“I take it you don’t mean literal fishing?”
He snorted.The stress of the past couple of weeks sometimes shovedthisout of his mind—that not only did he love Dewi with all his heart, but when their lives weren’t in fricking jeopardy she usually kept him laughing.
“Jake’s playing a Russian, since he’s fluent.And he’s literally a cipher to everyone.We baited Miranda Segura to see what she knows.Nothing dangerous.Peyton and Alvarez are Jake’s backup and will survey the situation while Jake meets with her.They want to see if it’s just her, or her old man, or what’s going on.”
She groaned.“I was hoping wood chipping Manuel Segura would be the end of our trouble from those people.”
“That’s what they’re trying to figure out.”Ken stroked her cheek.“Insurance.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier for Peyton to just Prime her to knock it off?”
“We don’t know who might be watching her.Peyton’s supposed to be missing.If, on the remote chance she is tied up in all this, and someone who knows what Peyton looks like is watching the meeting, it would be inconvenient for him to suddenly show up in Mexico.Plus, yes, I did suggest that.Peyton rightfully pointed out that making her forget everything doesn’t eliminate the risk if someone else knows about it, or she stumbles into it again.This is a reconnaissance mission.”
“That makes sense.”She threw a leg over him and snuggled in again.“I’ll make you coffee in a little bit.I’m just happy to snuggle with you.”
“Someone also promised me a blow job when she found out I was alive, if I remember correctly,” he playfully noted.
She snorted.“You remember correctly.”
That’s when the baby started fussing.
He snickered and kissed Dewi.“How about I call that in tonight?”
She kissed him and sat up.“You can call it in anytime you want, mister.”She smiled.“Except right now.”Dewi climbed out of bed to take care of Lyssa, pulling on Ken’s robe.“Coming, sweetie.Chill your pipes.”
Ken laced his fingers behind his head, smiling as he closed his eyes and listened to Dewi with their daughter.
This is the good life.Honestly?He’d be happy spending the next several decades living right here, in this little cabin.
Although the “real world” had touched them even here in this idyllic—to him—paradise.
I would miss everyone, though.
Nami and Beck, and all the others who had quickly become his adopted family.
And they were breaking ground in a few weeks on the first buildings for their new compound in Florida.
He heard Dewi return a few minutes later and looked up while she rounded the bed and settled in on his other side.“Want to do the honors, Daddy?”
Unexpectedly, he found himself swallowing back a lump in his throat and with tears stinging his eyes.“Absolutely.”
He sat up and took Lyssa from Dewi, getting her situated and then taking the bottle.Dewi wore an angelic smile, no stress anywhere near her eyes or the set of her mouth, as she watched him feed their daughter.
“It’s really okay to switch her to formula?”he asked.
“Yep.The pack doctor and Asia both said so.My nipples appreciate it, too.”
He snorted, laughing, until a moment later, when he realized he was crying.Dewi laid her head on his shoulder, her arm draped around him.
“You’re home safe,” she softly said.“It’s okay to let it out.I know it was a lot to ask of you.”
He sniffled, still staring at Lyssa, her eyes half-closed as she guzzled the bottle’s contents.“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you when I left.I feel like I owe Gillian an apology for keeping it a secret from her.But he said?—”
“Pack Alpha business,” Dewi softly interrupted without any snark or irritation.“I know.It’s okay.I get it.And I owe you an apology for going off on you.Even though it was only in text and voicemail.”
“It’s okay, baby.”
She sighed.“No, it’s not.As Da and Badger both reminded me, Peyton’s the Pack Alpha, not just my brother.Meaning my position in the pack matters when it comes to public perception.Plus, you didn’t deserve it.”
