Chapter Sixteen
Later that evening, Chloe was finally able to walk back into the kitchen without breaking out in a cold sweat. She and Meghan were cleaning up after dinner, when tinkling laughter from the hallway sent them both peeking around the corner.
“You were really brave when that guy broke in.” Kayla gazed up into Mastema’s eyes with a lust-filled look on her face. Chloe and Meghan exchanged an astonished glance and moved back a bit so they wouldn’t be spotted. “And that storm was so scary.”
“I’m not afraid of them,” he said.
“Well I am.”
Mastema brushed a finger along Kayla’s face. “Guess I’ll have to stick close to you when the next one comes so I can keep you safe.”
“Maybe we should practice that now? The sticking close to me part.”
When Mastema leaned down and kissed Kayla, Chloe clamped a hand over her mouth and Meghan did the same. The two had to move into the pantry to laugh and whisper about the change in Kayla’s attitude so they wouldn’t be heard.
****
After the dishes were done and it had grown dark outside, Chloe walked the south parking lot with Gorgon, Tannin, Rai, Vassago, and Donny. After he’d heard what had happened, he’d invited himself over for dinner. Rai and Chloe had whipped up Rai’s eggplant parmesan. It was a favorite of Donny’s.
“We lost some shingles from the roof,” said Tannin, “but that was the worst of it. The funnel wasn’t on the ground when it passed over us.”
“Glad your bikes are okay,” said Donny. “We had nothing but wind and thunder out where I live.”
Chloe didn’t ask where Donny’s men, Tannin, and Vassago had taken the body or the car. It was better not to know.
“This shit with the Outlaw Dogs won’t be over for a while,” said Donny. “But I’ve asked Vito to work with me on helping them figure out what they want to do.”
“That’s generous of you,” said Vassago.
Donny waved his hand as if swatting a fly. “It’s just business, mio cugino preferito.”
“Will Howler have to serve time?”
“No. That’s been taken care of.”
Chloe shivered at the finality in his words. This man had just learned that three Brothers beat a man to death in their kitchen, and yet here he was, strolling leisurely through the parking lot and talking about making manslaughter charges disappearing.
But this was their world, and she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, because the man she loved lived in it.
Chloe slowly realized that Donny was watching her carefully. When he stopped walking and gave her a big smile, she almost asked him what the fuck was going on. “Sei incita.”
Chloe glanced up at Gorgon, confused, but Rai gasped and put a hand over her mouth.
“Are you sure?” she asked Donny.
“Sì. I have the gift. Got it from my grandmother.”
“What?” asked Chloe. “What did he say?”
Rai hugged her. “He said you’re pregnant.”
Chloe stared at Donny, then Rai, then Gorgon. Jesus Christ. Were those tears in his eyes? “Oh my God.”
Everyone laughed, clapped, and took turns hugging her.
“I have one of those kits,” said Gorgon. “Bought it last week. We’ll use it in the morning to be sure.”
“Okay.” But if she was being honest, she didn’t need it. She’d already known, just like Donny did.
Chloe hugged Gorgon until everyone walked back toward the building, but she still didn’t move to follow them. “Are you really okay with this?” she asked.
“Jesus, Legs. Are you fucking kidding? I’m fucking over the fucking moon happy!”
“You know, our kid is going to come out swearing like a drunken sailor.”
“Yeah. He will.”
“She will.”
“Whatever. As long as it’s healthy.” He kissed her, shoving his tongue into her mouth. Chloe had never been this happy, or felt this safe. Everything was going to be all right. The shit with the Outlaw Dogs would work out somehow, and in time, she’d forget the sickening crunch of Brad’s bones breaking, and the smell of his blood filling her head.
The man she loved had saved her in every possible way, and now she would spend the rest of her life with Gorgon, and have his children. And she would make sure, every single day of their lives together, that he knew how very, very much she loved him.
The End
Other Books by Ravenna Tate:
www.evernightpublishing.com/ravenna-tate
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