Page 33 of Vengeful Reign

“Okay.” She seems less reserved than yesterday, but she’s not ready to leave any more than she was before.

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We board the plane and thankfully, John decides it’s a good time for a nap. We are able to tuck him into a seat and settle him down easily after putting on a movie.

The flight attendant brings us each a drink, and my men sit on the other end of the plane while I speak with Nora, who’s in a pair of shorts that did little to help my aching need to be inside her.Damn summertime.

The airplane is a cool sixty-nine degrees, but outside today it is eighty. When we land, I expect the humidity to smack us in the face, so the damn ridiculously short shorts were fair, but they’re wreaking havoc on my blood pressure. Her long hair has been wrapped up in a tight ponytail, showcasing her sleek, slender neck that I want to suck on.

Reaching over, I cup her hand that’s on her bouncing knee, lacing our fingers together. “I’m sorry that I’m taking you away from your life here.”

She pulls her hand away, using it to grab her drink, taking a long gulp before setting it down shakily on the table between us. “Afraid of flying?”

“Um, no.”

She’s completely unsettled, and I refuse to keep this between us so I stare at her, waiting for her to let me in. It’s only been two days, but there’s some sort of instant connection between us that I can’t deny. “Jack, can I be honest with you?”

I take her hand and hold it firmly so she doesn’t pull it away. “Always. You know damn well I want your honesty.”

Nora bites down on her bottom lip, bracing herself and working up the nerve for whatever little confession she’s going to give me. I know the truth, so I just need her to spill the beans and unburden herself. “It’s not that I love my life in Philly so much as I fear going back to Chicago.”

“Does it have to do with the fact that you were supposed to marry me years ago, Miss Fieri?” I question with a bit of amusement in my tone because I’m unbothered by it.

She gasps, squeezing my hand, her color paling. It takes her a good moment to regain her composure and ask, “You know? How long?”

“I learned when I went to the hotel again. It looks like you were meant to be my wife one way or another.”

“It seems you’re getting your way,” she huffs.

I chuckle. “No offense, beautiful, but I didn’t want to marry you then either. I didn’t even know about the supposed arranged marriage offer until the day before you ran away.”

“Oh.” Fuck, I’ve offended her. I reach out and cup her soft, feminine chin.

“Don’t hide from me, Nora. If I had met you then, trust me when I say I would have made sure you didn’t get away and you were carrying more than my last name by the end of the week.”

“You’re a smooth-talking man, Jack.”

“No one would believe you if they heard that.”

“Well, I’m glad that you saved it for me, then.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it.

“We have a lot of planning to do for the wedding, but I don’t want to wait a long time for it.”

“How long?”

“No more than a month.”

“Okay.”

“I suppose you gave me a long enough time as it is,” she teases.

“That I did.”

When we arrive at the airport, my brothers are waiting for us. Their eyes widen when they see me carrying John. “Holy fuck, it’s true.” Ian’s eyes fill with tears.

“Little man is back,” Connor chuckles. He reaches out and rubs his hand. It’s what he’s always done. A little touch that John allowed. John lifts his head off me and toward them before dropping it to Nora, reaching for her with a whine.

“It’s okay. I’ll take him.”

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