“Talk to them.” Tilting her head, she raises her brows.
Knowing not to shoot a gift horse, I open my wallet and slide in the cardboard. “Okay, I will and thank you.”
As I’m hanging my purse behind my chair, the doorway explodes, and we all drop to the floor.
“Isn’t this cozy?” Tommy O’Malley waltzes in and points his automatic rifle.
Heart thumping like mad, I grab a knife, slip inside the bathroom, and call nine-one-one. Once I rattle off our situation, I push the door ajar, and gasp. In front of the TV, a thug pats down my new family and disarms them.
“Where’s your bitch?” My former employer holds a weapon to my man’s head, and I decide to take action.
“Sky’s in LA, working.” Fists clenched, my brave hero keeps his eyes glued to the arms dealer.
“Boss, let’s kill them and go.” The gunman shifts his eyes from the door to the hostages, and back again, while Tommy struts around the lobby.
He checks the backs of furniture and opens closets. “OOOOpheeeeliaaaa. Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Jesus. The infamous gun runner has lost his fucking marbles. I flush the toilet, run water, and wait behind the door. A few seconds later, as I expected, a thug enters, and I slice his throat. Lowering his body to the floor, I snatch his AK, put it to my chest, and burst into the room,
"Brennans, get down!"When my inner-Rambo lets loose, I mow down Tommy with his unsuspecting men.
Motherfucker. Do not mess with the daughter of a Navy SEAL on her first real Thanksgiving.
Chapter 31
Dean
As I finger the jewelry box in my pocket, my siblings and their wives gather around the Christmas tree in the family room. Half a year ago, I asked my heart to stay, and she said no.
This time, I have a ring, we’ve talked every day for months, and we’re certain we want a life together. The only thing missing is for me to ask her to marry me.
Rehearsing my inadequate words, sweat rolls down my back. What if I screwit up? Will she say no? Give me another chance?
In the center of the room by the tree, Dan opens a gift from his spouse and Adrian’s wife sidles up to me. “Calm down. You look like you’re about to puke.”
After we read my brother’s new t-shirt, ADULT DAYCARE DIRECTOR AKA BARTENDER, I whisper in her ear. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, you suck at it.”
Essy grabs the speech from my hand, rolls her eyes, and crumples up the paper. “Relax, I have it on the best authority, Ophelia’s going to say yes… Unless you recite this.”
I can’t believe they asked her outright, but knowing my sisters-in-law, anything is possible. “No way we’re letting you fuck this up, especially since Lia saved our butts on Thanksgiving.”
My co-conspirator pulls me to the coffee maker, refills my mug, and winks at her man. At her signal, my brotherssnicker and drag Sky outside while the women circle around me.
“Stop, one at a time."I point at Essy. "You go first.”
“You’ll need to get down on one knee.”
She nods and because the rest glare at me, I feel the need to defend myself. "I’m not a complete idiot. Wren, what do you say?"
The most intelligent of themsoftens her gaze on Drac. “It’s simple. Tell her you’ll love her forever.”
“And promise to never, ever be bossy.” Azi, the parrot owner, giggles, knowing well she’s asking the impossible.
“Okay I’ve had enough. Thank you. I’ll take it from here.” I start to walk away but, oh, no. They’re not done, not by a longshot.
They push me toward the front door where Dan hands me my keys. “Take her into the tunnel. Trust me.”
A second later, my other three siblings bring my blushing bodyguard to my side who asks, “Do you know what they’re up to?”
