Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I let out a chuckle. “If you say so.”
“You’re getting married?” Miller asks, and his eyes flick between Cassia and me. “To who?”
“Me,” I answer.
“No fucking way!” Saunders exclaims. “You actually proposed?”
“We came to a mutual agreement,” Cassia answers.
Miller gives me a you’re-a-dumbshit look. “Seriously? No proposal?”
“Not yet,” I say to shut them up. “I haven’t had time.”
“Guys,” Cassia says to get everyone’s attention. “Can we discuss the offer?”
“Right.” Davies straightens up. “So, the children we’ll be protecting will be yours and Knight’s?”
“Of course,” she mutters.
Davies slaps my shoulder. “Guess you’re stuck with me now, brother. Going to try and talk shit about our friendship again?”
“No,” I grumble. I let out a sigh, then add, “I’m sorry about that. It won’t happen again.”
“You bet your ass it won’t,” Davies says.
“Are you all accepting the offer or not?” Cassia asks.
“Yeah, we’re accepting the offer,” Miller replies.
She lets out a relieved breath. “You’ll all report to Knight.” Her eyes meet mine. “Decide which of the other men you want to have stationed here and talk with them.”
I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
A smile splits over her face, and she waves her hand at the door. “You can all leave.”
I get up and walk out with the men into the hallway, where I say, “Thanks for sticking around.”
“Of course,” Miller replies.
He and Saunders head to their posts while Davies hangs back.
“So, you’re getting married?”
“I am.” I lock eyes with the man who once was my best friend. We’ve bled together. “I was in a dark place,” I start to explain.
“I know,” he interrupts me. “Cassia is good for you. She’s done what none of us could.”
I nod.
He pats my shoulder. “We’re good. Don’t worry about the past. Shit happens, and then we move on.”
I nod again.
He gives me a grin. “But, I do expect a six-pack once a month for the next two years for all the shit you put me through.”
I let out a chuckle. “Okay.”
“I expect you to drink the beers with me.” When I nod, he starts walking away. “Also, get rid of that dumbass.”
Laughter bursts from me, and I shake my head as I turn and go back into the office.
Cassia is staring at me, looking like she’s about to burst into tears.
“What?” I ask, quickly moving closer to her.
“I’ve never heard you laugh,” she says. Standing up, she moves around the desk and comes to throw her arms around my neck. “It’s one of the most beautiful sounds I’ve ever heard.”
I grip her ass with both my hands. “Thanks for that,” I say, tipping my head in the direction of the door. “I know why you did it.”
“What? Employed them?”
I nod. “Yes. You’re doing it, so I’ll have them close by in the hopes of restoring my friendship with them.”
“Busted,” she whispers. “I just want you to be happy, and I think they’ll play a big part in making it happen. Everyone needs friends.”
“I appreciate it, baby.” I press a kiss to her mouth, then ask, “Do you have any friends?”
Her features tighten, and she shakes her head. “Not anymore.”
Her sisters.
“You have me.”
She nods. “Thank God for that.”
I let her go and take a seat again, then say, “We need to talk about Tobias. The man is a thorn in my side, and Davies might kill him soon.”
She takes a seat behind the desk. “What do you suppose we do with him?”
“Send him far, far away,” I mutter.
“I’ll think of something,” she says. “Give me a few days.”
She looks at the laptop screen again, then starts to frown.
“What?”
“Where the hell is Arthur?”
“Who?
She meets my eyes. “He’s in charge of the soldiers and weapons. I spoke with his son, Andrew, and he told us Arthur stayed behind to find out who the traitor is.” She points at the laptop. “I totally forgot about him until I saw an email from him.”
“Give me his phone number, and I’ll have the island track him down for us.”
“Okay.” She checks through a book, then recites a number to me.
“You have everyone’s numbers written down in that book?”
“I told you my father was old school.”
“Yeah, that’s not old school, that’s ancient.”
Chapter 28
CASSIA
It’s good to be home.
I miss the sounds of my family moving around the mansion, but I feel closer to them here. Also, I couldn’t stay in the hotel forever. The sooner things get back to normal, the better.
A new normal.
Knight comes out of the bathroom wearing only sweatpants. I watch as he shoves his dirty clothes into the duffle bag and frown.
“Where are the rest of your clothes? You’ll need to bring them here.”
He shakes his head as he places a knee beside me on the bed. Leaning over me, he says, “There aren’t any to bring over.”
My eyebrows lift. “That’s all you have?” I ask as I point at his bag.
He nods as he leans in, pressing a kiss to my neck.