Page 107 of Kings Don't Break

“Sure have. Waited ten whole years for this opportunity. Wasn’t about to fuck it up.”

She leans closer, burying her face in my chest to stifle a giggle. “Thanks for bringing me out. I’ve been wanting to go ice-skating forever.”

“We’ll do it every year from now on,” I promise, linking our fingers on both hands. “Even if it’s after-hours.”

“Spend the night. My place this time,” she whispers, tipping her head back in a signal for another kiss. “Please.”

“How can I turn down these lips?”

I seal our impromptu plans with another kiss of ours.

Once we eventually move off the ice, we join back up with the others. Korine goes off with Sydney, Bush’s wife, and Sparkle to grab some hot cocoa from the nearby vendor. I hang back with the rest of the guys.

“You two looked like fucking Disney on ice out there,” Mace says.

Ozzie snorts. “Aside from all the tattoos.”

“Doubt Disney would ever have a biker for a character,” I point out, sliding fingers through my hair. “It was good to get out tonight. Some fresh air. Some fun around town.”

Bush nods from my left. “Real fun. ’Cept the missus and I have reached our bedtime.”

“You stay up ’til the butt crack of dawn all the time, Bush,” Ozzie laughs.

“That’s when I’m riding solo. When I’m riding with the missus, I’m tired by ten and in bed by eleven. You boys wouldn’t understand. Wait ’til you’ve got the ol’ ball and chain weighing you down.”

“We’ll see if him and Sparkle ever get that far.” Mace cocks a brow at Ozzie. “Something tells me probably not.”

“You doubt me and Sparkle now, but we’re in it for the long haul. Or whenever her ex gets out of the slammer. Whichever comes first.”

The three of us can only shake our heads with the same thought on our mind—Ozzie’s being Ozzie. Bush bids us good night and wanders off to go collect his old lady.

“So,” Mace says after a moment, his hands deep in his jean pockets, “have you figured out how to move forward?”

I inhale a sharp breath that just as soon leaves my lungs. “I know one thing and one thing only.”

“Which is?”

“Korine’s mine.”

Mace’s features twitch in momentary confusion. “Figured that went without saying.”

“No,” I say in a tone that’s equal parts certain and lethal, “you don’t get what I mean. Korine’s mine—she’s my girl, and I’m going to make sure it stays that way. No matter what I’ve gotta do.”

Mace and Ozzie share looks though remain silent. Their lack of response is as ominous as my words.

“If I’ve got to bend the rules to make that happen, I will. If I’ve got to destroy a man, I will. If I’ve got to make sure he never sees the light of day again, I will.”

“Cash…” Mace says slowly. “He’s a cop. Whatever we do has got to be smart. Careful.”

“Strategic,” Ozzie offers. “I’m all for guns blazing. You know I am more than anybody. But Mace is right, Cash. You’re already on that dipshit’s radar.”

“I don’t care.”

“We’ll come up with a plan. Something that’ll make sure Stricklin backs off. Maybe hire one of the Barrera’s to do it—they’d probably be willing to carry out an assassination so our hands are clean. We’ve got options.”

I appreciate Mace’s reassurance, but I shake it off, my golden hair following suit. My attention’s on Korine even from thirty feet away, where she’s smiling as she chitchats with Sydney and Sparkle.

So happy and carefree. Unburdened and beautiful.