Page 86 of Killer Confections

“Atlas?” she asks calmly.

“Yes, baby?”

“What the fuck am I looking at?”

I clear my throat. “A marriage certificate—”

“How did you do this without me being present?!” she bellows as she stands from the table. She’s stomping toward the front door, needing space and air as I follow closely behind her.

“Baby,” I plead, grabbing her and turning her to face me.Those defiant, fiery eyes find mine, and I want to drop to my knees and beg for forgiveness. “Listen to me, Loxley. I told you years ago that you belonged to me. You’ve always been mine, Short Stack. This was inevitable.”

She scoffs, placing a hand over her forehead. “Oh, my god. You’re crazy.”

“Diagnosed and all,” I agree.

She shakes her head, looking tired. “Why, Atlas? Why?”

“Because,” I close in on her, my hands cupping her cheeks as I force her big brown eyes to mine. I feel like I’m on the brink of insanity. If she pulls away from me, I’m going to fucking lose myself. Every step she takes towards that door will be one step closer to pushing me over the edge. “You’re mine, Loxley. You have been since we were kids. I’m in the fucking palm of your hand, baby. When you say jump, I ask how fucking high. You’re my God. I worship you. I am your devoted follower and I will kill anyone who thinks they can get close enough to lay a hand on you.”

Her eyes dilate, and I hear the breath leave her as she stares at me in shocked awe. Her bottom lip moves as if she’s contemplating saying something before she swallows and snaps out of her trance. Her hands find my wrists and her thumbs brush against the ink on them. “This… this is so much, Atlas.”

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry,” I say lowly, brushing my thumbs over the apples of her cheeks. “Butpleasedon’t leave me, Loxley. Not after I just got you back. I won’t be able to stay away.”

Her brow pinches. “I’m notleavingyou, but I need some space to think. You can’t expect me to be okay with this at the drop of a dime.”

She just needs space.

Fucking breathe, you asshole.

I nod, opening the door and motioning to the closest house. “You can have space, but that house is as far as I’m letting you go right now.”

Is it possible for her to look even angrier with me? Because she does. And my cock twitches at the sight.Fuck, she looks amazing when she smiles, but when she looks at me like I’m dirt beneath her boots? I could fucking pound nails.

“Only for safety purposes,” I quickly rectify. “You can’t leave the compound without someone accompanying you.”

The rage leeches from her a bit before she stares out at the standard small house. It has a massive black roof, accompanied by gothic black window panels. Its design sticks out like a sore thumb, but the owner is anything but ordinary.

“Whose house is that?” She asks.

“Thalia’s,” I answer. “She got back last night from—”

“From a hit?”

“—a hit and Alana is over there helping her unpack.”

Loxley quirks a brow and I’ve never been so jealous of my fucking sister. I know my girl is going to choose to go over there rather than sit here with me. She needs time to think. “Who’s Alana?”

“Intel genius,” I smirk. “You’ll love her. The smartest person in the room and a great conversationalist. She’s been dating another assassin on the compound for the last five years.”

She eyes me, but I see her soaking in the information. She’sinterested. And she isn’t breathing fire at me.

All good signs.

Finally, she crosses her arms and taps her foot. “Fine. But just know, I’m fucking furious with you and I’m only going because I want to andnotbecause it’s the only place you’re allowing me to go.”

I roll my lips in, nodding and ducking my head so she doesn’t see my amusement. I’m in such deep shit she can’t see me laughing. “Of course, baby.”

She huffs before stomping down the steps and I clear my throat loudly, getting her attention. “You may be mad at me, but you’re forgetting something.”