Page 73 of King of Wrath

Any tether I had to Toni is now gone. The bond with my family severed. I’m relieved.

But now is the time: I strike out on my own or I join this family for real. My lips softly part. “Jake?”

“Sweetheart.”

“What happens if they don’t? Help me…”

I feel his muscles tense under my body. “I promised what I promised, Nia, and I meant every word.”

The other helicopter lands and Mason and Leo climb out. I’m at the point where I recognize a Kincaid, and the two brothers standing shoulder to shoulder exude the Kincaid confidence and swagger.

Roman and Luke join them, the four men shaking hands, giving one-armed hugs, before they all turn to look at me and Jake.

Jake hasn’t moved, he has still has me in his arms, as the four men move toward us in a single line.

I live with a bunch of crazy criminals, and these four men might be the most intimidating thing I’ve ever seen.

They look like a wall, and I find myself shrinking a little deeper into Jake.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Jake

I putNia in one of the bedrooms where she falls instantly asleep. I lay next to her for a few minutes just stroking her hair before I finally push up to find my family and my partners.

My current partners.

Because if they don’t fall in line, we’re going to have a brawl. That single punch I gave Toni wasn’t even close to enough. If Nia hadn’t been present, I might have kept going.

But she didn’t need to see that. Or maybe she did.

But the state troopers certainly didn’t. It’s bad enough that I pulled a gun and punched him out. Not that there will be charges for either. Mason’s lawyers are already working their magic.

We try to help them out by only dipping toes over the legal line, not large limbs.

But no one is going to arrest me if I clip Roman again. I saw the text that Nia read while I waited for her to wake up in the hospital. No wonder she bolted.

She knows they want to dump her and the way she’s been clinging to me, she’s worried they’ll get their way.

Or maybe she’s worried that I won’t keep my word. Who could blame her? I told her we were there for a mutually beneficial relationship when I planned to set her free and let the Italians do their worst.

The very thought of it has my fists clenching as I step into the library at the back of the compound where the other Kincaids have already gathered.

They sit quietly, several of them holding drinks in their hands. Leo holds a beverage too, it’s just Diet Coke. He gave up alcohol a few months ago.

“Jake,” Roman says as he stands.

My finger points. “You really fucked up, Roman.”

He holds up his hands. “The day did end with Toni in handcuffs.”

“After Nia nearly died.”

Leo clears his throat. I’m still getting used to him being delicate instead of charging into the conversation. “But she didn’t. And we’ve accomplished our goal.”

I don’t like that answer at all. “How did you feel when Kim was in danger?”

Leo runs a hand through his hair. “First. Kim is pregnant. And my wife?—”

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