Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“And they work?” Mac’s attention is focused on Paxton. My eyes are on the screen as I watch a SWAT team close in.
“It’s still new tech and only works on their cards.”
“Will you get me a pair?”
He glances down at her. “I’ll make a request.”
Mac’s been fiddling with glasses technology too. She’s always striving to learn more. I’m often amazed at how her mind works. She definitely is her mother’s daughter.
Damon comes to stand next to Paxton, his arms folded over his chest. I swear every time I see him, he’s bigger. He might end up being the biggest in the whole Marino family. Damon is brute force in human form. Lately, I can’t help but wonder what type of woman is going to be his undoing. He swears he’s going to be the one that avoids the Marino curse, but we all know the love bug will bite him eventually.
“Who is most likely to get shot?” Damon asks Paxton.
“Wait, let’s bet.” Jax strolls over from the board he’d been working on. He’s back in town. He and Kinsley have been traveling. Everyone is headed back home because of the wedding. It’s nice when we are all back here together. My brothers are expected to arrive at any moment now. When it’s all five of them together, I often want to strangle them. Yet I know if I moved away, I’d miss this.
Paxton’s hand goes to my back, and he runs it up and down. I find myself leaning into his comfort. I swear he can sense the emotions most don’t believe I have.
“Bet?” Damon asks his brother Jax.
“Yeah. Paxton gives us two possibilities, one being who you think will get shot.”
“All right,” he agrees. “Marco?” Oh shit.
“Really?” I ask. I wouldn’t have guessed that one. Paxton cocks his head, leaning in a tad closer to stare at the screen.
“He’s extra fidgety. Too much cocaine,” he tells me.
“Oh, man, now we can’t play,” Jax mutters.
“I would have won. I already thought it was him.” Damon smirks.
“And Ben,” Paxton adds.
“You already told us it was Marco,” Jax says. Paxton only shrugs as the team bursts through one of the doors, a second coming through the tiled ceiling, the lights going out.
Mac doesn’t bother with the night feed. Flash bangs go off, followed by the sound of gunfire. It’s over quickly. It always is, but when you’re there in the middle of it, it’s not so fast.
“Motherfucker.” Damon shakes his head.
“He’s a psychic.” Jax laughs. Both Marco and Ben are shot. A rush of pride fills me, and I get turned on too. Paxton is always so laid-back and calm, but he might actually be the deadliest person in the room.
I drop my head back. “You may kiss me.” He chuckles but gives me what I want.
“I’m here!”
Paxton lifts his mouth from mine as Nix comes bouncing into the library, her blond ponytail swaying. She’s decked out in all pink, which isn’t shocking. She too is her mother’s daughter. It’s my Aunt Cosima’s favorite color. “Killing anyone today?” She wiggles her brows, glancing around at all of us.
“Not personally. I had someone else do it. I can’t be everywhere.”
Nix snorts a laugh. “Is this wedding still on?” she asks.
“Yes, why would it not be?” Do they have information I do not?
“She was actually referring to having not killed me yet,” Paxton fills in for me. I marginally relax. When it comes to Paxton and me, I don’t do well with the jokes. I know they are only poking at him as they do with each other, but it irritates me.
“I love how annoyed she got from my question.” Nix laughs.
“She was needling me and not you,” I say.
Paxton’s lip pulls up on one side, and he gives a slight nod.
“It’s hard to push your buttons.” Nix pretends to poke the air with both index fingers.
Paxton’s hand slides up my back to rest at the nape of my neck, his thumb stroking me. Any annoyance I was feeling melts away, Paxton’s touch bringing me a comfort no other ever could.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
PAXTON
All these years I’ve fantasized about Naomi being mine; I never thought about all the ins and outs there would be on a personal level for myself. The only person I have ever considered family was Sloane.
Now I’m in a room filled with all the Marino men who have welcomed me into the fold far easier than I would have thought, but I suppose they trust Naomi’s judgment. They also likely don’t want to cross her. My soon-to-be wife is rather scrappy, and she’ll play dirty.
We’ve trained together many times. It doesn’t pan out. We always end up fucking. I can’t say that I hate it. She has the rest of her family to train with. Naomi might want me to come out here and give her a challenge, but it’s not in my nature.