Page 34 of Their Property
“That’s a shame.” My fingers drummed on my elbow while the gears turned in my head. “I wonder if we could set up a fair at the capitol so everyone can browse and see what talented artisans we have right in our backyard.”
“You would do that?” The shop owner carefully placed my items in small jewelry boxes before tying them together with a ribbon.
“I can certainly try. The tricky part is getting other people on board.” I accepted the bundle from him with a smile. “But I’ll wear these every day and tell everyone where I got them.”
“Thank you. Thank you, Miss. Please come back anytime. Oh, and if you need something custom-made, please let me know! I can create something to your exact specifications.”
“Thank you so much.” I gave a small wave as I turned to leave, Grudge following after me. “Have a good evening.”
We met up with T-Bone and Dyno who were waiting on the sidewalk, the two of them sharing a slim cigar.
“Did you buy up the whole place?” T-Bone teased with an exhale of smoke before handing the cigar back to Dyno.
“Not today,” I said. “Where did you get that?”
“Bought it up the street.” The cherried end lit up Dyno’s face as he puffed.
“How? I thought they were illegal here?”
“They are. You just have to ask the right people.” Smoke curled around Dyno’s grin. “And the right questions.”
He passed it to Grudge, who shook his head at me with an, “Mm-mm,” before taking a drag.
“Aww, why not?”
“Just doin’ our job.” T-Bone started down the street first, and the rest of us followed.
“Keeping my precious reputation safe from doing illegal drugs?” I asked with an eye roll.
“The smell will cling to you,” Dyno said. “And people will notice, so yes.” He playfully bumped into my side. “We also don’t need questions about why the ambassador is hacking up a lung.”
“I know how to smoke a cigar,” I huffed.
“Your father let you?” T-Bone asked in surprise.
“Well, no,” I said. “But he doesn’t know I know how.”
“Naughty,” he teased, and the word seemed to stroke right between my legs. “Who taught you?”
“Reaper,” I admitted. “He broke out some special ones at a party when Mari announced her pregnancy. My dad couldn’t make it, but they invited me.”
“Mari’s pregnant?” Dyno gasped.
“She already had the babies. Twins,” I said. “A boy and a girl, born about six months ago.” Along with the Sons, Mari and one of her now-husbands had helped to get me out of Blakeworth. She had been the woman in the gazebo with me. Now, she was settled in Four Corners with her four biker men and their children.
She has exactly what I want,I realized.
“Aww, mah.” Grudge cooed, placing a hand over his chest. The thought of that big, burly man holding an infant in his arms kicked my heart into high speed.
“Guess we’ve missed out on some things while we’ve been away,” T-Bone said softly.
I caught up to him and poked him in the side. “You’ll have to tell me what you’ve been up to over the last four years. Over dinner.”
“Dinner?” Dyno repeated. “Are you taking us out on a date, Ambassador?”
“Sure, why not?” I waved a hand in the air. “But I want real food, dripping in grease and calories.”
Grudge made a hum of approval while Dyno clicked his tongue. “We can arrange that, but it’sourtreat. Not yours.”
