Page 39 of Killer Confections (Syndicate Killers #1)

Loxley

Atlas stands before me, his arms crossed over his massive chest and grease smeared across his biceps and cheek. He smells like oil and man and I have to stop myself from leaning forward and burying my face in his massive pecs and taking a big whiff.

“Let me get this straight.” He lifts a brow, scratching a hand through his scruff. “You need my Amex card and one of my cars so you can go shopping with Alana and Thalia? And this is the only way you’ll forgive me?”

I fold my arms across my chest, mimicking his pose as I nod. “That’s right.”

“And she needs a new wardrobe!” Thalia shouts from the living room as she rounds into the hallway that leads to the garage. Alana is quick though, her hand shooting out and grabbing the collar of my sister-in-law’s shirt before yanking her back and out of eyesight.

Atlas deadpans at the spot his sister was in before sighing. “You don’t have to ask, baby. What’s mine is yours. Can you grab my wallet off the counter?”

I don’t show my elation as I grab the black leather wallet in the kitchen and shoot my friends a thumbs up. I hand it to Atlas and watch as he pulls out a shiny black card.

“What’s the spending limit?” I ask as I take it. Usually, I would revolt at the idea of spending others' money, but after Alana showed me Atlas’s checking and savings, I had no such reserves. It should be illegal for someone to have that much money…

“No limit,” he says. “Get whatever you want. If you need new clothes, more supplies for the bakery, a brand new car—”

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter.

“—whatever you need, Short Stack.” He smiles. “And maybe this will clean the slate?” He gives me a wicked hopeful look and I have to not slam my lips to his and tell him all is forgiven and to take me to our bedroom.

Woah.

Our bedroom…

He leans in, those sinful lips ghosting the shell of my ear and sending a shiver through me. “I expect a show when you get home. Whatever clothing my money buys has to be shown to me. And I want you to be my little model.”

I swallow, my mouth flooding with saliva as I imagine him finally fucking me. “Okay…”

He pulls back and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Have fun, but be careful, baby. If you notice anything strange, you call me right away, okay?”

I nod, my eyes flickering to his lips. “I will. Are you going to kiss me?”

He chuckles. “My greedy girl.”

He leans forward and presses his mouth to mine, but this kiss is nothing like the one we shared earlier.

This one is desperate and harder. It’s like he’s trying to bruise my lips, mark me as his, before sending me out into the world.

It’s possessive and very caveman of him, but I secretly love it.

I could melt into a puddle of girly goop right here and axe the shopping trip all together.

But then he pulls away and gives me a knowing smirk. “My beautiful wife.”

My lips thin. “Don’t think I’ve forgiven you for that just yet. We will be discussing this when I get back.”

He nods, but he doesn’t even look sorry. “We can discuss it all you want, but it isn’t gonna change.”

“What if I ask for a divorce? ”

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, normal pace.

“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 the restaurant, 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.

“He broke into my bakery and spanked me,” I giggle.

Alana gasps as Thalia curls her lip and shakes her head with disgust.

“And you had no idea who he was?” The intel expert asks, sounding scandalized.

“Nope! But it was one of the hottest experiences ever.”

Thalia mimics stabbing herself in the eye with a fork as Alana nods in agreement. “That does sound hot. Reminds me of Connor and I’s relationship at first…”

Thalia and I both whip around to our friend as she takes a slow sip of her drink.

“What do you mean?” Thalia asks.

Alana smirks against the rim of her glass.

“Connor hated me in high school. We were constantly at each other’s throats.

When he left for training after graduation, he was gone for a few years and we both matured.

When he got back, turns out he was highly attracted to intelligence.

The first time we slept together was the first time I had hate sex. ”

My eyes widen as Thalia chokes on her margarita.

“I’m sorry,” the assassin rasps. “ Hate sex ? You and Connor? The guy practically worships the ground you walk on.”

Alana shrugs. “It wasn’t always rainbows and sunshine. The second time we fucked was the second time I had hate sex. But the third time? There wasn’t anything hateful about the way he growled praise in my ear.”

Thalia gasps. “That’s so filthy. I love it. Give me thirty more.”

I smirk. “Enemies to lovers, huh?”

Alana snorts. “It wasn’t supposed to end up this way. I thought we were just blowing off some steam—”

“You were blowing something alright,” Thalia quips.

“—but I couldn’t deny our attraction. We were like two magnets, always pulled to each other no matter how angry we were with one another.

The more I got to know him, the deeper I fell.

Before I knew it, he was taking me on dates and threatening guys that would ask for my number.

He considered us a couple before I even thought of it as a possibility. ”

It’s honestly sweet. A little insane, but Alana and Connor’s story reminds me so much of Atlas and I’s. My thoughts stray to my husband and it nearly jolts me at how easy it’s becoming to call him that.

My husband.

I’m a wife.

Like legally a wife.

This is crazy.

“What about you, Thalia?” I ask, causing the dark-haired assassin’s head to swivel to me.

“Oh, no thanks,” she says before gulping down the rest of her drink. “I’m just looking to get raw dogged into a mattress right now. I’m too young for love.”

“Fabulous image,” Alana deadpans.

I shrug. “Your loss.”

As I finish my second drink, my bladder screams at me, and I excuse myself.

I find that I’m smiling to myself as I walk through the dimly lit restaurant.

I texted Addison earlier while I was at Thalia’s and she knows Rowan is going to meet up with her.

In only a few more hours, my best friend will be here, living on the compound until this whole situation blows over.

I’m excited to introduce her to Alana and Thalia.

It’s been so long since I had my own inner circle.

I also checked in with Janette earlier and told her I was going on a mini vacation from the bakery. I’m hoping by the end of the week, I should have some security detail that will allow me to go back to work.

The circumstances aren’t the best, but everything is coming together.

A shadow falls over me and I nearly run right into someone before large hands grip my biceps, holding me at arm’s length. I look up into steel eyes.

“I’m so sorry…” my voice trails as alarm bells sound in my head. The man is a foot taller than me, with a thick dark beard and an expression so bitter it looks as if he’s plotting my demise behind that cold exterior.

I try to step back, but he holds me tightly. His fingers nearly dig into my skin and I wince.

“No,” he says softly, but his voice is edged with something sinister. “It’s all my fault, ma’am. I just wanted to get a good look at you.” His southern drawl causes my shoulders to tense and those alarm bells become wailing sirens.

“Let me go,” I command, my voice wavering with my fear.

His eyes narrow slightly before he complies and takes a step back. He nods his head in a gentlemanly manner that feels anything but cordial. “You have a good night, Ms. Bennett—”

“It’s Mrs. Kingsley,” I correct, not sure where my sudden confidence comes from. I don’t know if Atlas changed my last name, but maybe it will change this man’s mind against hurting me if I use it. I’m also thoroughly rattled that he knows my name .

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as he smirks devilishly. “Be careful, Mrs. Kingsley. There’s a lot of bad people out there who would love to hurt your husband.”

“Noted,” I seethe before he turns and waltzes away. He whistles loudly, the sound chipper as I watch his retreating form.

I turn on my heel, my bathroom trip forgotten as I practically sprint back to the table.

Thalia stands when she sees my expression, her brow creasing. “What’s wrong—”

“We have to go,” I hiss, pulling my phone out and clicking on Atlas’s saved number.

Alana stands, gathering her things as she slaps a few bills on the table. “No time to waste. Thalia, cover her front and I’ll get her back.”

The assassin nods as they usher me from the restaurant. The phone only rings once before Atlas’s voice fills the speaker.

“What’s going on, Short Stack?”

“Some guy.” I try not to breathe harshly, but my heart is racing and I can hear the blood rushing in my ears. “He stopped me at the restaurant and told me there’s people that want to hurt you.”

Atlas curses. “I’ve got your location, baby. Hate me later, but Dom and I are close. Get on the road and we’ll intercept you.”

For once, I thank the heavens for my husband’s stalker tendencies. He’s close. Everything is going to be fine.

“Stay on the phone with me,” he commands. “I’m coming for you, baby.”

“Okay,” I breathe as I fall into the driver’s seat. I don’t even realize the mistake I’ve made in choosing to drive until four sets of fluorescent headlights blind us from behind.