Page 104 of Axel

Shit.

The words fall from my mouth before I can stop them. Like a doting dad, I can’t leave them, and Grant laughs. “Our family needs grandkids, not kittens, you pussy-whipped fuck.”

I bark, “Says the man so pussy-whipped for his French wife that you cream for French fries.”

“Hey!” Our mother glares. “Never forget where you came from. Don’t you dare use that word as an insult. Honor it. Honor your women, or we’ll smack your delicate balls.”

Delphine laughs, Grant shuts up, and I shake my head, chuckling.

“I’ll take care of the kittens,” Delphine offers.

“Hell no,” Grant huffs. “Then you’ll want to keep one.”

“And we will.” Delphine trails her long fingernail down his chest. “Honor your queen, remember?”

My mother nods, surveying the proof of how she’s raised us, then she reaches for my hand to calm me because I want to punch the shit out of my little brother.

Do I love him? Always. Do I care he’s injured? Yes. Will I still beat the snot out of him? Hell, yes. We fight. We kill. We’re alpha as fuck and will prove it.

But for our queens?

My mother squeezes my clenched fist, and I remember … we were raised to love, too.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

RUBY

“What doyou mean we’re staying another week?” I spew baklava flakes, challenging Scarlett, “We fly to Bali tomorrow.”

“Change of plans. We stay in Greece,” Scarlett answers, rubbing her belly under our dinner table, and I raise an eyebrow.

“Fine by me,” Rose chimes in. “I met a lipstick last night. She’s staying here all week and wants to smash, so I’m here for it.”

“And that DJ is swole and giving me life.” Cherry elbows Rose. “Think I can pull him?”

“He’s totally DTF,” Rose answers, and Scarlett cuts me a confused look.

It’s like our little sisters are speaking a foreign language, but I’m so used to Rose and Cherry, I translate, “Rose found a femme pussy that wants to play and Cherry wants to spin on muscular DJ dick.”

Nick and Zar laugh, but I clock how they’re too relaxed, when I know Zar was excited about Bali. It’s like they’re behind this change of plans, and once they got Scarlett on board, I bet it was a done deal.

Usually, Scarlett would be like me, stubborn and fearless. We’d be in Bali tomorrow,so…?

I catch Zar sneaking a look at Scarlett. They’ve grown so close subbing for Luca, and…

“Oh, my god,” I huff, my detective brain sounding the alarm. “Hedidn’t.”

“He did.” Scarlett doesn’t lie to me. “Michael Cummings asked to meet with Luca and me, and he brought his friend, Sire Rutledge. And I don’t know what kind of dangerous shit you’re into at work, but I know that your boss is in love with you and asked us to protect you.”

Axel went behind my back and risked exposing his true identity to meet with my family about my safety?

That’s how much he cares?

That’s how much danger I’m in?

It’s my turn to cut Nick a secret look, and like an ex-Bratva prince, he subtly nods back, confirming my deadly suspicion.

My sisters can know about some of my new life, but not all of it. I understand, but I’m not used to lying to them—not ever—and it’s awkward. My silence hangs heavy in the summer air.

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