“Jesus fuck, I’ve missed this place,” Ronan announces when we pull up outside what can best be described as a barn. The structure is barely standing, and from the looks of it, the roof has more holes than a sieve.
Declan doesn’t bother replying. He jumps out of the car and makes a phone call. Ten minutes later, a second vehicle rumbles out of the thick fog and stops a few feet away.
Angelo and I climb out to greet the newcomers. We’re outnumbered, but I’m not concerned. If these bastards try anything, they’ll regret it.
“Gentlemen, meet our two best guys, Ash and Connor.” Declan gestures at the two men, who both grunt.
“Connor is the better-looking one,” Ronan informs us. “The ladies love him. Not my wife, I hasten to add, because she has more discerning taste, but all other ladies.”
“Ourwife.” Declan glares at his brother, while my jaw drops. Do these guys share their wife?Jesus.It seems like polyamory is a thing these days. I’m still struggling to come to terms with the idea that the Russian guy, Orliov, has to share his wife with four other men.
While Angelo and I once had an arrangement, he’s been very clear that arrangement doesn’t extend to Chiara. Not that I care what he thinks.
“I’m pretty sure your wife will fall madly in love with Connor,” Ronan announces as Ash unloads weapons from his vehicle. They’ve brought a decent selection of semi-automatics, sniper rifles, and even a fucking rocket launcher.
Ronan picks up a crossbow and cackles like a lunatic while Angelo grinds his teeth.
“I hear your wife ran away straight after the wedding. Was that before or after she saw your tiny cock?”
Declan smacks his brother across the head. “Jesus, did our ma not teach you manners?” It has no effect on the asshole Irishman.
“What? Thea’s been speculating in the girls’ group chat. I peeked while my pixie was taking a nap after I fucked her into a coma. They have a bet running that Romeo here has a micropeen, which is why his bird ran away.”
I chuckle despite the gravity of our situation. Thankfully Angelo is too dumbfounded to offer his point of view.
“It was an arranged marriage,” I cough out eventually. “Chiara wasn’t pleased, but she’s fine with it now.” There’s no point in muddying the water. If these guys think Chiara hates Angelo, they might not be so quick to hand her over when we track her down.
“For fuck’s sake, shut the fuck up, Ronan.”
Ronan shrugs, unrepentant. “Well if she wants a big cock, Connor’s her man.”
“Fuck off, there’s nothing wrong withmycock!” Ash’s jaw clenches in fury.
Connor slaps his friend on the shoulder and grins. “Not as big as mine though, mate.”
“If anyone but me touches my wife, I will fucking gut them. Are we clear?” I know Angelo well enough to know he’s not lying.
“I get a free pass,” I interject, deciding to put my cards on the table. Everyone turns to stare at me in surprise. “Just so you know.”
Ronan chuckles before grabbing some bolts for his crossbow.
“Gut as many people as you like, dude,” he tells Angelo with a wink. “Petunia loves to chow down on guts.”
The cheese sandwich I ate on the plane threatens to come back up,Exorcist-style. Fuck me, is Petunia his wife?
Have we somehow aligned ourselves with a cannibal hillbilly cult?
Declan stares up at the sky while muttering something under his breath.
“Petunia’s his pig,” he tells me with a deep and heartfelt sigh. “We use the pigs to get rid of bodies. It’s a surprisingly effective disposal method.”
Both Angelo and I exchange relieved glances.
“Petunia’s expecting babies again.” Ronan slides a selection of vicious knives into various holsters. “Do you like pigs?”
“I like pork,” I tell him. He’s not offended in the slightest.
“You wait until you watch them crunch down on legs and arms. I bet you’ll be a convert then.”
