Page 65 of Four Times Forever

"Well, I didn't know Tyler The Great had a heart. Your missus. These friends. It's..." The Columbine patriarch sniffed. "...touching."

I didn't smile back and I didn't take my eyes off him, though I was hyper-aware that my wife had just swallowed a huge gulp of air.

Columbine chuckled and opened his arms up. "Well, I'd like to avoid starting a war, wouldn't I?" He looked around.

I was aware that he could have taken the contract and ordered his men to put a bullet in mine and my wife's head. But he was on my territory. And as he looked around what appeared to be an empty room, he was no fool. The click of the safety on the gun being switched off would have this office flooded with men. If he took a shot, he would not leave here alive. And if he targeted us outside of this office, well, as I said, I have my connections. He'd be picking a fight, not only with me, but my allies, providing I can offer them more than what he could offer them—and that they could kill me before I found out that they were making deals with my enemy. The people who work for me have families too, families they would protect with their lives. And Columbine is right, I only have a soft spot for a few.

"Congratulations on the marriage, and the whole becoming a dad thing. I hope your bastard's more loyal than mine ever was." With that, he left the room.

Ann-Marie exhaled when the doors closed and the room was once again filled with silence. Her eyes were filled with disapproval as usual, but she made no other suggestions. She had accepted her fate. She married a mob boss. And like I said, you don't leave unless you're in a body bag, or you're lucky. None of us were ready to die and our baby hadn't gotten a chance to live. So, this was our new life together, whether either of us liked it or not. While I did miss being back in my chair and having the liberty to kill, I'd trade it in any day for the safety of my kid. It just so happened that his safety and my position in the mob went hand in hand together. I couldn't work out whether or not Ann-Marie hated me for that yet.

Chapter 49

Lily

All thoughts of potential tragedy sent alarm signals in my body as I returned to the guys with coffees, eclairs, and croissants in hand. I'd been hungry and didn't think the guys were up to stopping at a restaurant, so I picked something up. Plus, something sweet, soft, and fluffy sounded like the perfect thing to soothe my racing heart. Coffee—well, I didn't know what I was thinking, other than that it would pair perfectly. And when in Paris, have croissants. It's only fair.

My heart thumped like a gong announcing bad news with each step I took. Could it have something to do with Eric's parents? Why would they send me away instead of just telling me? Did they think I wouldn't be able to handle it? That's irritating.

But as soon as Eric spotted me, his grin reached his ears and he set off toward me like we'd been separated for years. He took the coffee tray and handed it off to Ethan who followed him over, and scooped me up into his arms. The pastries nearly dropped from my hands.

Eric's lips came down on mine without restraint. I was suspended in the air, forgetting where I was or that we were in public. When he pulled away to look at me, his eyes danced. It had been a while since they sparkled and danced this way. He almost looked like the Eric he was when he returned to Durham several months ago. Like a weight had been crane-lifted off his shoulders. He couldn't stop smiling and as I looked over at Ethan, he grinned while biting into an eclair. When did it even leave my hands?

"You've got cream all over your lips." I scrunched my nose.

"Where?" Ethan stuck out his tongue to lick it off, and after the kiss I just had, my mind immediately went straight to the memory of that tongue on my body.

"You didn't get it." My body grew hot and as Eric set me down on my feet, I walked over to him and motioned to him with my finger for him to get lower. Then I took his face and kissed it off.

He groaned and wrapped his arms around me so tight, I could barely breathe, but I didn't mind it. Something had gotten them in a good mood and to be fair, it was nice to see them without that baggage of doom they'd been carrying around lately. It eased my guilt.

"What's going on? I thought I was going to be coming back to the worst news." I said while wrapping my arms around his big shoulders, and holding on just as tightly because damn, it had been a long time since I'd been this weightless with them.

Even when we were with Eric's parents, I could tell they were trying to be happy. After all, that's why we left home, in search of happiness again, in hopes that seeing his parents would put a smile on all our faces. But their smiles were being pulled across their faces, strained against their eyes.

Now? It was like magic. There was light in them again.

"Aw, I'm sorry." Ethan nuzzled and kissed my neck, sending a hot wave through every nerve ending.

"Don't worry about any of it, anymore." Eric came in behind me, sandwiching me between them. "Just know that things will only get better from here."

But, why though? I couldn't think straight as their hard bodies pressed into mine. I was breathless from their heat. "I know Paris is more free than most, but are you guys going to fuck me out here?" I gasped as their hands began to roam.

Ethan grinned and brought my face up to his. "Something tells me you'd like that very much."

"If it was dark, maybe." I blushed.

"So if I got in really close like this and my finger found its way beneath the waist of your jeans." Ethan teased his finger around the button of my pants, never venturing further.

My breath caught.

"You're telling me, you'd object?" Eric whispered in my ear.

"Eric..." I panted. It would be inappropriate. There were families around. But when he talked to me like this, with his breath hot on my neck, I'd yield to anything.

"Let's go back to the Airbnb." He pulled away and I fell against Ethan, my pussy fluttering and aching for something to ease the frustration. I buried my face into Ethan's chest and he made it that much harder for me as his hand ran through my hair and down my back.

"That's it. Breathe, Lily." Ethan soothed and slightly mocked. I could hear his smirk. I had never in my life been this turned on. Whatever good news they just got, I didn't care to know about it, as long as it kept them like this. Their energy was penetrating.

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