Page 89 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

Teddy watches us for a moment, like he’s weighing our words, but I can see it in his eyes–he’s already in, just like we are. This was never about convincing us; it was about making sure we were all on the same page.

“We’re hitmen,” Teddy says, his voice lowering like he’s trying to force the reality of it into the conversation. “Our lives aren’t exactly safe. She’s not like us–she didn’t choose this life. Are you ready for that?”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Come on, Teddy. She’s tougher than half the guys we’ve worked with. Yeah, she’s got this whole sweet, sunshine exterior, but there’s steel under there. She kicked–what is it now–threesets of balls since we’ve been here? And one of those sets wasyours. That’s not the move of someone who’s fragile.”

Atlas growls, nodding. “She’s got more fight in her than we give her credit for. And she’s not naive. She knows what we are, and she’s still here.”

Teddy smirks, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “I know. But once we tell her she’s ours, once we make that official, we don’t get to change our minds. This is it.”

I give him a look. “We’re not changing our minds.”

Atlas grunts in agreement, and I can feel the same ironclad certainty in the air between us. We’ve danced around this long enough, but we’ve known for a while now–Grace is more than just a fling or a passing phase. She’s it. The endgame.

“Grace is ours,” Atlas says, his voice filled with the same finality I’m feeling. “And we protect what’s ours.”

Teddy takes a long sip from his glass, his eyes flicking toward the hallway where Grace is sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of this little pow-wow we’re having. “Then it’s settled. We make sure she knows she’s not just some temporary thing.”

I grin. “Oh, she knows. But I’m all for making it official.”

Atlas’s lips twitch, but he nods, his face softening. “She’s good for us.”

“Way too fucking good.” I raise my glass, grinning. “To Sugar.”

Atlas reaches for his drink, raising it alongside mine. “To my little Nutcracker.”

Teddy’s smirk widens, and he lifts his glass. “To Little One.”

The glasses clink softly, the sound echoing in the quiet room, but there’s nothing soft about the decision we’ve made tonight. It’s ironclad. Unbreakable.

We drink, the warmth of the bourbon burning down my throat, but all I can think about is what’s coming next. Grace is sleeping, blissfully unaware that her life is about to change–forever. And if I have anything to say about it, it’s going to be the best damn change she’s ever had.

“Alright,” I say, setting my glass down with a final thud. “Now that that’s sorted, I’ve got some ideas for how to make this...official. I’m thinking something festive, maybe some strategically placed mistletoe, a few well-timed kisses right on her pu-”

Atlas groans, cutting me off, but there’s a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “You’re impossible.”

I shrug, flashing him a grin. “Hey, you signed up for this.”

Teddy chuckles, shaking his head. “Let’s take it one step at a time, Key. We’ll have plenty of chances to overwhelm her with your ridiculous charm.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say, standing and stretching. “Alright, boys, I’m out. Got big plans tomorrow that involve convincing our girl to bake some brownies or make me some fudge.”

Atlas grunts, standing and finishing his drink in one gulp. “I’ll take first watch.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re really gonna do a watch still? We’re snowed in–look at that storm. No one’s getting in or out of here.”

Atlas just crosses his arms and gives me a look that says don’t argue. “Watch.”

“Fine, fine,” I mutter, raising my hands in surrender. “But don’t expect me to join you. I’m sleeping in tomorrow.”

Teddy snorts, heading toward the hallway. “You’ll be up the second she starts baking.”

I can’t argue with that. Grace’s cooking is like crack.

As I head to the room, I glance back at Teddy and Atlas. We’ve made our decision, and it feels damn good. Grace is ours, and there’s no turning back.

Tomorrow, we’ll make sure she knows that too.

Because the three of us? We’re in this for good. Forever.

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