Page 50 of Married into the Mob

Being so close to my mate, my thoughts were fuzzy, as though someone had placed a veil over my head.

“Ummm, yeah. His scent, like other shifters, is distinctive.”

“Well then. You go sniff around the house.” He peered at the sky. “After it’s dark, see if the guy’s been there.”

“And after you have tea and cookies with Stefan, what then?” I reconsidered. “Don’t drink or eat anything he gives you.”

My mate’s eyes flicked upward. “Fine. Don’t suppose I can just waltz out the door.”

“No, because you went to him for help to escape the bad guy—me!”

He smirked, his hands still holding my face. “Right, and I should be running far, far away from you.” His eyes softened, and combined with his breathy voice, I could almost believe he was falling for me.

“Mmmm.” Everything about him drew me in. His unique scent, his feathery touch, his body angled close to me.

“Once I find out anything significant, you scare the shit out of him with your wolf. Don’t kill him, but tell him to keep his mouth shut so we can go after Draven. This is the signal for you to come in.” He tugged his ear.

“I’ll need to see you through a window.” I’d have to check that out.

I could go in alone, but maybe Odell was right. If I threatened Stefan, as me or my beast, he’d be less likely to spill and might just say anything to save his life. It wasn’t my way, but my way had partly gotten us into this mess.

If my mate were a shifter, I’d agree. A human like Stefan would have no comeback against a fierce wolf, unless he had a gun or a shifter accomplice.

Stefan might have both, but so did Odell.

“You’d need this.”

I stuck my hand under the seat. I wrapped my palm around the barrel of a gun and brought it out, the one that wasn’t fired last night.

He pressed his lips together. “I’ve never held one. Don’t know which way is up.”

“Dellie.”

“A little joke to lighten the moment.”

I held the weapon in my palm. The safety catch was on, as it should have been. His eyes were drawn to the gun.

“If something doesn’t go to plan, shoot.”

“I’ll be fine because you’ll be looking out for me.” His voice trembled. Shit. My brothers would never have put their mates in this position. “I’m your partner and your mate. You haven’t forgotten, have you?” He held up his hand, his mating mark visible.

I leaned back and gave him a look. “Oh you’re pulling the mate card?”

Odell folded his arms. “I am. It’s got to have some advantages. It’s not like I can go shopping and ring up thousands of dollars.”

“Huh?” We’d leaped from mates to shopping and I was lost.

“Card. You called it the mate card.”

I snorted with laughter and clasped his hand. Without thinking, I gently kissed his mating mark. He didn’t move, my lips still firmly pressed on his skin. With my gaze on his face, I gauged his reaction.

His long eyelashes fluttered and he glanced down, biting down on his lower lip. I rubbed my thumb over his wedding ring, the thin, twisted metal cool under my skin.

“Could it be if you’re not my one and only, you’re my one and something?”

Gods, he was adorable. If anyone had told me I’d rejoice at those words, at him not accepting me as his mate yet but as a maybe, I would have bled them.

“Dellie.” The name slipped out.