Page 140 of Allegiance

W isely, when Dakota found out that Adder was back, he said nothing. He kept his mouth locked shut, but his eyes were the window to the soul, and they were a symphony of displeasure.

Not saying it was the hardest thing he’d ever done…that just might be an understatement.

Oh, and it was clear that it cost him so much to keep from saying jack shit. From the look of horror on his face from the second he found out Adder was out of retirement until now in the ride, they all knew that he wanted to demand she stay in.

Yeah, but that boat had sailed.

Someone had already pissed off a snake once, and doing it again wouldn’t have a good outcome.

At least he was self-aware of that.

Maybe a younger snake could teach an old hunting dog new tricks.

Instead of being a dick, he shut his pie hole, kept his thoughts to himself, and did something that all the women appreciated.

Dakota tried his best.

Unfortunately for him, though, while enough for the ladies, the men…they weren’t letting him get away without a few rough moments.

Yeah, his friends busted balls.

Left.

And.

Right.

All of the way there, they asked Adder about what role she wanted to play, and if she was up for killing while carrying a baby on board.

They asked how long she could snipe with a baby belly.

Oh, and they asked if she was available for a job the day after she delivered, just to be dicks.

The whole time, Dakota fought hard to say nothing, and it was a Herculean effort too.

There was no doubt in his mind why they were riding him so damn hard.

Because he’d been a douchebag.

He had all of this coming because of the shitty comments he’d made over the last three months about leaving and how dangerous it was to have kids when you did what they did.

Payback was a bitch.

“So, Dakota,” Zayn began. “Still planning to saddle up that horse of yours and ride out of town?” he asked, grinning a little too much.

Dakota stared at him.

“I swear to God, I’ll punch you in the face.”

It made him laugh.

And that was the Dakota they all loved to bust.

To reassure him, Eve patted him on the hand and winked at him.

Maura knew they needed to focus.

“We’re at the coordinates that Rogue was transmitting. Are you guys done busting ass? Or can we maybe get to work?” she asked, staring right at Zayn.