Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 139088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
“Open it.”
His eyes lifted from the box to me, and he whispered, “Baby.”
“Open it, Knox.”
He drew in breath.
Then he opened it.
It was a fancy, ridiculously expensive stainless steel, ergonomically weighted BBQ tool set in a roll bag with leather straps.
“For when you’re barbequing for our grandkids, and before,” I said.
He looked from the gift to me. “You totally never let me go.”
“I totally didn’t and I totally never will.”
We stood there, staring at each other over the bar and the BBQ tools.
We did this so long, we freaked Jacques, and he gave a gentle, questioning woof.
“C’mere, boy,” Knox called.
Jacques trotted to him.
Knox bent and picked him up.
“Easy for me to carry when I gotta grill down in the courtyard,” he said.
“That was what I was thinking.”
A languid, heavy beat passed then he said softly, “Never let me go.”
“Never.”
Jacques licking Knox’s jaw ended that staring situation.
It was then I realized the wine and the shooter didn’t do it for me either.
“Can you make me a martini, honey?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” he answered.
He handed Jacques across the bar to me, and he got on my martini.
Jacques and I went to the couch so I could grab the remote and find a game.
I had my head in my man’s lap, my dog on my belly, my legs thrown over the side of the couch. Knox was watching some game on TV, I was zoning out.
That was when the knock came at the door.
I knew it was coming.
I knew Knox did too when he looked down at me.
I caught his gaze then sat up.
He got up and went to the door as I straightened me and Jacques on the couch.
He opened the door and in came Lee, Mace, Hector, Cap and Roam.
Okay, this was official.
They were all OGs.
Even Cap and Roam.
“Do you want me to…?” I offered, getting ready to stand.
“No, Luna, you’re good,” Lee said.
“Anyone want a drink?” I asked.
“We won’t be long.”
I got up anyway, dropped my dog on the couch and went to Knox (Jacques came too).
It was a good call.
“Your mom got word to Alexeyev,” Lee said.
I grabbed his hand in both of mine.
“Yeah?” Knox asked.
“It’s true. She’s with Vincente Becerra of the Becerra cartel and has been since she left your family.”
I saw Knox’s chest rise with his breath, but he said nothing.
Lee’s gaze came to me for a flash before it went back to Knox.
“She said she knew she could take her other children and retreat after she met Luna.”
“What?” I asked.
“Come again?” Knox asked.
“You said something to her,” Lee said to me. “And she told Alexeyev she knew she could let Knox go because someone was looking after him.”
Oh.
Well then.
“What did you say?” Knox asked me.
I pulled my shoulders forward.
Not letting my hands go, he turned to me. “What did you say?”
“Maybe it was the speech I gave about having your back and being on your side in everything. Other than that, all I said was that I wasn’t going to play go-between for you and maybe I got in her face a little about her leaving you. But that’s all. I think.”
Knox just stared at me.
“Whatever it was,” Lee broke into this, “it worked. She says if you ever want to heal the breach, use the Russians. But she isn’t expecting that and she’s content to let you live your life without their interference.”
“That’s big of her,” Knox bit out.
“It’s done, honey,” I reminded him.
His fingers around mine squeezed.
“It is done,” Lee stated in a way we both looked right at him. “My team is my team. But we take such care with our hires because they become family. You’re family Knox. Your name might not be Nightingale. Or Mason. Stark. Crowe. Chavez. Tucker. Or Jackson. But you are us. And we are you. This is a forever thing, brother. You’re in and you’re never gonna get out. That isn’t a threat. You’re gonna live your life how you see fit. But like Luna, we have your back and we’ll take your side in everything. You’ll always be a part of us no matter where you are. And that’s it.”
I was holding my breath through this speech.
I kept holding it when it was done, and that was that.
Because, with no hugs or handshakes or other common rituals that would normally bookend a statement like that, they marched out.
Cap was last, and it was only him who sent Knox a lingering look.
Then the door shut behind him.
And I knew why it was the OGs.
Because that statement had to be made by the Hot Bunch so Knox wouldn’t miss it.
And when I looked up at him, I saw he didn’t miss it.
So I turned into him, pressed close and rounded him with my arms.
“Closure,” I whispered.
He was still staring at the door, but he looked down at me.
“Closure,” he whispered back.