Page 121 of Crimson Tears

Evie punches him in the shoulder. “You asshole. We aren’t those kinds of people. We have literally told you in great detail how we like to be fucked by ourmultiplemen.”

“While some of them fuck each other,” Laney helpfully adds.

I nod in agreement because Evie is right. We’re not ones to judge.Ever.

Akio talks to us about Adrian and how everything happened with their families. Then, he tells Evie that he had shirts made for our organization.

That makes us all laugh. A secret assassin league with their own t-shirts.What a concept.

The more we drink, determined to let go, the night continues to grow fuzzier. It is so nice to just stop caring for a bit. Laney cuts herself off, saying she plans to take herself and Akio home early so she can rest up before they take down Arrow’s birth mother. But Evie and I apparently decide that neither of us are driving and get fully black-out drunk.

It’s everything I needed.

Chapter 34

After eight attempts to break into the penthouse suite of Evie’s building, in order to spy on their little sleepover, I deem it safe enough to keep my girl and head back home.

Okay, okay, don’t look at me like that. I may have also texted Lev and asked for access to the security cameras so that I knew she was safe. That took a lot of convincing.

Ultimately, I had to swear I was not going to look at Evie, and they refused to give me access to the audio, so I couldn’t eavesdrop.

Feckin’ party poopers, am I right?

But I was finally able to see her face, to see her laughing and free of pain as she and her friends all laid out on a giant couch and drank. They looked so peaceful that I finally felt comfortable enough to leave the underground parking lot of the building and head back to the house. If we were more than a thirty-minute drive away, I’m not sure I could have left.

It helped to know that Alexi, Lev, and Damien were all a five-minute car ride away. That and finding the twenty-six security personnel hired to guard their unit. I was able to slip past most of them, but a few spotted me. Which is also why when I called Damien, his first question was why was I in their building.

Those men of Evie’s really are protective.

“I’m home, Daddy B,” I sing-song as I step through the foyer and kick off my shoes. Sure enough, a groan comes through from the kitchen.

I laugh as I enter to find a very grumpy looking old man cooking dinner. “If you must insist on calling me that, please save it for when Nessa is not around at the very least.”

I put my elbows on the counter and drop my face into my hands, looking up at him and feigning innocence. “And why is that? Do you not want to be herDaddy?”

His nose wrinkles and shakes his head. I love making him squirm, but I am actually asking for real. A lot of older men enjoy the daddy kink, so I’m curious as to why he seems so opposed.

Boris heaves a long sigh, tossing some chopped vegetables into a pot of what looks like stew. “Evie calls Alexi that, and as much as I would love to dabble in the daddy kink, I cannot unhear my daughter-in-law’s voice when she says it.”

Okay, that’s fair. After careful thought and consideration, that lasts all of fifteen seconds, I say, “Okay. I won’t call you that then.”

Quizzical eyes look back at me, but I just shrug.

“I’m not here to make you uncomfortable like that. Sure, I love to banter with you. It helps keep me sharp.” I give him a wink, which he clearly appreciates. “But in all seriousness, I do have the ability to draw lines with those I care for. And for some strange fecked up reason, I could say I am maybe, just a teeny tiny itty bitsy bitty bit..”

“Kid,” he growls.

“Ughhhh, fine, I care about you. At least enough to make this work.”

He considers me for a moment before getting back to chopping more veggies.

“Thank you. I feel that same way.”

Holy shite. We just had a bonding moment. We just had a bonding moment. Think he would like it if I pointed it out while dancing around the kitchen? I bet he would love it.

As much as I think he would, some dust falls from my hair onto the counter when I lean in to start the new song I just made up.

“Go shower,” he barks. “I do not want whatever is in your hair in our dinner.”

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