Page 98 of Little Fury

“All right, woman, we need food.”

The next month passes quietly. Declan stays, helping at the local hospital several days a week, while the guys finish Matt’s place.

“I’m going to miss living with you, Matt.”

“Ava, I love you, you are fucking spectacular, but I need to get out of here. When it was just you and I, it was great. No offence, Doc, but the amount of sex you two have all over this house, and loudly, is frankly astounding. I'm seriously starting to get a complex. I used to think I was good at sex. I make my partners cum, it's a priority for me to make sure they do. But listening to you two, I’ve never felt more inadequate. I question everything I have ever done for a partner. Any chance your brother is single?”Matt asks looking at Declan.

“He is, as far as I know.”

“And just as hot, Matt. Seriously, if you get a shot at Liam, fucking take it. And then let me know how it is.”Declan glaresat me.“What? I’m not wrong.”I laugh as I walk away from them.

We’re all outside around the pool, having a few beers. Ben and Caden are arguing over some video game. Matt is at the grill making lunch. Declan and I are just watching them, enjoying the sun.

“Dec?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

He freezes beside me. His beer is midway to his mouth, frozen there. I don’t even think he’s breathing. After a beat, he nods and takes a swig of his beer. The smallest pull of his lips is visible. I get off the couch, stand between his legs, bend down and kiss him. I break the kiss and turn to the rest of them.

“I’ve decided I want to return to work,”I announce.“I miss it. I miss being good at something. So! As for the three of you, I will leave it up to you to decide what you want to do. This is your home, and nothing will change that. If you want to get back to work, great! If not, also great. I’ll start looking for new team members. Good? Ok! Let me know when you know.”They are all silent as I sit back down beside Declan.

I start to smile at him when I see movement out of the corner of my eye. I sigh. He quirks an eyebrow at me.“Just remember I loved you before I decided to go back to work. I loved you about four days after I met you. It was a hassle, to be honest. Please remember that.”He gives me a questioning look just as a shadow comes over the top of us. I see Matt step towards the gun he has by the grill. Caden rises to his feetslowly, tense as they see a man step onto the deck from the house.

“Liam, just say hello. Don’t look at them all grumpy; you’re making everyone tense. And Matt shoots people when he’s tense,”I sigh.

Fucking hell, this is going to be interesting.

“Hello,”he says. His accent is thicker than Declan’s. He walks over and drops himself down on the other side of me. Pulling my feet into his lap.“Deartháir Beag.”

“Seanfhear,”Declan replies, taking another swig of his beer.

“You’re early,”I tell him.

“I like to be unexpected. It's how I’m still alive. I assume you haven't told them yet?”I give him a look saying no, asshole, I haven’t, and you know it. Declan takes a deep breath, gets up, and heads to the fridge, grabbing another beer. He hands his brother one as he drops back to his seat on my other side.

“No, I was just starting to. You weren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow.”

“Ava, why is Liam Campbell here?” Ben asks.

“Because Ava needs someone to back her,”Declan tells Ben, with a slight undertone to his words.

“Correct. I want to return to work, but I can’t do that without some protection. I have no desire to go after Marcus. I want to leave it alone. He tried, he failed, and that’s the end of it as far as I’m concerned. The Campbells have one of the biggest reaches and are one of the few families or groups almost everyone takes very seriously.”

“That’s one way to put it,”Liam says, smirking as he drinks his beer. I shake my head at his arrogance.

“So, you want to return to work under the Campbell banner?”Matt asks.

“I do. And Liam has already agreed. He’s here to go oversome fine print. If you guys don’t feel like it’s a good fit, that is understandable. You all have the freedom to do whatever you like. This is your home no matter what.”

“I’m in. It’ll be nice working for you again, Ava. You are way more fun than the assholes I’ve worked for the last few months.”

“I was hoping you would say that, Ben.” I look over at him and smile. I look at Matt and raise an eyebrow at him.

“Knock it off. You know where you go, I go.”

“Awe, Matt, you big softie.”

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