A smile tugs my face to hear he’s coming.I let my eyes fall shut, feeling warmth mixed with happiness flow through me.
“I mean it, Lu.Stay put and alert because there’s a bounty on your head,” he growls and I hear a bike roar to life in the background.
I jolt upright.“What?”
“We’ll talk when I get there.”He breaks the connection.
I send a message to the guard at the gate to alert them and approve Macsen’s arrival.
I let the phone drop down onto the mattress and stalk to the closet.I grab a pair of black combat pants, a tight black T-shirt, and comfy tight boxer shorts along with a sports bra.Getting dressed only takes a few minutes and then I’m lacing up my combat boots.I braid my hair and finally add some weapons as a finishing touch before I leave my room.
Brando steps out of my office and throws a glance my way.“You look refreshed.If you’re looking for your father, he’s in the middle of a business call.”
“I wasn’t, and I don’t care,” I tell him honestly.
“Everything okay?”Brando asks and follows me into the large living room at the front of the mansion.
I stare out the window and wait for Macsen.“I guess we’ll see about that once my friend gets here.”
“Friend,” Brando muses.“The biker.He’s law enforcement, Lu, hard to consider such a person a friend.”
My gaze stays locked on the gate.“I don’t want to hear about it.Besides, you’re not telling me anything new.”
“As long as you know he’s no friend of yours,” Brando repeats.
“Says you.I’d rather judge a person by his actions.”I keep an eye on Brando’s face in the reflection of the window when I add, “He’s surpassed my expectations, and just ordered me to stay put because there appears to be a bounty on my head.”
Not a single twitch of surprise, and Brando simply replies with, “Sharing information isn’t a display of friendship.”
“Leave, Brando.Go rim my father’s ass with that sly tongue of yours when all you do is dictate his words as the truth,” I tell him in a dismissive tone.
“Lu.”Brando sighs.
Whirling around to face him, I snarl, “Do not Lu me.I gave my father every second of my life and have saved him countless times since I became an assassin, just like you I might add.All while you have all the information and he simply goes behind my back to do shit his way.I don’t give a shit about his reasons because those actions are made for his fucking benefit.”
Brando shakes his head.“It might seem that way to you and others due to his harsh and blunt decision making.He loves you, Luella, and he will always protect you.”
“Your last statement holds truth and it’s why I’m still here, Brando.Though, I also think it’s time to lead my own life.There is no contract between us for either side of the family business.Which means recognition is only as far as our blood flows.”I give him a sad smile.“Unlike you who has recognition in both the diamond business and being his second-in-command.”
I feel no jealousy and am very aware of how things work in both worlds.Brando is about to say something when the familiar sound of a rumbling motorcycle fills the air.
“Excuse me,” I tell him politely and head for the door.
Macsen swings his leg off the bike and walks with determination while he growls, “Get inside.”
I smile and take a step inside.His overprotectiveness is written all over his face without any ulterior motive.I highly doubt there’s a sniper in the bushes, but I do realize he’s right if there’s indeed a bounty on my head.
He has me by the back of my neck as he pushes me inside and closes the door.His mouth is on mine, and I groan at the fierceness of his kiss.My hands curl into the leather of his cut to ground myself.This man has the ability to swoop my mind right out of my skull to hide it in a cloud of pleasure and fill my body with bliss.
“Need I remind you you’re still engaged,” my father grits between clenched teeth by the sound of it.
Macsen slows down the kiss.He doesn’t simply stop due to my father interrupting our moment.Nope, he takes his time to press his lips against mine twice more in a fleeting kiss, and only then does he take a step back.
“She won’t be marrying anyone unless it’s her own damn choice.”The answer is for my father, but Macsen is looking right at me when he throws out those words.
I give him a slight nod in appreciation.
“A biker working law enforcement won’t ever be her choice.”My father steps closer.“Your MC already took one of my daughters.”
