Page 87 of Merciless
“I’ve never spoken truer words in my life.” I played with the buttons on his shirt, sliding my fingers into the gaps between them until he grabbed my hand.
“Why are we having a bunch of people over at our house again?” His voice grew low and husky, meant only for me.
“I can’t seem to remember the reason for that.”
“Me either.” He placed a slow, smoldering kiss on my palm before releasing my hand with a sigh. “These last two weeks have spoiled us.”
“I know, love.” I stroked his beard. “But tonight will be fun.”
“It will be,” he agreed. “I’ve been itching to do some tattoos.”
“Oy, come here and eat!” Jandro motioned to us from a table piled with several plates of different finger food.
Gunner had one arm on Jandro’s shoulder while he drank directly from a bottle of wine and talked to one of Finn’s lieutenants. Reaper also sat at the table on, most likely, his second glass of whiskey. He also had a cigar and was talking to one of Governor Vance’s cabinet members. A few other important-looking men hovered around the table, waiting for a chance to talk to one of the saviors of the territory.
“Shall we?” I took a step in their direction, my hand in Shadow’s as I looked back at him.
“With you, always,” he said warmly, following after me.
Thirty-Three
MARIPOSA
We mingled for another hour before saying our goodbyes. Once in the car, the guys became a flurry of removing ties, unbuttoning shirts, and rolling up sleeves. I knew they loved me, but in that moment, I was absolutely certain they were trying to kill me.
At home, everyone changed into casual clothes and we rushed around the house like bees in a hive to prepare for our guests. Did any of them take me up for a quickie? No. Wholly unfair, honestly.
After changing into a casual sundress, I helped Jandro prepare food while the others cleaned the house and ran out to stock up on alcohol. Shadow also set up a small tattoo station in a corner of the dining room.
The usual suspects arrived first—Andrea, Tessa, and their children, quickly followed by Noelle and Larkan, and then Slick, who held hands with a pretty young woman I'd never seen before. She smiled nervously, leaning into him for support as they walked in through the living room.
"Mari, this is Katelyn." Slick puffed his chest out, turning to beam at the girl he was clearly smitten with. "We started talking a few weeks back, she finally let me bring her around to meet everyone."
"It's so nice to meet you." I reached for her hand, utter elation in my chest that Slick had found someone. "Please make yourself at home."
"Call me Kat, and thank you. I've heard a lot about you," she blurted out, her face reddening. "One of my friends, Erica, is a medic under you."
"Small world." I smiled at her. "Erica might come over soon too. Slick, you know the drill. Help yourselves to anything. And Kat, don't pay attention to my husbands' hazing of him. It's really out of love."
"It's not that bad anymore." Slick chuckled, leading her by the hand toward the kitchen.
"Slick, ya dumb fuck! I told you not to kidnap pretty girls!" Jandro shouted, not a moment later.
"Worked out for you, didn't it?" Slick retorted.
"Ohh, he's a big man now!" Gunner taunted.
I barely had time to laugh at the situation before Noelle pulled me into the hallway. "I'm so fucked, Mari," she hissed under her breath.
"Why, what's wrong? Wait, hang on." I pulled her into the nearest bedroom and closed the door behind us. "What is it?" My heart pounded, worry spiking.
"I'm fucking pregnant!" she whisper-yelled.
"Wha—oh my God!" My palms flew to my mouth and then wrapped around her in a hug. "Congratulations!"
"Don't tell me that yet." She pulled loose from me and smacked a palm to her forehead. "I found out this morning and I'm...still in shock, I guess."
"That's okay, that's normal." I placed my hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down. "This wasn't planned, I take it?"
