Page 80 of King of Sinners

I shake my head, wishing I could get up too. I’m so sore though, and my body feels really heavy. “You have to go.”

“I need to take care of you.”

“I’m here to make you stronger. Not weaker.” I meet his gaze, hoping that he understands. I mean the words.

He leans forward, kissing my lips. “Is that what you’re going to do?”

“I think so.”

“See, I thought you were going to make certain I have a better work-life balance.”

I laugh but that makes my arm hurt. “And Leo? How did you end things with him?”

Mason frowns. “He’s sleeping in our bed, so clearly, I took your advice.”

That makes me smile. “Really?”

“Really. Which means, when I ask you to marry me, I’m fully expecting you to say yes.”

“Yes,” I answer automatically, not even sure which question I’m answering.

He kisses me long and slow. The kind that makes me feel cherished. And then he’s straightening up, heading to the fridge. He pulls out a takeout box, fixing me a plate.

“You need to eat.”

“Bossy,” I reply back, but the smell of the Thai food hits my nose, and my stomach gives a growl. I’m starving.

“Jackson is in the other bedroom. Do you need anything from in there? I’ll get it for you. I have no idea how that crusty old bird sleeps. But we don’t need you walking in and seeing any part of that.”

“I’ll be fine, Mason. Now go. Jackson and Leo are here if anything happens.”

He grimaces. “You’d trust Leo?”

The truth is, I think Leo has learned his lesson where I’m concerned. Maybe he’s learned a whole bunch of them. “I trust Jackson. And I assume you’ll leave him with a few pistols.”

Mason smiles but he sits down next to me. I start to slowly eat my noodles. He’s clearly not in a rush as he starts playing with my hair. “You got it.”

“It might be stressing me out that you haven’t left.”

“I know that this meeting is about our future, but I also understand that you are more important than any business venture.” He leans closer. “My priorities have never been clearer.”

I set down my chopsticks, looking at my fiancé. I do believe we are actually going to get married, and that is kind of crazy. “You’re going to go because this meeting is really about keeping our family safe.”

He looks at me for a long moment before he nods. “Well said, wife.”

“Not yet I’m not,” I answer but I know I’m smiling from his words.

“Soon.” He winks as he pushes up from his seat and goes into first one bedroom and then the other.

Both Jackson and Leo emerge, Leo immediately helps himself to his own plate of noodles. He’s got two black eyes to match his broken nose and I grin down into my noodles. I might have asked Mason to forgive Leo, but I’m not sorry that Leo probably hurts as much as I do.

Mason clears his throat. “I’m going to leave you all to eat. I need to?—”

“I’m coming with you,” Leo interrupts.

Mason shakes his head. “I don’t think?—”

“I don’t have to say a word. I just want to see Toni’s face.” Leo holds up his hand. “And I’m done competing with you Mason. I concede. You lead. I follow.”

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