Page 73 of Our Tricks

Ghost frowned at the question but didn’t say anything as he looked down at Harper. “I’m really not sure, but I suppose there’s no harm in asking. He did say he wanted to support Tommaso in this alliance with us, and this isn’t an unreasonable request.”

To my surprise, she pulled out her phone, scrolled until she found what she was looking for, then lifted it to her ear.

“Harper, what are you doing?” I asked.

“Calling to ask, duh,” she retorted.

“You have his direct number on your phone?” I asked, utterly shocked.

She shrugged and smiled when I heard a voice answer, “Bonjour, François, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

Ghost leaned across so he could listen in better, his expression not improving as François talked.

“Oh, you’re back in Italy already. You didn’t even say goodbye,” Harper pouted, her bottom lip popping out.

“Does she hear herself?” Wes whispered to me. “For someone who isn’t interested in the guy, she sure sounds rather put out.”

“Shh,” I hissed. “You have to let Harper work her magic. I’ve seen this kind of thing from her a few times.”

Wes grumbled and set his laptop to the side so he could pull me onto his lap, resting his chin on my shoulder. “This is that girl voodoo you pull on us guys, isn’t it?”

“It’s not voodoo,” I said with a snort. “Simple manipulation is all anyone could do if they know how. Hell, Cam and Dante are both masters at it, and they’re men.”

“Whatever,” he huffed out.

Harper relayed our request, and Wes handed over the list of things we needed when François asked if he could do anything else. It seems the Italian had just as many connections as we did and some I’d never known about. He was able to get everything we thought would be a problem, mainly the ammo needed for the tank. For some reason, the US government kept a close eye on that shit. Plus, François could get us all different types I’d never known about.

When Harper hung up with him, Ghost was about to lose his shit with how he’d had to bite his tongue listening to the conversation. He scooped her up, carried her to the back of the plane where I knew a bedroom was and grinned.

“Seems someone needs a little reassurance that Harper isn’t going to be adding a particular Italian to the family.” I snickered.

Cognac appeared in front of me and tapped a finger on my nose. “See, we’re not the only ones who need to have a conversation about not adding more to the harem.”

“I was never going to add Raven,” I countered. “Look, is she hot? Hell yeah, but let’s not forget I’m a huge fan of dick, and even if she strapped one on, it wouldn’t do the job quite the same way.”

Cognac gave me a skeptical look but took the seat next to Wes and pulled my legs onto his lap. “You know, loba, while I believe you don’t want Raven, let’s not kid ourselves. Cameron came into the picture out of nowhere, and bam, he was in like Flynn.”

Frowning, I caught his chin and turned him to look at me. “Are you really worried, or are you just fucking with me?”

“I suppose a little of both,” Cognac admitted. “Look, you’re it for all of us. There’s no other woman we could possibly want to spend our lives with. I know you love each of us, that I never doubt. What worries me is if you get bored of us.”

“How the fuck would I get bored of seven people? Cognac, there isn’t anyone else I could see myself spending the next ten minutes with let alone a lifetime than you guys. Seven men are more than enough for me to be content for the next three lives I could possibly have. I’m not serious when I say things like what I did to Raven.” Cupping his face, I leaned in and rested my forehead against his. “Cognac, I married you and promised to love you for the rest of my life no matter what came our way. We might not have had an official ceremony, but I meant all of it, forever, the moment I put that ring on and said yes.”

Cognac let out a sigh as if this had truly been bothering him for longer than I suspected. “I love you, loba, so much that it makes me crazy to think you might want someone else one day and leave us behind.”

“The next time you feel that way, tell me. We’ll work it out together, and if I’m doing something that makes you feel that way, I need to know so I can stop doing it,” I assured him.

He kissed me soundly, letting his tongue slip in, deepening it as if he needed my reassurance. This was a side to Cognac I was surprised to see, but then I should have known better. Those who have the biggest personalities always seem to be hiding a deep-rooted fear they don’t want anyone to notice.

“Don’t stay quiet so long next time,” I warned. “The way we are going to make this last forever is if we fight for each other.”

He chuckled and pressed another kiss to my lips. “Look at the pot calling the kettle black.”

“Hey, I’ve been working on it,” I defended.

Wes kissed the back of my head, giving me a squeeze. “Yes, you have, shortcake. It’s been amazing to watch, and we all appreciate it.”

“Where’s your phone now, Cognac? I think we need a recording of that the next time someone has something to say on the matter,” I teased.