Page 112 of Saving His Heart

“6,620,” Sloane chirps from the couch.

“That’s not too bad.”Is it?“Ash, how many Claires?”

We all turn to Ashton, who is plugging away on a laptop. I see his shoulders tighten and cringe.

“None,” he says, still staring at the screen.

“If this Loki is as smart as you say he is, wouldn’t it make sense that he would have her using an unfamiliar name? I mean, if he ever thought he would need her as like a safe house or something?”

Sometimes the shit that comes out of Sloane’s mouth is cringeworthy, but this doesn’t sound too far off.

“I’m going to have to cross-reference by hand,” Ash says, moving toward one of the tactical rooms. “Mom? What age bracket are we looking at here? How old do you think Claire would be?”

“Oh, Lord. I’m honestly not sure. Mid-sixties, maybe? Daddy had all Loki’s legal files in that old filing cabinet when we became his guardians. I’ll run home and look through that. Perhaps there’s something useful.”

“That would be great. Thanks, Mom,” Ash yells over his shoulder as he kicks the door shut.

Walking my mother to the door, I hear Seth bark orders. By the time I kiss her good-bye, Trevor and Dexter are heading my way.

“Good luck with Seth,” Dexter grumbles. “He’s given us all jobs. We’ll be by tomorrow for the party if you still want to do it?”

Emory and I have planned a Christmas do-over for everyone since the holidays were a bust for us all. We wanted to make up for ruining Dexter and Lanie’s wedding, but they decided to put it off until spring.

Pinching the back of my neck, I roll it side to side. “Yeah, I think we should. Whatever is going on with Loki isn’t going to solve itself overnight. Let’s try to make the best of it.”Hopefully, this is the right decision.

“Dexter?” Sloane calls from the other room.

“Fuck. Move, Preston, let us out,” Trevor says, pushing past me.

“What? Why?”

“I know she’s your family now, but she asks questions that would even make GG blush. She is using us for her stories,” Dexter says in a panic.

“What kind of questions?” I laugh.

“Fuck you, wait until she comes after your story. She has a screw loose or something. She asked Dexter to explain, in detail, what it felt like when he came with Lanie for the first time.”

I choke on a laugh when I realize he’s serious.

“She asked me how many pumps it takes to come. Like I’m a goddamn lollipop. Now move before I run your ass over, open-heart surgery or not.”

With a shocked expression, I watch two of my best friends run from my five-foot-two, overly inquisitive sister-in-law.Shit, I’m going to have to talk to Emory about this.

“Whoa, guys. Slow down, where’s the fire?” I hear Emory ask just before she steps in the door.

Seeing her for the first time in hours, I growl. Actually fucking growl. She makes the clusterfuck happening behind me disappear.

“Hello, wifey.” I wrap her in a hug and waste no time tasting her lips.

“Hello, husband. You really should let me wash the hospital off before you jump me like this, you know?”

“Oh, sweetheart. I am so going to jump you tonight. I even got the okay from my doctor.”

Chapter 46

Emory

Imay be laughing, but one look into his eyes and I know he isn’t joking.What is he planning? My body tingles at the prospects.