Page 59 of Heartless
Mari approached the two of them, hugging around Reaper’s waist as she stared at Finn with an awed smile. “I bet you orchestrated this ruse, huh?”
“We started building the extension and were gonna surprise you anyway,” her father-in-law grinned. “But it was the governor’s idea to present it to you now, after what happened.”
“I understood your hesitation when you told me the first time,” Vance nodded at Reaper. “But after that day in the conference room, and now with what happened to your sweet wife and VP,” he shook his head. “Four Cornersneedsthe Steel Demons. The house is yours. My trust is yours. And still, it feels like too little for what you’ve given us.”
Reaper looked down at Mari, his arm around her shoulders. “What do you think, sugar?”
“It’s a beautiful house.” She leaned her cheek on his chest. “Let’s take it.”
“Gun?” Reaper lifted his gaze to me.
I shrugged, but couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across my face. Hell fucking yeah, I was ready to leave the B&B and actuallylivesomewhere.
“Whatever the wifey wants.”
Mari’s excited giggle was drowned out by Finn’s laughter as he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.
“Congratulations, son,” he said on my shoulder. “Happy to have you in the family.”
“Thank you.” I returned his hug, leaning into probably the only display of fatherly affection I’d ever received. “Thank you, sir.”
“None of thatsirbusiness,” he chided, pulling away. “Well, maybe only when we’re at work,” he added with a wink.
“We’ll throw a housewarming party soon,” Reaper said, releasing Mari so she could hug me. “Invite the whole club. Hell, we’ll have Larkan’s patching in ceremony at the same time.”
“Oh, finally!” she declared, her cheek nuzzled against my chest.
“We gotta tell Jandro when he’s not all doped up,” I said, rubbing warmth into her back.
“And Shadow.” Mari’s eyes widened like she had mistakenly said that out loud, but didn’t take it back as Reaper and I sandwiched her between us.
“Something you want to tell us, sugar?” His tone had finally lightened, arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind as he kissed the top of her head.
Mari held on to his forearm across her chest. “I want Shadow to move in with us,” she said, her voice firm.
Reaper and I exchanged a fast look. “Okay,” he said. “Does that mean…?”
“He’s mine,” she answered, gripping his forearm tighter. “I’m keeping him. I…lovehim.”
“Alright then.” Reaper squeezed her against his chest, planting another kiss in her hair. “He’s moving in and picking a room.”
“Baby girl.” I teased her nickname with a hint of warning, hooking my fingers in the belt loops of her jeans. “You know what I’m gonna say.”
Her eyes narrowed at me in warning. “What, Gunner?”
I leaned in close and whispered, “What if his dick is small?”
“Youasshole!” she shrieked, swatting me. “Don’t be like that!”
“Sorry, I had to!” I laughed, blocking her blows with my arms.
“And anyway,” she grinned smugly. “I already know what his dick looks like.”
“Oh, right,” I said sheepishly. “I forgot that…that happened.”
“Let’s get the fuck out of this cold,” Reaper huffed, dragging Mari back to the car. “And celebrate our last night sleeping in the B&B.”
“Works for me.” I followed them after stealing one more glance back at the house.
