Page 96 of Ace of Spades

But that wouldn’t be appropriate. So instead I say, “I think I can manage, kid.”

She scrunches her nose when I say kid. And I internally cringe too.

Yeah, not doing that again.

After they leave, I pick up my phone and see the text Sienna had sent.

It’s a picture of her… completely topless.

Her red hair draped across her shoulder, just barely covering her nipples. Her green eyes sparkle. And damn, she looks stunning.

Sienna

In case of emergency.

My cock stirs to life inside my jeans.

There wasn’t an emergency before I saw this picture, but now… I close the door to my office, locking it, and shutting the blinds.

I won’t be able to think again until I get some relief after seeing that.

Chapter25

Sienna

The air in Brody’s garden smells like salt and earth and something sweeter I can’t name.

Maybe it’s the lemon trees. Or the wild rosemary. Maybe it’s the fact that, for the first time in a long time, I just feel… peace.

We’re sitting at a small wrought iron table tucked into a corner of the backyard, breakfast plates half-forgotten between us.

Milo dozes under Brody’s chair, completely relaxed.

"You're lucky," I say, picking at a piece of toast. "Most people have backyards they actually have to mow. You've got... this."

Brody chuckles, low and easy. "Perks of having a few ancestors who refused to give up their land."

I raise an eyebrow. "Ancestors?"

He leans back, the morning sun catching the laugh lines around his eyes. "Yeah. Turns out, the King family’s been tangled up in Breaker's Isle a long time. Since the early 1700s, if you believe the stories."

I tilt my head, intrigued. "What stories?"

Brody’s grin tugs wider. "You ever hear of Captain Silas Blackwater?"

I shake my head.

"Pirate captain. Legend says he ran the Avalon aground just off the coast during a hurricane. Treasure’s still supposed to be out there somewhere, buried under coral and salt and a couple centuries of ocean pollution, I’m sure." He casually pops a grape into his mouth.

"Pirates?" I echo, a little breathless, becauseof coursethis wild little island would have pirates in its veins.

"Yeah. And rumor has it, Blackwater survived. They say he made it ashore, changed his name, built a life here. Might’ve started our family line."

I stare at him. "You’re telling me… I’m pirate royalty?"

Brody throws his head back and laughs, full and unguarded.

"Something like that."

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