Page 60 of Ruthless Beasts

“Boys,” Mercer barked, and they both looked like he just told them no dessert. “Act like gentlemen.”

They turned their attention to Adam. “She left us no choice.”

Adam bit his lip while he tried not to laugh. I’d seen these grown men fight on the lawn during downtime. I heard they had expert aim and could shoot nearly anything. Yet here they were, afraid of a five-foot-three blonde with an attitude problem.

“We’d like to offer you a job,” Adam announced as Ace and Mercer approached, flanking the chair that my friend had pulled me over to share with her.

I wasn’t sure how my husband thought the offer would go, but judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t expecting a rejection. “No.”

Adam blinked a few times, clearly not used to the word. “Excuse me?”

“I said no. I don’t want your job. What I want is to rescue my kidnapped friend over here and take her home.” She turned to me. “Does your husband know some goon has you?”

This was probably the highlight of my day. Possibly my week. Maybe even my year. I would never let my serious, mostly grumpy, demanding husband live this down. I nodded my head slowly before I sighed. “That goon belongs to me. He’s my husband.” His chest puffed up with my declaration of ownership. Then I added, “All the goons are mine.”

Her face pulled. “All. That’s a lot of sausages for one girl. Kind of selfish, too.”

Mercer stifled a laugh, and Ace’s lip twitched just the slightest. “Well, Drew and Max are my guards. They are?—“

“I know who they are. Brutes.” She looked side to side. “Three is still a bit…”

At her wiggling of her brows, I changed the subject. “Adam has a job opening, and I recommended you.”

“Adam would be baby daddy over there behind the desk?”

Before I could respond, he cut in, not denying it. “Yes.”

I hadn’t told her the truth, though I was tempted to so many times. She hadn’t even known I was marrying into the Accardo family. If she had, I’m sure she’d have freaked out. She knew the rumors. She worked in shady establishments. She heard things, learned things, and ignored things for her own good. I kept my secrets safe from her to protect her, not like she needed protecting. But if she had known who I was marrying, known I carried the child of a monster, well… I knew her enough to know she wouldn’t hold back her thoughts on the matter. And those thoughts, they would be spewed to the careless men wielding guns. The enemy I almost called family.

“And the trusted sidekicks?” Hannah tilted her head right and left, gesturing to Ace and Mercer.

“Mine,” I stated, and I didn’t know why because obviously nothing was official, but it felt right to say it.

She whistled low. “I bet slumber parties at your house are happening.”

“Hannah,” I hissed.

“Well, it’s true.” She turned her attention to Adam while her hand went to my stomach, stroking it. Adam’s eyes locked on the motion. The tiniest bit of jealousy flaring to life in them. “What makes you think I want this job you’re offering? I love my current employer.”

Max snorted. “No one loves your current employer. Davis is an ass and you know it. He stiffs everyone on their tips, feels you up, and charges every little thing out of your paycheck. He’s scum.”

She didn’t dispute it. “The customers are nice.”

“Pretty sure some slime ball with unwashed hands, who was day drinking, tried to put money down your shirt like you were a stripper when I walked in,” Drew pointed out.

“Jealous it wasn’t you?”

Adam cleared his throat. “The job is triple your current pay, plus benefits.”

“Did you say benefits?” Hannah’s curiosity was piqued.

“Four days a week. Every other weekend. Plus, free access to the facility's gym and spa.”

“F-F- Facility?” She stuttered, trying to process it all. He was giving her the best possible deal, and I knew it was because she was special to me.

“That’s right. The resort is opening in two weeks. Our lead barkeep quit unexpectedly. We want you. You pick any remaining staff you still need. First job is the dedication gala in a week.”

Her mouth opened, and closed, then opened and hung open. “The resort?”

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