Page 173 of Riordan's Revenge

On the home front, strange things were happening. Parcels kept being delivered, all addressed to me. Gifts from Cassie. Clothes, all in my size and mostly shades of grey and black, a replacement leather jacket, a fancy sports watch that I freaking loved.

Bike helmets for us both with a comms system. We sent her borrowed one back to its owner then had fun dirty talking on rides through town.

Another notification had come in for a delivery today, not long after we’d woken.

Cassie turned off the telenovela—Alexia and her lover were now happily engaged and expecting a baby—and tugged me with her to the door, her excitement palpable. “This one is too heavy for ye alone.”

We went to the lift, and I pulled her into my arms as we descended the floors. “Stop buying me things.”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Never.”

I tried and failed to keep the smile from my face. I loved the way she loved me. Wholeheartedly. Without restraint. It spilled out into everything she did.

We slowed at the ground floor, and I put my lips to her ear. “Am I going to have to tie you to our bed for you to stop?”

“Ye can try.” She led me through the corridors to the main back entrance to the warehouse, all while I pictured her constrained and naked.

Our bed was new, as well. Delivered yesterday and so heavy it had taken several crew members to help me get it upstairs. Cassie had quipped that she wanted our nest to be furnished with a mattress no one else had fucked on, but I suspected it was to gift me a bed of my own for the first time in years. I got with the programme quickly.

I also loved the way she described our home. A nest. Coming back there after a shift gave me a burst of happiness I could never have anticipated. All because of her.

At the back door, Mick stood beside a smart-looking delivery guy, checking paperwork with his forehead lined. “I wasn’t told to expect this.”

Cassie breezed past them. “My bad. I wanted it to be a surprise. Can ye show us what ye brought?” she asked the delivery guy.

He followed us outside. In the car park, a huge black SUV gleamed in one of the parking spaces. A chunky and masculine ride with a silver grille and darkened rear windows. Cassie made jazz hands at it.

Confused, I tilted my head. “I don’t understand.”

“Struan said that your ride was held together by, how did he put it, Sellotape and prayers? That sounded dangerous. I upgraded ye.”

My jaw dropped. “You bought me a car?”

She beamed. “You needed something more appropriate for work. Can ye blame me?”

Beyond her, the delivery guy wore an expression of shock I imagine reflected my own.

The car was spectacular. I’d thought about how I’d support her if I needed to snatch a body and deliver it somewhere she’d asked. My ancient, knackered Rover was out of the question. Borrowing one of the skeleton crew vehicles had been my solution. This was…

“I’m speechless,” I finally managed.

She peeked up at me. “In a bad way?”

At last, my muscles unlocked, and I brought her in for a hug. “Never. You could never do anything bad. Thank you.”

“Yay! Let’s take it for a spin. You’re already insured.”

“You’re a whirlwind.” Still, I took the keys and helped her inside.

We drove out into the city. The damn car was a dream with every high-end feature she could’ve arranged in such a short space of time.

“You look so fucking beautiful perched in my passenger seat,” I told her.

Cassie preened. Other than when wielding a blade, she was at her happiest when making others happy, and I loved her for it.

By unspoken agreement, I took us out of the city limits and into the countryside. While the sun set, I parked in a lane and ordered Cassie to climb in the back. With rough urgency, I tore her clothes from her and buried my face between her legs until she was screaming, then I fucked her more slowly, christening the car with the first of what would be countless fucks on its plush seats.

On our route home, we passed the edge of what had been Four Milers’ territory.

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