Page 76 of Grave Curse

“Tyr wanted to keep it a secret because of Hades.”

“What, you were worriedIwas going to tell that asshole about them?”

“Don’t blame me, blame Tyr.” Ducking his wife’s glare, Romeo lifted his chin my way. “Ginge, where do you keep knives and serving pieces, or whatever?”

Mentally I kissed one pan of lasagna a fond farewell. “Big knives are in a block on the counter. Pancake flipper or spatula is in a cannister by the stove.”

“I’ll get the utensils,” Roxie sighed with a resigned, if-you-can’t-beat-‘em-join-‘em look on her face.

“I knew about Tyr and Ginger because I’m like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes and figured it all out on my own,” Misty announced gleefully. “Anyone want a cupcake?”

“Me.” Ashtray grabbed one up like he’d never had food before.

“You knew about it because you overheard us having phone sex,” I told Misty with an eyeroll. “And on another note, I’ve just discovered why we women instinctively shoo the menfolk out ofthe kitchen when we’re busy making stuff. Honestly, you guys are worse than a plague of locusts.”

“Like shoveling snow during a blizzard,” Mabel agreed.

“We’re here to taste-test your efforts, no need to thank us. And you,” Tyr added, grabbing me close once more, “are out of uniform. Where’s your birthday present, baby girl?”

It was ridiculous, how I melted when he called me that. “In the guest closet. I wasn’t sure if you were serious about, you know… letting the world know.”

His lips touched mine. “Go get it.”

I hurried over to the closet by the front door, my heart pounding so wildly it was a wonder I didn’t faint. My hand shook as I reached for the butter-soft leather, and it occurred to me that this was a moment that would live forever in my mind. The moment I got to share this brand-new phase in my life with the people who meant the most to me, my chosen family whom I loved so much. After this, there would be no going back.

That was okay. I didn’t want to go back.Backwas when I was alone.Backwas when I didn’t have anything real to love.

Forward was Tyr. With him, I’d kick my twenty-ninth year off right by showing my family of friends that I belonged to him.

With a surge of happiness and the confidence of a woman who knew she was loved, I pulled the cut out of the closet, slid it on over the lightweight sweater I wore, then headed back to Tyr’s side. I couldn’t seem to stop smiling, because part of me had always dreamed of this—of belonging to someone, and knowing they belonged to me. I still couldn’t believe the man who was my destiny was Tyr, but it felt right.

No. More than that.

It felt like it couldn’t have been anyone elsebutTyr.

“Oh, would you look at that,” Mabel stage-whispered to her man, who was busy downing the last of the cupcake. “Babe, look what Ginger’s wearing.”

“Mhath Teess pakth,” Ashtray said, his mouth stuffed full.

“You got that right, Ash,” Romeo said, slicing up the lasagna while Shiloh served it up onto the party plates. “That’s Tyr’s patch.”

“Wow,” Misty breathed, her eyes going soft with happy tears. “Turn around and let us see it, honey.”

A little teary myself, I turned around to show them the back. The rockers proclaiming me as PROPERTY OF TYR practically glowed in my mind’s eye, and I laughed under my breath when I heard my girl-posse squeal in delight when they saw it.

“Happy?” Tyr whispered in my ear.

“I’ve never been happier,” I whispered back, wishing I could freeze time so I could live in that moment forever.

Little did I know that mere hours later, I’d wish with all my heart that somehow, freezing time was the one thing I had the power to do.

Chapter Twenty-One

Party-Crasher

Tyr

“As of now, the Chicago Gravediggers hangout is a virtual ghost town.” Ajax, with his aviator sunglasses in place and a laptop sitting on the conference table in front of him, hit a key. On the main screen in the Situation Room, surveillance photos showed an empty parking lot in front of Rooster Juice. “It’s been three and a half days since the massacre, and LEO still hasn’t fully cleared off the property. Apparently they’re intent on documenting every last inch of the place.”

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