Cassie: My apartment, now. You get a chance to earn forgiveness.
I showed Everly, and she smiled.
“If she’s including you in what she’s up to, that’s forgiveness in itself.”
“What do ye think she’s up to?”
“Something deadly. You and your sister are all too alike.”
I lowered my lips on hers. My fiancé rested in our bed, one hand to her belly where our bairn grew. She kissed me softly, smiling more when I moved my lips to her ear, to the tattoo I’d inked behind it. Lower to her neck.
When I reached her chest, she giggled and pushed me away. “Go now or she’ll get grumpy waiting.”
“Fine, but one more. An important one.”
I stripped back the covers and raised her shirt, only baring her stomach so I didn’t get too excited. Onto her baby bump, I pressed my lips, then murmured, “Be good for your ma. She’s doing such a grand job in making ye.”
Everly sighed, her fingers ruffling my hair. “Our son or daughter is going to run you ragged, you know that, don’t you?”
“Aye, of course I do. I’ve been mentally preparing to lose every argument in this house for the next eighteen years.”
I couldn’t wait for our child to arrive. I was ready to be commanded by their needs. To let Everly rest so she could feed them and heal, then chase them around when they found their feet. I’d never thought that much about being a da, but with the woman I loved, it was as if I’d been made for it.
Well, that and murder.
I nuzzled her belly again. “If ye inherit your mother’s smarts and my aim, the world’s in trouble.”
Everly laughed. I rose for another pull at her lips. “I won’t be long.”
With her blessing, I left to head down one flight to my grouchy little sister.
Riot let me into their apartment, faint amusement in his once-over. Unlike Cassie, he’d forgiven me easily for taking Dixie’s bags from under their nose and keeping Tyler’s secret.
“I would’ve done the same,” had been his only answer.
Good man. I’d stopped wanting to fight him for a while now. We were family.
Cassie sat at the table, a series of blades set out on leather and a sharpening block recently in use from the metallic scent in the air. Ah, smelled like home.
I gripped the back of the opposite seat. “Who are we hunting?”
She glowered up at me from under her brow and slid a knife into a hidden sheath in her boot. “I’m going out to catch someone. I may or may not let ye come along as backup.”
I pursed my lips, already anticipating the cool air of the night. The takedown to come. “Ye mean I get to watch ye commit a crime for emotional closure? I’m honoured.”
She pointed another blade at me. “Leaning towards may not.”
“Aw, please.”
“You’re a dick.”
From across the room, Riordan laughed low, his motorbike helmet in hand. “Cassie, we went over this.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “And yet I’m still annoyed. I already have four brothers who keep things from me. I didn’t need another.”
I raised my hands in surrender. “I get it. I’d be pissed off, too. But wouldn’t ye have done the same in my shoes? Dixie asking for secrecy for a day because Tyler needed it? You’re only sour because ye were on the outside. So was everyone else.”
“Ugh. Don’t make me be reasonable. It clashes with my outfit.” She climbed up, her favourite bejewelled knife glinting in the light. “Fine. Forgiven. But I’m driving.”
