Page 49 of Centurion

“He’s still connected. He’s the founding family of the Bratva. Maybe if we offered him something in return?” Jacob shrugged. “As I said, a stupid idea.”

Jason adjusted his stance. “He’s due to get out in a year.” He nodded. “See if he’d be willing to work with us to find Abrasha. If he is, I’ll talk to the powers-that-be and get the rest of his sentence remitted.”

“I’ll call Jared. He’s the one who has a relationship with this guy.” Jacob shrugged. “I was reaching for straws.”

“It takes out-of-the-box thinking to catch these miscreants. Get to work. I’ll call Gabriel.”

Jacob did a double take. “Have you been talking to Double D?”

Jason snorted. “I do have an advanced degree, and miscreant isn’t that big of a word.”

Tori laughed as she and Jacob walked out of the conference room. “We need to go back to the ranch soon. I miss the old Alpha team.”

“So do I, babe. So do I.” Jacob looked back at Jason and gave him a half-smile. “Later.” He closed the door behind him.

Jason sat back down and picked up the phone. He needed to talk to Gabriel.

CHAPTER 20

Gabby waved as her parents' limo and the team guarding the outside of the building departed. She shut the door, activated the alarm, and sighed. Tonight had gone much better than she’d anticipated. Con was charming in his slightly off-kilter way. Her mom had loved him, and Con had even gotten her dad to smile a time or two.

She went back into the kitchen and stopped to watch the muscles in Con’s back move as he washed the dishes. “You didn’t have to volunteer to do the dishes.” She walked up beside him and grabbed a towel to dry the items he’d washed.

He smiled at her and winked. “It got me brownie points with your mom.”

“Major brownie points.” She laughed as she wiped off the Dutch oven her mom had used to cook the roast.

“Your dad is a good guy,” Con said as he finished the last pan.

“He didn’t try to intimidate you?” She looked up at him when he turned toward her and used her towel to dry his hands.

“Oh, he tried. He basically told me he’d kill me if I hurt you.” Con laughed. “When I smiled at him and thanked him for letting me continue to see you, I think I threw him for a loop.”

“Wait, what?” Her heart dropped, and she felt sick. She leaned against the counter. “He did what?”

Con wrapped his arms around her waist as he told her the rest of what happened.

“Oh my God, he asked if you loved me?” She covered her face with her hands. “I’m going to kill him.”

Con pulled her closer and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I told him my feelings for you were big, bigger than I’ve ever had for any other person, and I told him I thought they were heading in that direction, at least for me.”

She dropped her hands and lifted her eyes. “To keep him off your back. I get it.”

Con smiled and shook his head slowly. “No, I told him the truth. I think that man would have been able to tell if I wasn’t.” Con dropped a kiss on her nose. “I know me getting too close is scary to you, but I’m not good at hiding what I’m thinking or feeling. You’ll always know with me.”

She stared up at him. “Do you want to know my real name? My first name? I can’t tell you my last name; that would out my mom and dad, and I’d never do that.”

“Only if you want to tell me.” He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “No matter what your name is, it won’t change who you are when you’re in my arms.”

She smiled at him. “My name is Gabrielle Jacqueline. My family calls me Gabby.”

“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” Con narrowed his eyes. “You’re named after your father.”

She nodded. “I am.”

“What do you want me to call you? Gabby, Jackie, or Ronnie?” He put his finger under her chin and dropped for a kiss. Right before he took her lips, he whispered, “Or lover.” A full-body shiver passed through her, and she melted into him.

When Con releasedher from the kiss, he gazed down at her. With her eyes closed and her mouth slightly open, she was stunning. She opened her eyes and stared up at him. He could see the hunger in her eyes. “I don’t care what you call me when we’re alone. When anyone from Guardian is present, it has to be Ronnie.”

---