Page 111 of Bastard

“Only a feckin’ wanker would blow up his target’s house in order to flush him out,” McDuff snarks. Without the beard and poncho, he cleans up very nicely.

Diego glares at him.

I roll my eyes. “Are we talking business at my housewarming party?”

But I’m not serious. They’ve slowly and methodically been tracking the uranium buyers on the list Hayden discovered and doing whatever must be done to convince them, willingly or otherwise, to invest elsewhere. The world’s a safer place because of them. Because of the hardheaded determination of their controlling boss.

Diego curses, interrupting my thoughts. “Not everyone has the luxury of sitting around playingAssassin’s Creedall day.”

“Listen up, bucko. I can knock you on yer arse without lifting a finger off my remote.”

My eyebrow arches. Santo cielo. Does McDuff know he’s waving a red flag in front of a bull?

“My money’s on Diego,” Jaxson says, offering my brother a winsome grin. “Or maybe I’ll raise the ante and have Kylie knock you on your ass?”

“How much?” McDuff demands.

“A thousand.”

“Feck. Make it two.”

“Five.” I place my hands on my hips. “But I’ll be the one to do it.”

All eyes turn toward me in horror. Except for Jaxson ... who seems more amused ... which spurs me on. I thrust my hand toward McDuff. “Shake on it.”

“Bloody hell. Boss will neuter me.”

I grin. “If I don’t get to you first.”

McDuff winces.

“You sure about this?” Diego warns.

“Yes.” I hold my ground. “Put your money on the island and follow me outside.”

“Go get Hayden,” someone says. I think it’s Declan but pay no attention to him.

“Let’s do this, lass.”

“You’re a bigger fool than I thought,” Diego tells him.

The party heads outside, down the deck stairs and onto a large expanse of lawn. I kick off my sandals and unbutton the buttons of my dress nearest my throat.

“Of course Boss fell in love with her. Look at her. She’s gorgeous. If I didn’t have a wife ... ouch ...” I grin, as Kylie jabs an elbow into her husband’s side.

“You’ll pay for that.”

Kylie chuckles. “Looking forward to it.”

“What’s going on?” Madelyn asks, coming up to stand beside her sister.

A tall, redheaded woman joins the assembling crowd, as well. “What the hell are you doing, Finn?”

“Clarissa, my beour. You made it.”

“Just in time, it appears.”

“This one,” he wiggles a finger at me, “challenged me.”