“Hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen, baby. I almost came in my pants.”
Liam chuckles, reminding me we still have an audience.
“Thanks, Graves. I know you’ve got a lot going on with a toddler and a month-old at home and Ty and Rena’s babies on the way.”
“Anytime. We’re always here. You guys know that. Moonshine would’ve been beside herself if something had happened to you.”
Moonshine is his nickname for my sister. He’s like her big-brother stand-in at their house, so I appreciate him more than he knows.
“Don’t update her on any of this, please. That’s the last thing she needs.”
“Of course not,” he says. “We’ve got her. Take care of your girl. Our FBI guys are working on a story for this, but go straight to the resort.”
Tessa’s features pinch at the realization that I’ve claimed her to someone beyond my brothers. She must have assumed I was keeping us a secret, but I’d get her a collar with my name on it, take a picture, and share it on the national news, if I didn’t think she’d smother me in my sleep.
“Will do,” I assure him.
I’m just about to take a cleansing breath because we escaped some messed-up shit and it’s over when Liam inadvertently fucks it all up.
“All right, man. Check in with me later about your interrogation from yesterday, so I know if that produced anything. I’m still working through these names.”
He hangs up, and I take fire from the passenger seat as we roll at a snail’s pace through the streets of New Orleans.
“Was he talking about Hunter? I thought you were just being a jealous asshole, marking your territory. You were interrogating him? About what, Maddox?”
There’s no way Liam would have ever thought Tessa would know who I interrogated yesterday, so I won’t hold him accountable for the slipup. Of course, that does bring to light that I could have interrogated someone else and simply visited Hunter.
Tessa might be dressed in her casual attire and look a bit more innocent today, but she flips up her sunglasses, and those turquoise demon eyes spit fire like a dragon gatekeeper for hell. “Before you try to bend this into a story that is a shadow of reality, let me tell you that after being shunned by my family due to anunexpected visitor, forced to move out of my apartment, chased down by a Mafia don’s enforcers—possibly—who I didn’t even know were after me until a couple of nights ago, and shot at, I am in no mood for bullshit.”
Yeah. When she puts it like that, this isn’t the best foot to kick off our relationship on.
I rub my jaw, considering my options, before I land on the truth. “It was a little of both. Ensuring he knew you were mine and interrogating. I needed to be thorough.”
The ramp down to the safe-harbor tunnel comes into view, and I focus on just making it there as the heat of her fury steams off her.
I probably should have taken my gun back. She still has a firm grip on it.
“I appreciate you keeping me safe. I’m thankful for the shelter of La Lune Noire. It’s clear that my life is on the line and I’d be dead without you. Last night, I was so swept up in how you took care of me. But you’re interrogating my … Are you investigating my family?” She expels that with all the warmth of the polar ice caps. “That isn’t a world you get to be part of. Leave them out of whatever this shit is. You’re not just putting a wedge between them and me. You’re putting it between us.”
I park the car in front of the guard station, but make no move to get out. I could shatter all the things she believes about her family and Hunter and half the town of people she thinks are so good. I’ll have to do that eventually. Soon. But there’s something more important I need to address.
“We’ve had a fucked-up morning, preceded by several challenging days, within an intense month. Emotions are high.” Curling my fingers around her throat, I pull her closer, sweep my thumb over her hammering pulse point, and brush my lips against hers.
Even simmering with ire, she can’t resist the crackling electricity between us, which I’m certain infuriates her all the more. When she presses into me, I nip at her lip and extend a gentle reminder, my placid tone meeting her polar-ice-cap warning with an arctic promise.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear all that mistrust in your voice or the subtle threat to walk away from us. You’re a brilliantwoman, so I’m sure you understand that we’re inevitable. You’re mine, Tess. Your world is my world. Your fights are my fights. Your happiness, burdens, fears, enemies, body—all mine. There are no limits to what I would do to keep you safe.”
MADDOX
La Lune Noire is abuzz with Independence Day festivities. Our members are dressed in their roaring twenties attire or casual summer clothes. There are countless activities, both here and in the French Quarter. The holiday always has us fully booked. We primarily attract those who want to combine taking in the city sights with their significant others and sneaking in some business meetings with the breezy July backdrop. Fireworks over the river are a huge draw, and our rooftop bars offer stunning views.
But for us, it’s somewhat relaxed. The staff handles it. Our presence isn’t imperative, other than walk-throughs. It’s the employee celebration that requires my attention, which starts tomorrow.
Of course, that’s all a bit backward this year since Dimitri Makarov will be coming tomorrow and Tessa and I were nearly killed en route here. Tension is high.
Tessa is on edge as we stride through a passageway toward the penthouse, which is to be expected. “Maybe it’s best if you just take me to my suite.”
She insisted on her own space, and I’m fine with that. We’ll need a place to retreat, and the penthouse can get chaotic. She was scheduled to work this afternoon, but that’s not happening, so there’s no need for privacy right now.
