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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Violet

We drop Carter off at school and Declan sent Hawk to The Blonde Roast to pick up our coffee order so I could get to the gym on time. Skyler’s waiting on me and from the sounds of it, they guys have things they need to get done as well.

“Good morning,” I call out as we walk into the gym. A few morning regulars wave their hellos. I try not to react when the two women in short spandex shorts and sports bras with toned bodies ogle Declan on our way in. I can’t blame them. He’s a very large, muscular man and his fitted t-shirt and jeans make for quite the appeal. But it’s the leather cut that seems to bring out the hussy in women around here. I’ve seen them drool over Hawk and Ethan the same way.

Not that they’re not good-looking too, but they’re not my man, so it didn’t piss me off before.

Funny how things change so quickly.

I want to claw both bitches’ eyes out.

I feel his strong hand grip my shoulder as he leans in close to my ear from behind. “Easy there, tiger.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I find him looking smug. Clearly amused by my irritation. I turn to face him and bald-faced lie.

“I don’t know what you mean.” I try to play it off, but there’s no denying I’ve been caught. He shakes his head at my denial, but I hold firm to my delusions. I’m not used to being jealous, and it sucks.

“How about you unclench your fists and save those daggers you’re glaring for people that matter.” He tips his chin at my balled-up fists at my sides. “I don’t care about them. I’m yours, remember?” His words bring a smile to my face, but when I catch the two women staring at us, both looking as if they’re trying to figure us out, I decide to answer their unasked question.

I eat up the small space between us, putting us chest to chest. His eyes narrow, but his smile doesn’t fade. With one hand on his cut and the other sliding up around his neck, I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss him. And it’s not a small kiss on the lips. I want them to see us. I want them and any other woman who may even think about making a move on my man to know that he is, in fact, my man.

When I lick Declan’s lips, seeking entry, he opens to me and immediately takes over the kiss. I simply wanted to make a statement, to let the others know he was taken. Declan wants to prove his own point and devours me right here for all to see. He doesn’t just kiss me. He grips my neck, tilting me to his liking, and plunders into my mouth with his tongue. The moan that escapes from me is bordering on obscene and I couldn’t give two shits.

We hear Hawk’s loud ass coming through the front door. “Damn, Dec. Way to make her bend to your will. But if that doesn’t work, I can ask Ethan to give you the office and you can bend her over the desk instead …” His words trail off as he passes us with our coffees in hand.

Declan laughs against my lips, slowing the kiss and eventually pulling back, but he doesn’t release his hold on me. “I like you jealous. It brings out the fire in you.”

“I’m not jealous,” I lie.

“Right. Maybe it’s my jealousy then.” He smirks, tipping his chin toward a couple of men at the other side of the gym I hadn’t even noticed, who are now totally staring at us. One of them is Dr. Halloway, and he looks—angry?

That’s odd.

“Hey there, lass,” Kieran calls from behind the front desk. “If you two are done sucking face, you’re both wanted downstairs.”

Declan grips my hand, leading me toward the fighter’s training room. “Thanks for the heads up.”

“Thanks for the show.” Kieran winks and I bury my face, hiding against Declan’s shaking arm as he continues to laugh at my embarrassment.

“You can be such an ass,” I mumble, and his body shakes harder.

The sound of gloves hitting pads and bags fills the room, along with the grunts and groans of the fighters training around the room. We catch sight of Skyler across the room, encouraging Sadie, “Now aim for the solar plexus. If you’re being attacked, you don’t aim to injure you aim to disable. If your attacker can’t breathe, he can’t make chase.” Sadie spins a kick and strikes the pads Anna’s holding up for her. Anna steps back with the force of the kick.

“Good. Again,” Skyler continues to shout.

“I didn’t know Sadie had a session today. She doesn’t usually come in on Fridays,” I casually mention, noticing Hawk staring at Sadie with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Apparently, she had some pent-up anger to work off, so she called Anna to come in for a session first thing. She’s been at it for nearly two hours.” Skyler’s glower at Hawk says this is his fault without her having to say the words. Judging by his guilty countenance, he knows.

“All right, switch gears,” Skyler commands. “Come on out of there. Anna let Sadie take five and let’s get her set up to work on getting out of the attack holds. Then we’re good to call it a day.” She makes eye contact with Sadie. “You have five minutes to get a drink and relax, then I’m only allowing another fifteen to practice, then you are done for the day. Got it?”

Sadie’s panting as she drinks down her water. “Got it.” Sadie catches Hawk moving toward her and asks Skyler, “Think I can get in tomorrow?”

“You should probably take a day off. You’ve worked hard today.”

“Something tells me I’m going to have more pissed off energy to work through.” Hawk steps up to the ring just in time to hear Sadie’s words.

“What’s got you all pissed off? Thought you had a new friend to help work out your tension for you.” If Hawk is looking for a fight, I think he just found it.

“Not all of us fuck anything that offers to deal with our issues, fuckhead,” Sadie says, calm as can be. “And you should know I’m not the type to fuck and tell. I prefer my privacy, and men with class.”

“Sadie.” Matteo’s baritone voice cuts through all the chatter around the room. “Are you about ready, Dolcezza?”

“When the fuck did he get here?” Hawk snaps.

Skyler hides her smirk behind her hand. “Oh shit.” Her shoulders shake as she tries, and fails, to hide her laughter. “This could get interesting,” she sing-songs to me and Declan.

“Fucking hell,” Declan grumbles. “Did you know he was coming?” Skyler shrugs. “A fucking warning would’ve been nice, Sky. I didn’t know I had fist fight a mob boss on my bingo card this morning.”

“Calm down.” Sky nudges Declan’s shoulder. “Matteo won’t do anything in here. It’s too public. Well, so long as Hawk doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Declan glares. “That’s not a bet I would take. Hawk is known for making stupid decisions. It’s his fucking calling card.”

Sadie’s face lights up as Matteo approaches her. She steps up to meet him. He places a kiss on her forehead, and I watch as her shoulders relax, and she leans into his touch. Matteo speaks softly to her. Whatever he’s telling her has her taking deep breaths and nodding slowly.

“Good morning, Skyler,” Matteo greets. “How are you feeling today, sweetheart? How’s the baby?”

“I’m tired and the baby is making me fat and hungry,” she snips.

“You are not fat. You are beautiful,” I fuss. “And if you’re hungry, your husband needs to get you fed.”

“What do I need to do?” Ethan comes up behind me and moves around to hug and kiss Skyler. She instantly melts into him.

“Feed your woman,” Hawk answers. “Apparently your crotch goblin is making her hungry.”

“Crotch goblin?” Sadie glares at Hawk, who isn’t the least bit apologetic.

“Dolcezza,” Matteo scolds. “No.”

The fuck?

“The fuck?” I thought it, but Hawk and Declan voice my thoughts.

“Did he just tell you no?” Hawk asks disbelievingly. “That’s like throwing a match on gasoline. Good luck with that, brother.”

Sadie’s eyes narrow, and I watch with fascination as she fights not to say what she’s thinking. When her eyes meet Matteo’s and his one raised brow, I feel for her. I know that look. I got it often when we first moved here and I worked for Vincenzo.

Matteo is a very dominant man by nature and although he can be very sweet, he expects obedience. What puzzles me is how he and Sadie are suddenly in this dynamic. If it is that dynamic. It’s hard to wrap my head around. Matteo is older. Much older. In his late thirties to Sadie’s almost nineteen.

Sadie backs down from whatever retort was on her tongue, instead addressing Skyler, “I’m going to call it a day. I’ll be back in the morning if you have time, Anna?”

“Just come in. I’ll work you in around my schedule,” Anna answers.

“Come Sadie,” Matteo beckons, and she does as he asks, sidling up beside him. “It was good to see you all, but we have somewhere to be.” Matteo says, reaching for Sadie’s hand and leads her out of the training room doors.

“What the fuck was that all about?” Ethan beats us all to voicing the question we are all wondering.

There’s a low growl coming from Hawk as he storms out of the room.

“I don’t know, but I am so here for it,” Skyler says, smiling widely. “I think Hawk just met his match.”

“Or the forceps he’s been looking for,” Declan laughs.

“What?” Sky and I ask in unison.

“He’s had his head so far up his ass for so long forceps are the only thing that could help him dig it out.” Declan explains.

“Shit. I don’t know if Matteo is the right kind of tool for the job,” Ethan adds, looking worried. “This could end ugly.”