Page 113 of The Boss

The chopper hovers over us only long enough for O to climb down. His short gray hair blows in the wind and he gives a salute to the aircraft, but his ice blue eyes are trained on his wife.

Allie stands a few paces in front of us on Mark’s sprawling flat roof. Smart of him to section off a portion and add extra support to serve as a helipad. Not that I’ll tell him that. Cocky fucker.

“You went off course, wife,” O says, stalking toward her like a man on a mission.

Allie shrugs, “You found me just fine,” the last word is cut off by an aggressive kiss. O’s hands start to move and Mark groans, I look away and clear my throat. We always pretended to be bothered as boys, seeing them make out and ass grab and flirt nearly all the damn time.

But I think we were all in awe.

True, real love. Deep, lasting affection. Respect. Loyalty.

Obviously, attraction, too.

“Can you not?” Mark grouses.

“No,” O says from inside A’s mouth, “I can’t not.”

“Ugh,” I add.

“Come on, You were apart for what, a few hours? Don’t we have more pressing issues, here?” Mark goes on, but O just removes one hand from Allie to flip us the bird behind her back.

“We’ll just wait downstairs,” I offer.

Allie pulls away, “No you won’t, Mark’s right,” she whispers something I’m glad I can’t hear in his ear before pulling the most powerful man in the world by the hand toward us. When they reach me, O pulls out of her grasp to grab me hard and clap me on the back.

He pulls away and makes a point to look straight into my eyes, “You’ve done well, Van. As don. I know it’s been a mindfuck. Your men, your cousins, your home, now your wife. I’m proud of you,” he says simply.

I…

Shit.

I gulp, unable to respond.

It takes all my strength not to blink or sniff.

“Uh, his wife? The mean, venomous wench who almost blew all of us wide open a few hours ago?”

“Mark, I fucking swear, if you don’t—”

“Yes,” O says, in his tone that shuts us both up. “Allie is right, as always. Luna will be a fantastic, unexpected addition to our ranks. I’m excited to see what she can accomplish.”

“You need to get a read on the situation, O.” Mark eyes me, feeling awkward, “I’m not sure she’s joining.”

I say nothing because, hell, I’m not so sure either. I don’t have a great feeling about my chances. Luna is fierce and loyal to her people. To those she loves and chooses. She may never chooseme. She may never get over the lies, the double life, the mission underneath it all, in my case, literally.

“Nonsense,” our father says with a grin, “She’ll join us. The only thing she’s unsure about is Van.”

He walks off, Mark chuckling and Allie chastising.

Well, fuck.

Now I feel even worse.

•••••

“It’s an honor to meet you, Luna,” O says as he enters the room. He crosses to kiss Ellie on the cheek, “and always a pleasure, Mrs. White.” Ellie shifts awkwardly. My wife watches the exchange. She says nothing.

O goes on, “Despite how it might feel in this moment, you have options, Miss Mancini. We can mold the narrative. We can say you went in to get revenge for the attack and surprise the Volotovs but you got emotional at the mention of Shae and lost your cool. The two of you return home together, what’s left of it.”