Page 72 of Heartless
“She is definitely a target, if she hasn’t already been caught,” Shadow said. “Big G referred to us and the Sons by name. They know she’s at least affiliated with us.”
“We won’t know until the time to make first contact comes.” Reaper drummed his fingers on the table. “If there isn’t a message from her, that will be our answer.”
“And what will you do if that happens?” Vance asked.
“Go back to square one.” Reaper rubbed his hands over his face with a groan. “Again.”
“Andrea’s smart,” I said over the running water in the kitchen sink. “She knows how to hide in plain sight and put on a persona. Even if G massively fucked up, she’ll adapt and get her job done.”
“Really?” Vance piped up. “How did she develop skills like that?”
Shadow and Reaper both hid smiles as I answered. “She was a high-end escort before meeting her husband.”
“Ah.” The governor’s blush was precious. “I see.”
The others chuckled at his discomfort while I made my way to Shadow, standing behind him as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “What I want to know is why you took an extra day to get back to me.”
“We were covering Big G when Tash’s patrol spotted us,” he said, hands sliding up to clasp mine resting on his chest. “We had to lead some Jeeps on a goose chase all over wild terrain, and lost at least half a day doing that.” His head tilted back to look at me. “Fortunately we were faster, and Jeeps are gas guzzlers.”
“Uh-huh.” I made a show of sounding skeptical as I leaned down to kiss his forehead. “A very likely excuse.”
“I missed you before I hit the road.” He reached up to caress my cheek. “I was counting down the minutes until I’d be back with you.”
“You’re all, uh,” the governor’s voice cut in, “a very openly affectionate bunch.”
Reaper laughed as he stood from the table. “Stay for the party, governor. You’ve seen how hard we fight.” He came over to me, taking hold of my jaw as he pressed a hard kiss to my mouth. “Now you can see how hard we live.”
The house started fillingup with people a few hours later. Noelle and Lis came over to help prepare food, Gunner quickly sneaking in behind them. He darted into the downstairs bedroom we’d designated as the guest room, and quickly shoved something in the closet.
“Are you up to no good again?” I asked, leaning against the door jam.
“Always, baby girl.” He grinned, kissing me in the doorway. “You’ll see.”
“Well, that isn’t cryptic at all.”
He just laughed, heading to the front door to let more people in. This time it was Tessa, another one of Andrea’s friends, Elise, plus Tessa and Andrea’s children. The young mother smiled as she walked in, but I saw the somberness in her eyes.
“Hey, honey.” I pulled her into a hug. “Thanks for coming. I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t have to be.” Her voice was raspy like she’d been crying. “I know you weren’t the biggest fan of him. She’d never tell me, but I bet Noelle was celebrating.”
“She wouldn’t, Tess. And anyway, none of that matters.” I held tightly on to her shoulders. “He was yours. You made your family with him. It’s normal to mourn him, even if he wasn’t perfect.”
“Thanks, Mari. I am glad the other guys got back safe.” She lifted Vivian out of her carseat, heading toward the backyard where the kids had gathered around the roasting pit. “Guess I’ll go see what the excitement’s about.”
“Help yourself to anything.” I squeezed her shoulder as she walked past me.
More Steel Demons trickled in over the next hour, the house growing loud and the mood celebratory. The Sons of Odin were among the last to arrive, T-Bone picking me up in a crushing hug as he planted a fat kiss on my cheek.
“Better put her down, T,” Dyno laughed. “We’re already getting the murder looks.”
“Ah, these Demons don’t scare me.” T-Bone set me lightly on my feet. “They’re all teddy bears under them cuts.”
“Care to fuckin’ repeat that?” Reaper came over, grinning, and already on his third glass of whiskey, which he took care not to spill as he hugged and greeted each of the Sons.
“I said you have a great house, Reap.” T-Bone chuckled. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. You guys want a tour of the place?”
