Page 104 of Ruthless Beasts

"Because Adam is a busy boy." I smirked, knowing we all were equally busy. "But you have no excuse."

"Mimi…" Mercer tried.

"Don't Mimi me. I expected more from you. My first grandchild, and you've held her away this long." Mimi's brows furrowed. "I won't have it any longer, Mercer."

He sighed. "Yes, Mimi."

I loved this lady like she was our actual blood. Sure, we hadn't known her as long as Mercer had. But damn it, she'd accepted us more than anyone ever had. Maybe it was because she never had children of her own and taking us under her wing and feeding us donuts whenever she could made her feel like she was doing good for us. And she was. We'd forever be grateful for her and the little things she'd done for us.

"So, grandbaby, huh?" I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

"Are you questioning me?"

"No, ma'am." I shook my head vigorously. There was no way I'd question or challenge anything this lady said. "I think…" I met Belle's gaze for a moment, "that our girl would love to have a grandma in her life."

I'd never seen Mimi smile so widely. "Good, then it's settled." She wiped her hands on her apron. "Now, what type of donut can I feed you? You know what, darling. Take them all. These boys can be hearty eaters, and I know they won't object to the selection."

The elderly lady, the one who our child would be lucky enough to call grandma, began loading two of each flavor into the box, and as I watched, I couldn't help but think about how fucking lucky I was. If only I realized how sacred the gift of luck could be.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

ACE

We stood back, watching and waiting for the signal to make all hell rain down on our enemy. To take from him the things he loved most, just like he had done to me when he murdered my sister. It had been a long time coming, and the wait was so excruciatingly hard, but I was thankful we were finally retaliating, finally getting the closure we deserved after so many years.

It was slow coming, but it was here. We'd kill his brother. And soon, we'd take his life too.

"Are you sure Bellamy is protected?" I asked Mercer for what had to be the hundredth time tonight as we sat waiting, watching Accardo's brother through the window of his home.

"Yes." He closed his eyes like he hoped the information provided was correct. "Drew is with her. Plus, we've doubled down on the perimeter security for the night, two guards at every door and entry point in our house."

"Is it enough?" Logically, I knew it was overkill. But my mind was never logical when it came to her.

"It will have to be." He looked down at his phone. "Four minutes. Ready to go?"

Four minutes and destruction would hit Accardo on every single point of his life. This had the potential to make the man go insane. Only I doubted he'd discover his brother's death tonight. If anything, it could be weeks. Belle was safe. At least for tonight. She was safe. I couldn't remind myself of that fact enough.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, picturing the glorious moment when Belle rode my body, rising and falling as her chest heaved and her breasts swayed so damn temptingly I couldn't help but touch them. We were doing this for her as much as we were doing this for ourselves. Accardo may have been harder to touch than her father, but we were getting there. Inch by inch, we'd move to take him out.

"I'm ready."

He nodded once, before he parted ways with me. The plan was to hit different entry points, close in on his brother from two different angles. We expected little trouble. The man looked old, frail... nothing like the crime boss he shared DNA with. Still, we knew not to underestimate him. We had backup, waiting, watching, ready to come to our rescue and help us out if things turned south.

I fucking hoped it didn't happen.

I slunk toward the back door, keeping to the shadows and clinging to the wall of the building, hoping he wasn't the type to have nosey neighbors to tattle on us. We were fast, and I knew we could get in there and get the job done, but I hoped we didn't have to get it done under the pressure of the police.

I glanced at my watch. Three minutes.

The weathered boards of the steps looked ready to crumble, and I kept my steps to the edge, knowing that with the support, it was less likely to creak, less likely to alert that we were outside,ready to end his life. I wondered what it would be like, dying. What would my last thought be before I took my final breath?

Two minutes.

I reached the top of the steps and stretched my side over a pair of broken terracotta pots with plants that had long since died. My fingers grazed gently over the metal knob, the gloves preventing me from feeling the cool metal against my skin. A twist, resistance. I hadn't expected the door to be unlocked, though how much easier it would be if it had been?

I slid my tools between the door frame and the door, not shocked when the lock instantly gave. The house was old. The lock looked like it hadn't been changed in my lifetime. That small victory was one tick in our favor. I winced as I pushed the door open, hoping the tiniest of hinge squeaks didn't give us away over the blaring volume of the television.

One minute.

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