Page 90 of Killer Confections

His jaw ticks, but something reverent burns in his gaze. “There is no divorce, Loxley. You’re mine and I’m yours until the end.”

And I hate how much hearing that pleases me. The dark romance side of me that loves living in those taboo books is throwing a party. “Okay,” I breathe.

He kisses my forehead before motioning to the garage. “Take your pick. The keys are on the hook.”

“Yes!” Thalia shrieks before running past us and nearly knocking Atlas out of the way.

“Sorry,” Alana shrugs as she follows at a leisurely,normalpace.

“Have fun,” Atlas waves before going back to his bike.

Thalia fawns over one of the smaller cars, but the black Porsche sitting by the garage’s door piques my interest. I run my hand along the driver’s side door, appreciating the black and red interior. I look over at Atlas and he winks at me before grabbing the keys off the hook and tossing them to me.

“We’re taking this one,” I call out before sliding into the sleek car. It has that new car smell and sitting behind the wheel feels powerful.

Thalia grumbles as she slides into the back seat, and Alana pulls up directions from the passenger side.

***

“I don’t need a new car!” I protest as we walk around the mall. Thalia has been trying to convince me to take a trip to the luxury car lot down the road, but my little Corolla has been my pride and joy for three years now. It’s still in perfect condition.

Not to mention I have a bit of spender’s guilt. I’ve already bought all new supplies for the bakery and put in for everything to be delivered next week. I figured it would stop there, but my new friends are determined to make me break Atlas’s bank before the day is up.

“Oh, come on!” Thalia groans. “You saw his garage!He buys sports cars and motorcycles all the damn time. He probably wouldn’t even notice it.”

“You’re trying to peer pressure her,” Alana scolds. “If all she wants is a few outfits and new supplies for the bakery, then that’s all she wants. A little weak if you ask me, but it’s her decision.”

I deadpan at the intel expert. “Are you on Thalia’s side? I thought you were my ally?”

Alana shrugs. “I just thought you would have done better.”

Okay, pulling the ‘I’m not mad, just disappointed,’ card is a low blow. I hold up my multitude of shopping bags. “I have so much damn lingerie and clothes I can hardly carry them. Thanks for the help, by the way.”

They both laugh before taking some bags from me. Once the weight is distributed, Alana sighs. “I’m hungry. Do you guys want to do happy hour at The Lounge? It’s just a few miles from here.”

“Yes, please,” I beg. “I’ve been hungry since I woke up. I was just too stunned to think about food.”

We haul the rest of our belongings out to the parking lot as Thalia looks around. Her eyes are squinted as she surveys the parking lot and I know she’s looking for anything unusual.

“We’re in the clear?” Alana asks as she shoves the rest of the bags into the trunk.

Thalia nods. “I haven’t seen anything since we’ve been out. I figured by now we would have run into someone from the South syndicate…”

The intel expert shrugs before shuffling into the back seat and pulling up the directions on her phone. Thalia moves to the passenger side, peering out the window.

“I’m going to check out our surroundings,” she says absently. “If I see anything, be ready to divert our route.”

The way she says it sends a chill up my spine, and I nod as I follow Alana’s directions. We’re eerily quiet in the car as I drive, but within the ten minutes we take to get to therestaurant, our tension thins tremendously.

Thalia shrugs as she smiles. “I guess I’m being paranoid. It’s just a little strange…”

“Maybe Atlas deterred them after killing those guys in my bakery?” I ask.

My sister-in-law shakes her head. “Nah, if anything, it would have encouraged them more. Oh, well. Let’s go get fucked up and then head home.”

My neck prickles as I stare at the restaurant and I’m unable to shake my unease. But Alana and Thalia seem to think the coast is clear, so I don’t argue as I force myself to smile and head into the establishment.

That apprehension that gripped me slowly begins to fade after my first drink, and it’s completely forgotten about by the second. I can feel myself loosening up as I tell my friends about Atlas stalking me.