Page 47 of Poisonous Savage

"Please,"Huntermuttered, almost lost beneath his caveman's beard, but his smirk betrayed amusement.

"Rememberwhen all you ate was takeout and stale beer?"Iteased, twirling spaghetti around my fork, watching them both.Forabout six months afterTheBlackHandsfiasco, all they did was stake out the high-profile spots, watching and waiting for someone to make a move.They’dboth gained a few pounds fromall the junk they ate.

"Thosewere the days,"Marcosaid, his baby blues sparkling with mischief. "Nowlook at us, fancy fucks with our homemade pasta."

"Speakfor yourself,"Huntergrunted, but there was warmth there. "I'mstill the same bastardI'vealways been."

"Sure, babe,"Icooed, laying it thick, batting lashes over devilish eyes. "That'swhy you haven't killed anyone for a while."

Theylaughed, the sound rich and dark, mingling with the clink of dishes. “Thatcan be changed.Wouldit please my bride to have someone brought as a sacrificial lamb?”

Igiggled and rolled my eyes, “Yes, darling husband.”Scrapingthe last bit off my plate,Ileaned back with a sigh.We’dcome a long way in the last five years.Hunterhad softened, not enough to become compliant, but enough that his rough hands also gave me pleasure.He’deven started holding my hand in public, allowingMarcoto as well.Thefirst person who say something lost their tongue.Thesecond was tortured with poison for a while before he was released, effectively brain-dead on his feet.Noone said jack-shit after that.Theyall just got used to the fact thatIwas shared between the two.

Theglimmering laughter died down, andIstretched, my chair groaning under the shift of weight.Hunter'shand found its way to his glass, downing the drink in onego.Marcotossed his napkin onto the table, the white cloth crumpling.

"NeverthoughtI'dbe sitting here,"Marcostarted, jaw clenching as he threw a glance towardsHunter. "Notafter everything that's gone down.Wesurvived.Wethrived."

"Life'sa bitch, then you die,"Huntersaid quietly.

"Or, in our case, life's a bitch, and then you find something worth not dying for."Icaught their gazes and felt the weight of worlds unspoken between us.

"Damnstraight,"Hunteragreed, the corner of his mouth twitching up in a smirk that didn't quite reach his nearly black eyes. "Gotme a school teacher and a brother to keep me on my toes."

"Schoolteacher?"Iquirked an eyebrow, feigning offense. "Watchit, orI'llmake you write 'Iwill not kill at the dinner table' a hundred times on the chalkboard."

“Babe, that wasONETIME.”Huntergroaned.It’strue.Itwas one time.Somenew hire had the hots for me, and he tried to make a move.Hedidn’t get far.

"Promiseto spank him if he doesn't?"Marcochimed in, wickedness dancing in those baby blues.

"Onlyif he’s good,"Ishot back, warmth spreading through my chest.

"Good'sboring,"Huntergrunted, leaning back, his chair creaking in warning. "Butthis..."Hewaved a hand, encompassing the three of us, "...ain't half bad."

"Halfbad?Wedragged your muscled ass outta the pits and slapped a crown on it,"Marcosaid, pride swelling in his voice like a song unsung.Afterhis mother died,Hunterspiraled.Damn, near drank himself to death.Butwe pulled him back.

"Gotourselves a queen, too,"Hunteradded, gaze flickering over to me, his eyes filled with lust.

"Morelike a warrior,"Icorrected, the words slipping past my lips beforeIcould stop them. "Onewho found her armor in the place she least expected."

"Fuckin' poetry,"Huntermuttered, but his eyes softened just a fraction before he winked.

"Thankyou,"Marcomurmured, almost too quiet to catch, "for sticking around when you could've run for the hills."

"Wherewould the fun be in that?"Ireplied.

"Whereindeed,"Hunterechoed, his beard catching the light as he inclined his head towards me.

"Here'sto the twisted path that brought us together,"Iraised my glass, the clink echoing off the walls.

"Maywe continue to walk it together,"Marcocontinued, raising his own.

"Untilthe end,"Hunterfinished, sealing the vow as we drank to the night, the darkness that held us close, and the strange love that thrived in the chaos we called home.

Thelaughter from our toast hung in the air, thick as the tension that started winding its way around the table.AsIscannedHunterandMarco,Ileaned back, eyelids heavy with a promise.Onceupon a time, they said they’d never ravage me as one, but tonight… that was going to change.

"Upstairs,"Imurmured, lips curling into a dare, "I'vegot a surprise.Bothof you."

Hunter'sgrin was a slash of white in the dim room, his eyes glinting.Marco'sgaze burned blue, hot enough to sear flesh.Theywere statues of sin, andIwas the siren calling them to the rocks.

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