Page 39 of I Stop Somewhere Waiting For You

On the right side of his ribs, about eight inches in length, is a detailed portrait of a woman’s bare back. Her head is turned, glancing seductively over her left shoulder, her long hair cascading in soft curls around her face. A quiver lay across her back, with several arrows protruding from within—signifying her status as a hunter, paying homage to my last name. The entire portrait is done in black and gray, except the bottom where a full cluster of deep burgundy peonies is situated at the base of her spine, curving up on either side, establishing a border for the piece. It’s modeled after my likeness.

I run my fingers overtop, feeling the raised edges where it’s still healing. Mav reaches down, interlacing his fingers with my own before bringing the back of my hands to his lips, where he plants several kisses.

“I believe you should be mopping right now, Bentley dear,” Daphne teases as she resumes drinking her coffee.

I look over to find Bentley still staring, his mouth slightly agape. I laugh, withdrawing my hands from Mav’s grasp and turning to grab a rag. “Go,” I wave them off. “I got it.”

“Like fucking hell you do,” Mav scoffs, ripping the towel from my grasp and throwing it at Bentley. “She’s not cleaning up your spit.”

“Stop it.” I shove him off with an eye roll. “You guys are already late. Go. I got this.”

“No, no.” Bentley snaps from his daze, picking the towel up off the counter and cleaning the splashes of liquid from the floor. “I got it, Jones. It was my bad.”

Maverick reaches for his jacket, shoving his arms through as he leans down to plant a deep kiss to my lips. “Dinner still on for tonight?” he asks when he pulls back.

“Yes,” I smile. “You’re bringing the boys, right?”

Tonight’s the night I get to meet Tristan and Finn. It will be their first time here and I want to make a good impression, though Mav assures me they have significantly fewer reservations surrounding our relationship than Bent originally did.

“Unfortunately,” he sighs, ending in a chuckle. “What time?”

“Seven.” I point at him, poking him in the chest. “Don’t be late. I’m ordering in, and I don’t want it to get cold.”

“Yes, baby.” He smirks, dipping low to nuzzle his face in the crook of my neck where he plants several fast-paced kisses. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” I giggle, shoving him off. “Go!”

“I’m going. I’m going.” He spins, grabbing his gun from the side table as he passes and tucking it into his waistband. Bentley follows with a wave, and for a second it looks as though he wants to say something to me, but then thinks otherwise before disappearing around the corner and toward the foyer. The front door closes in their wake.

I spin, my smile still plastered on my face, to be met with Daphne’s glare staring at me from over the rim of her coffee mug. “What?” I laugh.

“Bitch, you must have a Cristal-flavored pussy to have that boy whipped like that. Goddamn,” she snickers in between sips.

“You’re an idiot.” I shake my head, dropping my chin to rest in my hands as I lean into the island.

“No, but seriously? I’m so fucking happy for you, Jones. Anyone that’s deaf, dumb, and blind could tell how much he loves you. You deserve this, boo.”

My expression slightly falters as I cast my eyes down.

“Hey.” She calls my attention back to her as if reading my thoughts. “Nicky’s gonna see it, too. He won’t like it, but he loves you and that will win out in the end.”

“I hope so,” I whisper, forcing a sad but hopeful smile.

My cloned phone vibrates on the counter in front of me and I look down to see Nicky’s name on the screen.

Nicky: Home. Now. Family meeting.

“Shit,” I hiss as I pop up. “We gotta go. Nicky’s calling a family meeting.” My stomach sinks. Nicky doesn’t call family meetings unless something’s wrong.

“You don’t think…?” Daph begins, her expression worried.

“I don’t think so.” I shake my head. “Pretty sure if he found out, Mav would have a bullet in him by now, but still… this can’t be anything good.”

“Welp,” she rises, placing her mug in the sink, “come on, let’s go see what king shit is summoning you for. I’ll drop you at my house to get your phone and car.”

***

“Nicky!” I call out as I pass through the foyer of my house.

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