Page 38 of Heathen

"Sorry I'm late," I mutter, knowing now isn't the time to explain how usually I'm never late, and I despise tardiness more than almost anything else. "My wife didn't set the alarm."

The explanation sounds a lot better than the fact that she hacked my damn phone and turned the alarm off.

"Wife?" Ace asks, a reasonable look of confusion on his face. "Your dossier says you aren't married."

I can't help the smile on my face for some reason, but I don't have time to consider what that means when I lift my hand and show the simple gold band. Kaylee and I swapped these gold bands, something provided by Dima, and, of course, added it to the expense I owed to them. Kaylee took hers off the second I put her in my SUV and drove away from the warehouse. She left it in the center console of the vehicle and never looked at it a second time. I didn't feel right taking mine off.

"When in Vegas," I say.

"Jesus fuck," Rooster mutters from inside the hotel suite.

I look around Ace to see the other three guys and a woman sitting on the sofas.

"Sorry, ma'am," Rooster apologizes.

The man knew I got married, but I guess showing up and broadcasting that information to everyone isn't how he expectedme to go about sharing the news. But it's not like I can keep Kaylee a secret forever. I need help with her situation.

"He married someone he just met?" the woman whispers, but it's loud enough for me to hear.

Twisted leans toward her a little before speaking, as if they're best friends gossiping about a mutual acquaintance. "We just got to town a week ago. A lot has happened since then."

Clearly, my secret isn't much of a secret, but I don't have time to worry about what those guys might've been saying behind my back or the fact that Rooster shared my shit with others in the group.

"Seems we have a lot to go over," Ace says as he takes a step to the side so I can enter the room.

At least he isn't telling me to get the hell out of here.

I step past him into the room, picking a seat at the bar near the small kitchen of the suite as Ace settles in beside the woman.

"I'm Cora," she says with an easy smile.

"Ellis Burke, ma'am," I say with a gentle dip of my head.

She gives me a sweet smile, and I can't help but notice the way Ace looks at her smile, watching as a matching one crosses his face. The man is absolutely smitten with her, and it's as clear as day.

"I've been given a short list of assignments," Ace says as he hands folders to the other guys before looking at me. "I think there are some other issues to settle before your first job."

My lips form a flat line, but, honestly, I don't think I'd be able to focus on work before taking care of Dima and his crew.

The meeting doesn't last long, and in less than half an hour, I'm left alone in the massive suite with Ace and Cora.

Without a word after walking the other guys to the door, Ace pulls out his phone, dials a number, and places it on speakerphone before setting it in the center of the coffee table.

"Ace?" I recognize Kincaid's voice. It immediately takes me back to being a child and my father finding out that I'd been breaking my toys and shoving them into a hole I created in my closet wall out of spite. He always gave gifts rather than spending time with me as a boy.

"Heathen thought it would be a good idea to get his first Vegas marriage out of the way before he took his first job with Cerberus."

Kincaid's laughter shocks me, but I don't know the man well enough to know for a fact if his laughter may only be a precursor before he rains hell down on me.

"Is that right?" the man asks.

"Yes, sir," I answer as I stand and make my way to the sofa.

"Love at first sight?" Kincaid asks, his voice booming through the phone.

"Not exactly, sir."

"Unplanned pregnancy? Drunken decision?"

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