Page 124 of Deviant Reign (Knight's Ridge Empire 6)

“Oi, you shut your trap, brat.”

I smile fondly at him as I flip him off once more.

“And hopefully,” he continues, “we can all work our parts of the city as one big happy family.”

“Just like that. Peace on Earth?”

“I’m sure it’ll be way more complicated, but that’s the idea. What about you? What’s next for Mrs. Emmie Cirillo?”

“Ramsey-Cirillo, please.”

His brows lift at how quickly I snap that response back.

“So, we’re calling off the lawyers then?”

“Am I crazy, Cruz?” I implore. “Like, I am. I know I am. But… Shit. This is insane. I’m actually considering continuing with this.”

“Em,” he sighs. “I’ve never had anything close to what you seem to have found with Theo. You’re talking to the wrong person for advice on matters of the heart. You need to off someone, I’m your guy. Torture someone, I’ll be right there. But love and happily ever afters? Nah, not my bag.”

“Helpful, thanks,” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Look,” he finally says after seconds of us just staring at each other. He drags his hand down his face, rubbing at his rough jaw. “Everyone and their wife will have an opinion on what you two should do, on how you should live your lives. But really, the only two people’s opinions that matter are the two of yours. Only you two know how you feel. What you really want. Trust your heart, trust your gut, and just hope to fuck everything else falls into place.”

“I think… I think I’m in love with him,” I confess, letting out the words that have been spinning around my head for a while, even more so since he said them to me.

Cruz’s lips part to respond, but before he gets a chance to say anything, a shadow falls over the doorway. My heart slams against my ribs, already knowing who’s standing there. Who just heard my confession.

Sucking in a breath and some confidence right along with it, I finally follow Cruz’s gaze toward the guy standing in the doorway. And thank fuck I do, because the expression on his face and the shocked disbelief in his eyes floors me.

Nothing is said as the air crackles between us. The only sounds that can be heard is my pounding heart and Cruz’s awkward shuffling.

Finally, Theo clears his throat and lifts his hand, pushing his hair back from his brow. “Y-your… your dad said we could have a sleepover.” He winks, and all the embarrassment I felt from being walked in on earlier comes flooding back.

“O-oh, okay. Great. That’s great,” I stutter like a fucking idiot, but I can’t help it. Knowing he just heard me confess that to someone else… Fuck.

Regret floods me as I push to my feet.

The only person I should have said those words to is him.

Shit.

Closing the space between us, he watches me closely before stopping me with his burning hot hand splayed on my belly.

“It’s okay. I get it,” he whispers. “Take your time.”

Glancing up at him, my heart tumbles at the understanding that’s staring back at me.

“I’ll go repack.”

“I can help,” he offers, a cheeky grin appearing on his lips.

“I don’t think so, Cirillo. Come and sit with Uncle Cruz for a bit.”

“Really?” I groan, turning back to look at the big scary biker sitting in the chair behind me. “It’s a little late for that speech. We’re already married and… yeah.”

“Don’t I fucking know it,” Cruz mutters, reminding me of that mortifying moment on New Year’s Day when I had to ask him for the morning after pill.

“I won’t be long,” I tell Theo, more than aware of the fact that Cruz won’t be convinced otherwise. He clearly has something he needs to get off his chest.