Page 98 of The Auction Block

Shannon, Carmen, and Teresa sit in the chairs facing my desk while Blake and James stand behind them. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the possible fight following this meeting. Opening the manila folder, I pull out five small pieces of paper and hand one to each of them, moving back to sit behind my desk.

"These are Concealed and Carry permits," James says shocked. "What do we need these for?"

"For these." I pull five 9mm handguns from the bag and lay them across my desk. "You'll each train with Rhett at least twice a week. Though, you should try to train with him as often as possible until you can actually hit a target."

"Lily, we aren't a family that really approves of guns," Blake says, softly.

"And I'm not a woman who can stand by and allow you to be unprotected," I snap.

"We have you and the team. We're hardly unprotected, honey," Carmen says sweetly, eyeing the guns.

"Mrs. Mason, with all due respect—"

"Stop with the Mrs. Mason stuff. You're with my stepson. Call me Carmen, please," she says in a firm voice.

"Yes, ma'am. The fact is, the team and I can only do so much. There are five of you and seven of us. I don't know if that's enough considering whom we're up against."

"Who are we up against, exactly?" James says.

"The Taurus is the highest profiting and largest human trafficking ring in the world. Not only do they have their hands in the sex trade, but they also have interests in drug trafficking and weapons trade." I walk around and lean against the front of my desk.

"I really think you're overreacting. They've only made threats and no actual attempts on my life," Blake says annoyed.

"You don't know these people. The only reason they threatened you was to try and get you to stop your interference with the auctions. You've ignored them. Now, they're going to try and kill you quietly, and they'll take out everyone connected to you if they have to. That includes your family, your friends . . . and us."

"You honestly think it's that bad?" James moves closer to my desk to see the handguns.

"Yes. Plus, Shannon's rescue made them look weak. They won't take it lightly."

"So, how do we stop them?" Blake says pursing his lips in a hard line.

"You learn to shoot. Learn to protect yourselves in case we aren't there to do it. And stay the fuck away from Khoui," I say, snapping at the name.

"What does Khoui have to do with this? Granted, the guy gives me the creeps, but he's a business rival, not a trafficker."

"He's a hitman. The blue-flamed Taurus tattoo gave him away. He's been watching you and waiting for the right time to put a bullet in your head or slit your throat. Stay the fuck away from him."

"Okay," Blake concedes.

I blink rapidly, taken back by how easily this is going. I expect him to throw a hissy fit. Reaching over, I hand each of them a handgun, snuggled tightly in a hip holster.

"Shannon, Carmen and Teresa, I've scheduled for you all to have a session with Rhett this afternoon. He expects you in thirty. Dresden will escort you."

They stand and leave the room. I walk to my chair, plop down, and put my head in my hands. I've never been in charge of anything. I was Jax's second in command, but he always made the decisions. I followed orders and improvised if shit got crazy.

Movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. I startle, wrapping my hand around one of my guns.

"Whoa, babe. It's me," Blake says softly.

He walks to my side, swivels my chair to face him, and sinks to his knees in front of me. My fingers comb through his hair, his face serene, except for the tension in his jaw. The muscles south of my belly button clench in desire as his irises darken.

"Hey," I whisper.

He sits his gun on the edge of my desk and opens my legs to press himself against me. The breath is forced from my lungs, want and need coursing through my veins. In a flash, he grabs my face and brings his lips to mine, kissing me in fevered need. I open my mouth and allow his tongue to invade mine, frantically exploring.

Breathless and panting, he breaks away, pressing his forehead to mine. "I don't want to carry a gun, Lily."

I roll my eyes. "Do you think kissing me like that's going to make me change my mind?"