Page 231 of Bishop

“I was. I am. I’m itching to go back to the park and finish the job.” Bishop shoves pods into the machine and presses a button to make it gurgle and spit. “One of them pushed in front of Tilly on the slide. The other dared to kiss her.” He glares at my brother as he enunciates under his breath, “He. Fucking. Kissed. Her. Can you believe it? Right on the cheek. Those two little shitbags need a lesson in who they’re dealing with.”

I shoot Remy a what-the-fuck glance.

He gives me one in return.

“Okay, for starters, you can’t walk in here after being on a play date and say—I killed two snotty-nosed A-holes. Pause. In my head.” I walk up to him. “You say, in my head, I killed two snotty-nosed A-holes. In that order. There’s no other acceptable way to relay that information.”

“Your way is far less dramatic.”

“Exactly,” Remy and I say in unison.

Bishop grabs a filled mug and shoves it toward my brother, then hands another to me before claiming his own. “Do you seriously think I could’ve snuffed two ugly-ass twerps while at the park with Tilly?”

Would I have thought it likely? No.

Is he capable? When it comes to my daughter’s honor and protection, I wouldn’t put anything past him.

“You are psychotically protective,” Remy mutters around a sip of coffee.

“True.” Bishop inclines his head. “And it would serve you well to remember that.”

“I’m not likely to forget.”

Bishop takes a gulp from his mug and places it down on the counter, then grabs mine from my cupped hands before I can even taste it. “Are you two finished doing what needs to be done?” He pulls me against his chest, his lips finding my hairline, his palms hot against my waist.

“Yeah.” Remy nods as I sigh, unable to withstand the charms of Bishop’s possessive hold. “All the family assets have been equally divided and once the financial institutions do their thing, my sister will be a very rich woman.”

“They were far from equal.” I stare up at Bishop, trying to relay my annoyance with the unfair distribution of wealth.

“You’re ripping her off?” He releases me and takes a threatening step toward Remy.

“No.” I grab his hand, threading our fingers. “It’s the opposite. Matthew declined any financial compensation from the family trust. Then Salvatore and Remy decided Tilly deserved an equal share. So I’m receiving half of everything. Mine and hers combined.”

“Tilly is part of the family.” Remy glances to his niece. “And after what she went through…”

Bishop relaxes, his gaze returning to mine. “Good. How long will it take for the money to come through?”

“We’re not sure, but as soon as it does I can repay you for everything you’ve done.” I snuggle into him, sliding my arms around his neck.

“I suggest you retract that insult, belladonna. Otherwise my response won’t be kind.”

“But will it be dirty?” I tease, tugging the hair at the back of his nape.

Remy groans.

“Not this time.” Bishop’s eyes smolder as he palms my ass, roughly dragging me closer for a quick kiss. “I provide for you, end of story.”

“What if I don’t want to be provided for?”

He grabs my wrists, dragging them away from his shoulders. “Then you learn to deal with it.”

I keep my smile in place, even though his show of old-school chivalry hurts.

I know he generously provides for me and Tilly because he still feels guilt over what happened. That he thinks he needs to buy my love.

“What if having financial independence means I’m now ready for you to move in?” I ask.

Bishop’s gaze narrows as he slowly returns my wrists to his shoulders. “I’m listening.”

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