“I wasn’t sure about you, Knox, but I like you better already.”
His next question floors me and annoys me slightly.
“I know you’re all fucking Heather. And I don’t really care, but what are your intentions?”
Jumping to my feet, I move to him and glare at him, seeing red from his statement. Who the hell does he think he is?
“Listen here, motherfucker. I don’t give a fuck what you think. We do not owe you any explanations.”
Bones holds his hand up, as if to tell me to calm down but I've passed that point.
“Hold on. Let me explain. I’m rather fond of her. She reminds me of my wife and my crazy sister-in-law. I don’t want her to get hurt. If it’s just sex, have fun, but I don’t think it is for her. Please know I’m not judging you. I just want to make sure that after this she’ll be okay. That you all will be.”
Reaper chuckles as Bones glares at him.
“He is getting a heart with old age.”
Bones arches an eyebrow at his brother and shuts him up quickly.
“Shut the fuck up, Reaper, or I’ll put you back on weapons.”
“That’s fine. I’ll kill all your customers like last time. It was much more of a problem for you than it was for me.”
My brothers and I exchange a glance while attempting to hide a smile. This is one fucked-up family, and we are part of it. What felt initially like a waking nightmare, suddenly feels like a glimmer of hope. And the fact that Bones is protective of Heather is fine with me as long as he keeps his hands off her.
I look at him, my gaze serious as I answer his question.
“We love her, and she loves us. Any of us would die for her without a second thought. I appreciate that she has you in her corner, but I’m going to be blunt with you. Don’t hug her again. She is ours and nobody touches her. Family or not.”
His lips turn up into an approving grin.
“Now I believe you’re a Bonetti. Welcome to the family.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
THE HEATHEN
Bella squeals excitedly as she pulls me into a room where Athena sits, waiting for us. “Okay, so I hope I didn’t overstep. I bought this foundation and concealer meant for covering tattoos. And I thought we could try covering up the marks. I mean, if you want to.”
She stares at me, her blue eyes watching me, waiting for my approval. I’m not sure it’ll work, but I don’t want to disappoint her. I nod and whisper, “Okay.”
I pull my shirt up and my shorts down a little. Athena averts her gaze and speaks. The emotion in her voice is thick as if she knows this pain.
“My father was a terrible man. My life was terrifying until my husband saved me. I wasn’t branded, but had he thought of it, he would’ve done it. I’m sorry this happened to you.”
Bella applies the make-up to my skin. Her eyes narrow as she concentrates on the task she assigned herself.
“If this works, it’s waterproof.”
I’m not excited about it yet, but if it actually covers this hideous cross, I will be.
“There’s a mirror in the bathroom, see what you think.”
I walk into the en-suite bath and hold my shirt up, as I stare at myself in the mirror.
“I can’t see it.”
Continuing to stare at my abdomen in disbelief, I whisper, “I can’t fucking see it.”
