Page 61 of Married into the Mob

He sucked air in through his teeth. “Are you telling me…” His voice was more high-pitched than usual. “That you’re planning on sticking around?”

I turned and flipped a leg over his hip, pulling him closer. “Do you remember my speech from a few hours ago?”

He rubbed his chin. “The one where you said fuck a lot and talked about numbers?”

“I used the L word. Does that not mean anything to shifters?”

“Odell, Dellie.” He pushed a strand of hair off my brow. “Odellicious.”

That was his secret weapon. Dellie. Only my aunt had ever used that nickname, and it was usually when she wanted me to do something. And my mate had caught on to the trick.

But Odellicious? That was too much. Perhaps. It did make my insides all gooey.

“I L-word you too, but I worry this is too soon.” Hunter traced along my shoulder and distracted me.

“Hunter, did you not declare your undying love for me?”

“Sure, but?—”

“I can’t pretend I’m not experiencing confusion, but the overarching emotion is love, odd as that sounds.” The more I said it, the less weird it was, and it felt just right.

He nibbled my ear. “Not odd to me.”

“Okay, so what were we talking about?” His hand had slid over my hip to my cock.

“I’m lost.” He pulled the covers back.

“Do you need a map?”

He snorted. “Absolutely not.”

A phone rang in his nightstand, and he grunted. How many phones did he have, or was that the one Flint had put in the car and that I’d used last night? No, I’d given that one to Flint. That reminded me of the old red beast at his uncle’s cabin and all the food going to waste. Damn! I missed the beast—the vehicle, not the one in Hunter’s pants, not that he was wearing any, and I did adore his length.

“I should get it. It might be Flint. Or Dad.”

There was an order to shifter life, and while there were downsides, such as everyone in your business, the advantages that came from a close family bond would outweigh those. I hoped.

I peered out the window, wondering if Rudy was outside with binoculars.

Hunter didn’t say much but answered with “Mmmm,” “Ahhh,” and one-word answers like, “Yeah,” “Sure,” “Really?” and “You certain?” Okay, the last one was two words.

The call ended, and he rolled over facing me, but he was masking his emotions because his face was blank.

“Has Stefan spilled all the details?”

“Plenty. The guys who chased us, or the remaining ones, were paid-for-hire goons. They’re long gone. Ranger and our men traced them across the country.”

I almost wanted to go a second round with them. Running over one was accidental, but a second or third would be on purpose.

“And Stefan says he offered Draven a huge payout for the City Hall stunt.”

“He was acting on Stefan’s orders?” His anger had seemed so real.

“Supposedly. Flint says they think he got on a plane and went to who knows where.”

“That’s it?”

“Apparently, it was just Stefan, his hired lackeys, and Draven. Flint and Ranger are convinced there’s no one else.”