Page 72 of Shadowed Sins: Nitro

"Don't burn my dinner, sweet boy."

I duck under his arm and step away to see his smile transform his face completely, shifting from careful professional to something far more dangerous.

"We should invite everyone for dinner," I hear myself saying.

"Yeah?" Hope flickers across his features, unguarded.

"There's something I need to tell everyone."

His grip on my hip tightens. "Good something or bad something?"

I consider the truth waiting on my tongue. About Mikhail's training methods, about lines crossed that should horrify him.

"Complicated something."

The scent draws Remy from his room. He appears in the doorway, hair slightly rumpled, that easy smile already in place.

"???? ???, ??? ??? za zapakh?" He breathes in, nostrils flaring. "My God, what is that smell?Actual Russian cooking?"

I spin toward him in surprise. "You speak Russian?"

"'Picked it up,'" Jax scoffs, but he's grinning. "Right. Like how you just 'adapt' to whatever accent you need for undercover work. Or how you 'casually' blend into high society like you were born to it." His hand continues guiding the spoon through the gentle stirring motions. "Saint's too modest about his chameleon act."

"It's not that impressive," Remy protests, but his ears redden slightly.

"Fuck off, Remy." Jax's grin widens. "Next you'll tell us reading people like books is just a hobby."

Asher materializes behind Remy, dark eyes assessing. "Something smells edible."

He pauses seeing Jax at the stove, one eyebrow moving slightly, a micro-expression only someone trained would catch.

Cole follows them in, drawn by the conversation and cooking smells.

"We should get everyone on video call," Jax suggests, glancing between the three men who've gathered. "Mira has something to tell the team."

"Video calls for dinner?" Cole's already pulling out his laptop. "This better be good, Knight."

Cole arranges his laptop on the island while Asher connects it to the wall-mounted screen, angling the display so we can see it from the dining table.

Jax stays close enough that his hip bumps mine every time he reaches for plates. Deliberate. Testing boundaries.

I distribute generous helpings, Russian-sized portions, and we settle around the table with our food.

Within minutes, faces appear across the display. Kade and Alina at his kitchen table with pasta. Xander's massive frame fills his screen as he works through what looks like a full breakfast spread. Eggs, bacon, toast, the works. Damian's cold stare from whatever shadows he inhabits.

Vanessa bounces into view with cereal. "Hi Asher! God, I miss you!"

"We talked two hours ago."

"That's not the same as being there. When are you coming back?"

"When Cole stops assigning me babysitting duty." His eyes flick to Jax.

"Hey!" Jax protests setting down his fork.

"Is that breakfast or dinner?" Kade asks, squinting at Xander's screen.

"Yes." Xander takes another bite of bacon. "Time is a construct."