the challenge
after you’d been chosen as chief.” Gunter leaned back and pulled
out a cherry root, thin cigar. “When we left, Ellory was
still alive .”
“ Barely. And, I don’t
consider that losing. He was my brother; you raised us together. I
couldn’t kill him in cold blood.”
“ That was your first
mistake, cause if he had the chance … you wouldn’t be sitting here
wondering how you were going to get rid of me, so you could get
your dick wet.” Gunter chuckled.
“ That’s not something we
have to worry about, is it, since he’s in Africa? Before the
challenge, I asked him to come with us. Hell, I’ll admit I begged
him to keep our pride together.”
“ Mistake number two.”
Gunter held his fingers up. “No Alpha begs. Ellory had no respect
for you, but he was also bat-shit crazy. I backed you because you
are level-headed and damn near a genius. I knew you would lead us
into a prosperous future, but you don’t have killer instincts. You
brought this tribe far within a few years, and you have the respect
of your people. But, allow me to ask you this. What if this unknown
lion is Ellory, come back from his near death experience? Then,
what?” Gunter cocked a thick brow. “If it comes down to you or him,
he will kill you.”
“ You have so little faith
in me?” He pursed his lips before exhaling. “No matter who it is
trespassing in our territory, before they die, they will know I am
the devil and this is hell.” El stood up and moved to the window.
He knew Trace was out there, and the tiger would keep Nae safe. He
could go hunting tonight. He turned around and faced Gunter. “Has
La found Reese yet?”
“ No, but Sitka, the
lioness he rents his room from, said he sometimes goes missing for
a few days. Says she thinks he goes hunting.”
El tilted his head. “Is it possible
those are his paws?”
“ Maybe, but he’s not
around to ask, so I’d rather err on the side of caution.” Gunter
stuck the cigar in his mouth.
“ You’ve taught me well
Gunter. I won’t make the mistakes of my youth.” El smirked. “Trust
me.”
“ Don’t smile like you have
a secret and nobody else knows it. It’s not like home where you had
to fight just to make it through the day. Out here, we’re isolated.
There are no other clans to test your wits against.”
“ That’s where you’re
wrong, my intelligence is tested on a regular basis. I leave you
here to run the pride in my absence, but you don’t know where I
go.”
Gunter snorted. “Sure I do. You
arrange the dealings with our connections; make sure we get paid
for our work, assign the sentries to skill specific deals, a suit
job. Like I said, when the Goddess was giving out gifts, she
neglected to give Ellory empathy or common sense, while you were
wired with intellect and the skill to talk anyone into just about
anything.
El nodded. “Yeah. You think that’s all
she gave me? Listen, is there any way we can continue this
tomorrow? As you so eloquently put it, I’d really like to make love
to my woman. Have Ari bring her truck here too if you don’t mind.”
He spun and crossed his arms.
Gunter rose. “Well, considering I’ve
known you most of your life, I would have noticed anything
different, and do I look like your damn secretary?” He ambled
toward the door.
Nae strolled out with her phone in her
hand and stopped. The faint smile on her face was tentative. “Oh,
you’re leaving.”
“ Not by choice. Seems your
man has plans that don’t include me.” Gunter nodded.
“ I hope they include food.
I’m starving.” She twisted her torso between the men.
El cleared his throat. “I’m sure we
can come up with something.”
“ That’s my cue. Tomorrow,
El. We need to handle our issues before your meeting with our
contacts. I don’t want
leaned forward, placed his elbows on his knees, and dangled his
hands between them.
“ I do believe you
expressed those same words when your brother issued the challenge
after you’d been chosen as chief.” Gunter leaned back and pulled
out a cherry root, thin cigar. “When we left, Ellory was
still alive .”
“ Barely. And, I don’t
consider that losing. He was my brother; you raised us together. I
couldn’t kill him in cold blood.”
“ That was your first
mistake, cause if he had the chance … you wouldn’t be sitting here
wondering how you were going to get rid of me, so you could get
your dick wet.” Gunter chuckled.
“ That’s not something we
have to worry about, is it, since he’s in Africa? Before the
challenge, I asked him to come with us. Hell, I’ll admit I begged
him to keep our pride together.”
“ Mistake number two.”
Gunter held his fingers up. “No Alpha begs. Ellory had no respect
for you, but he was also bat-shit crazy. I backed you because you
are level-headed and damn near a genius. I knew you would lead us
into a prosperous future, but you don’t have killer instincts. You
brought this tribe far within a few years, and you have the respect
of your people. But, allow me to ask you this. What if this unknown
lion is Ellory, come back from his near death experience? Then,
what?” Gunter cocked a thick brow. “If it comes down to you or him,
he will kill you.”
“ You have so little faith
in me?” He pursed his lips before exhaling. “No matter who it is
trespassing in our territory, before they die, they will know I am
the devil and this is hell.” El stood up and moved to the window.
He knew Trace was out there, and the tiger would keep Nae safe. He
could go hunting tonight. He turned around and faced Gunter. “Has
La found Reese yet?”
“ No, but Sitka, the
lioness he rents his room from, said he sometimes goes missing for
a few days. Says she thinks he goes hunting.”
El tilted his head. “Is it possible
those are his paws?”
“ Maybe, but he’s not
around to ask, so I’d rather err on the side of caution.” Gunter
stuck the cigar in his mouth.
“ You’ve taught me well
Gunter. I won’t make the mistakes of my youth.” El smirked. “Trust
me.”
“ Don’t smile like you have
a secret and nobody else knows it. It’s not like home where you had
to fight just to make it through the day. Out here, we’re isolated.
There are no other clans to test your wits against.”
“ That’s where you’re
wrong, my intelligence is tested on a regular basis. I leave you
here to run the pride in my absence, but you don’t know where I
go.”
Gunter snorted. “Sure I do. You
arrange the dealings with our connections; make sure we get paid
for our work, assign the sentries to skill specific deals, a suit
job. Like I said, when the Goddess was giving out gifts, she
neglected to give Ellory empathy or common sense, while you were
wired with intellect and the skill to talk anyone into just about
anything.
El nodded. “Yeah. You think that’s all
she gave me? Listen, is there any way we can continue this
tomorrow? As you so eloquently put it, I’d really like to make love
to my woman. Have Ari bring her truck here too if you don’t mind.”
He spun and crossed his arms.
Gunter rose. “Well, considering I’ve
known you most of your life, I would have noticed anything
different, and do I look like your damn secretary?” He ambled
toward the door.
Nae strolled out with her phone in her
hand and stopped. The faint smile on her face was tentative. “Oh,
you’re leaving.”
“ Not by choice. Seems your
man has plans that don’t include me.” Gunter nodded.
“ I hope they include food.
I’m starving.” She twisted her torso between the men.
El cleared his throat. “I’m sure we
can come up with something.”
“ That’s my cue. Tomorrow,
El. We need to handle our issues before your meeting with our
contacts. I don’t want
Similar Books
