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He took a deep breath. “You did what?”
“I invited Kristoff to the family barbecue,” she repeated. “He is my brother-in-law, after all, and that makes him family.”
The woman was determined to drive him mad. At this rate, the swear jar was going to burst from money.Hisfucking money. It took some effort, fucking Herculean effort, but he managed to rein in his temper.
“He won’t come.”
Did it make him a bastard to complete that remark with a smirk? Probably. But Mrs. Sweet Smile and Angelic Hair was going to find out that having those attributes didn’t immediately mean everyone was going to do her bidding.
“That’s what I told him you’d say.” She returned his smirk. “Guess what? Apparently, the leader of the Russian mob doesn’t like to be predictable. I believe he used a few colorful expletives about his ornery brother. Your eyes aren’t the only thing you two have in common, you know. Kristoff does love to swear.” She pulled a face.
He pushed back from the table. “Then you better get another swear jar, because if he does come to the barbecue, it’s going to be one fucking swear fest.” With that, he left the room, cursing to himself.
“That’s another dollar!” she hollered after him.
***
When Hector returned home later that night, he’d come to a few conclusions.
Mary was reading on the couch, and Zoe was playing with dolls at her feet. His wife was pointedly ignoring him, thinking that with Zoe there, she would be safe. He couldn’t stop a crooked grin when he grabbed Zoe from the floor.
She squealed as he twirled her around, playing plane. He dropped on the sofa with her on his lap. Zoe reached for her Wonder Woman doll and a tiny brush.
“Diana wants a braid, like me,” she said, twirling her perfect pigtails.
He glanced at Mary, in the hopes of getting help, but she seemed engrossed in her e-reader. Though her shoulders shook suspiciously.
His big fingers weren’t meant for this shit, but Zoe gave him such a hopeful look that he tried anyway. He ended up having to do it over three times until it looked somewhat decent.
“There you go. All done.” He really hoped she wasn’t going to come with the rest of her collection.
“We made cupcakes today.”
“Is that so?” One question was all it took for Zoe to go on a one-sided monologue about everything that had gone down that day.
“Why don’t we go brush your teeth and put on your PJs,” he interrupted her. “I’ll tuck you in.”
“Are you going to read me a story?” Zoe never went to bed without negotiating a story out of him.
“Sure.”
“Four stories?”
“How about two?”
“Hmm… okay.”
Storytelling took longer than he’d expected. The little munchkin had chosen a Grimms’ Fairytale. Who knew those stories had that many pages? Apparently, she did, because he didn’t believe for a second that she hadn’t tricked him. Beaten by a six-year-old, what was the world coming to?
As he headed downstairs, he shook his head. Hector “the Wolf” Diaz, domesticated. If the guys in his old unit could see him now, they would laugh their asses off. Thing was, he didn’t give a fuck. Never in his life had he been more centered as since he’d tied the knot. Coming home to Mary and Zoe was the highlight of his day. He’d always considered the Dettas as his true family, and they still were. But he had another one now, one of his own. This was why Mary couldn’t let go of trying to fix things between him and Kristoff. She genuinely believed that he would be happier with his brother in his life.
She was in the kitchen, putting on a kettle. It was the center of the house and where she spent a lot of time, reading at the kitchen island or having a cup of tea. He could see her pulse jump up when he took the seat across her.
“I’ve come to a few conclusions today,hermosa. I’m going to tell you about Kristoff. So you’ll understand why I can’t stand the guy, and why it won’t change anything, whether you invite him over or not. And when I’m done talking, you’re going to go upstairs, put on that red lace teddy, and come back. After that, I’m going to fuck you and I’m going to fuck you real hard.”
She put her mug down, eyes big.
“And don’t give me that look. That’s not gonna save you. See, I’m tired of being the only one frustrated when it comes to my brother. So, I’ve decided to… spread my frustration. Every time I have to spend time in his presence, I’m going to share my feelings with you, deep inside of you. And you might want to wipe that smile off your face because I haven’t decided yet if I’m gonna let you come.”