Page 120 of Silent Heart

“You’re part of the family,” I insisted.

Harley smiled wickedly. “You still need to ask my grandfather’s permission.”

“Real men ask for the blessing, we don’t need permission to take what belongs to us.” I nipped her bottom lip.

Her moan made my dick ache.

“I’ll be waiting to kiss you tonight,” I breathed.

“You’re going to be safe.” Harley flicked a glance at the truck. “Whatever it is that you’re doing?”

I told her I had a bad guy to assassinate. She hadn’t asked many details, even though I answered each question with complete honesty.

“I’ll be safe. My goal is to eradicate the threat to our family before Christmas. The new partners I have are a wonderful resource.”And a door to new opportunities.

“Well, see you soon then,” she breathed and pulled open the door to the Passat.

I bent down to steal one more taste. Her fingers brushed against the back of my skull, holding me in place as she kissed me back. The connection was charged, but the kiss was slow and reverent. Both of us were stalling. I didn’t want to spend a day away from her, let alone a holiday. But I would see her tonight.

And I was staying in Chicago. Things with Beth were going well. Both Harley and Dimi were thrilled at the change in my career. Being the instructor of the vigilantes meant I could have a family life.

Me—there was a family in my future.

Harley planned to go to school and then take a job here to save enough to buy her cousins out of their shares of the farm. I could hand her the cash to do just that, but that would insult her intentions. However, I intended to talk to her about doing the buyout sooner rather than later, and she could pay me back. While the details needed working out, it was the start of a beautiful future.

Harley sighed as I pulled away.

My voice came out in a gruff rasp. “If you don’t get on the road, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and haul you upstairs.”

She stuck out her tongue and pulled the door closed with a snap.

“I’ll remember that,” I growled loud enough for her to hear through the glass and grabbed my belt.

Those brown eyes went wide as she realized what I meant. She wet her lip, pulling be bottom lip between her teeth. Slowly her gaze lifted to mine. She held it as she stuck out her tongue.

I moved for the door, but she ripped the gear to drive and floored the gas. My chuckles followed her through the front gate.

“Need backup?” Dimi asked as he came outside with Marena.

The dog raced around the front courtyard, sniffing the frost-covered ground.

“Possibly.” I went to my truck and opened the driver’s door. “I’ll call.”

Dimi nodded. “Did you ask her?”

“Yes.”

“And? Or do I have to wait until tonight to hear the story of your proposal?” Dimitri huffed a laugh.

“Tonight.”

“That’s not fair,” my cousin pointed out. “Wingmen should know before the others.”

The irony wasn’t lost on me that almost two years ago Dimitri took me to the black-market jeweler to help pick out a ring for his underworld queen. Now he’d returned the favor when I took a trip to Corwin Blau. I supposed I owed him that bit of information.

“She said yes.”

Grinning broadly, my cousin sauntered over with his hand outstretched. “Congratulations…brother. She’ll be a great addition to our family.”

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