Page 58 of Heartless
“She did with Nolan,” he confirmed with a small smile. “The ah, physical chemistry she had with me and Carter was instant, explosive—”
“Fuck, really?” Reaper released Mari’s hand to slap his palms over his ears.
“Lis and Nolan were a slower burn, physically speaking,” Finn continued. “Their connection was more emotional, almost platonic at first, like they were best friends. They’d spend hours just staying up late and talking. It might’ve been weeks before they even kissed.”
“That’s really sweet,” Mari said. “I’m sorry you all lost him.”
“Thank you.” Finn smiled at his daughter-in-law. “It’s been over fifteen years now, so it’s not as sharp. But it still hits Lis and I sometimes.”
We all piled into the black SUV waiting for us outside. A thread of annoyance started to make a knot in my chest as Finn’s lieutenant drove us. Jandro had just come out of surgery. Mari was in danger of dozing off, leaning heavily on my shoulder. The governor had barely given them any time to rest and let the shock wear off before calling this meeting. Tash’s forces needed to be dealt with immediately, yes. But the timing of this didn’t seem appropriate.
I shoved my discomfort down, wrapping an arm around Mari’s shoulder and pulling her closer to me. We’d all make sure she rested well tonight. It was the least our wife deserved.
“Where are we going?” Suspicion laced Reaper’s voice.
“To meet the governor, like I said,” Finn answered coolly.
“Where?” Reaper demanded again. “We’ve just passed City Hallandhis house.”
“You’ll see, son.”
“Dad.” Reaper’s teeth ground in his jaw. “I’m not the mood for fucking surprises. Can you just tell us what’s going on?”
“You’ll like this surprise,” Finn answered. “Just relax.”
Reaper grumbled in his seat, only quieting when Mari lifted her head from my shoulder and turned to snuggle against him.
We drove over the small bridge crossing the lake to the new development on the other side. No streetlights had been erected yet, let alone paved sidewalks, so the SUV’s tires rolled over bumpy gravel with just the headlights to guide our way.
The car came to a stop just as our headlights picked up a figure standing in the middle of the road, who I quickly figured out was Governor Vance. It was pitch black outside, the temperature dropping fast, and he was waiting for us in a construction zone away from the main part of town? My suspicion started to match Reaper’s, hand brushing the gun at my hip as we started climbing out of the back seat. Everything about this was fucking fishy.
“Mariposa!” Vance beamed at the sight of her, his smile rivaling the brightness of our headlights. “I’m so glad you came out for this, dear.”
Reaper’s arm shot out to the side, blocking her from getting any closer. “What isthis, Vance? A meeting out in the freezing fucking darkness?”
“Ah, yes.” The governor’s eyes shifted to General Bray still behind us. “That may have been a small fib. I wanted you and at least one or two of your men out here for this.”
“Thisbeing what, exactly?” I stepped up to Mari’s other side, another shield for her in the event of any danger.
“Josh!” Vance called out to the darkness behind him. “Go ahead.”
I heard a series of clicking sounds, like breaker switches being flipped. And then, blinding brightness.
“Ah, fuck!” I brought a hand up to shield my eyes, squinting at the brightly lit house in the distance.
“It’s yours,” the governor declared. “And this time, I’m not taking no for an answer.”
When my eyes adjusted I lowered my hand, blinking as I took in all the details. The house the governor showed us the night of the dinner party had transformed, or expanded at least.
The first story had been widened out from the center—a sunroom lined with windows facing south, and what looked like an additional garage or workshop with a roll-up door on the opposite side. Through all the windows, cozy warm light glowed, lighting up the sparse furniture and fixtures already inside.
“We added two more bedrooms downstairs for three total on the bottom floor,” Finn said in our stunned silence, walking up from behind us. “And with the three up top, it should be plenty of room for all of you to have your own space.”
“Wha…what?”
“You’ve been in Four Corners over two weeks already,” Vance laughed at Reaper’s stunned look. “And have saved us all more times than we can ever repay you for. Take the house. I insist.” The governor reached deep inside his coat and produced a set of keys.
“You can’t tell us you’re good and settled crammed intooneroom at the B&B,” Finn laughed, bringing a hand down on Reaper’s shoulder. “Take the house, son. Make a life here.” His grip squeezed, not letting go as his voice grew heavy with emotion. “Let an old man watch his only son grow old and have his own kids, huh?”
