Page 123 of The Enforcer

Both my brothers coughed. “Do not be a fool, son. For God’s sake. I didn’t raise any of you to be idiots on any subject. That’s exactly what she wants. Hasn’t your mother taught you anything in all these years?”

Our father was more animated than I’d seen him in a long time.

“What do you want me to do, fucking grovel? Tell her in six languages I love her?”

Well, fuck. I’d not only just admitted it to myself, I’d admitted to my tough-as-nails brothers and my iron-fisted father. Perfect.

Dimitrios looked me right in the eye. “If that’s what it takes. Every powerful man needs a woman who can dish it out herself, bro. That’s what you found. We’ll make the arrangements for the trip. Go. Spend some time with her. If you don’t, you’ll make mistakes and not just about the relationship, but also with your own safety. We can’t lose another member of this family.”

“He’s right,” Havros quipped. “If you’re killed, I’ll find a way to haunt you well into the afterlife.”

“I think that would be the other way around.” I laughed, but everything they’d said was right. Only I had a feeling it was too little, too late.

“Go. Now!” Pops snapped.

“Fine. I’m going.”

I threw my arm out in exasperation as I headed from my father’s den. He’d made the room his own, complete with dark wooden panels to hide the cigar smoke. Mother refused to allow him to smoke in any other room in the house. She certainly had control over him, including his diet, but I’d never seen two people more in love or devoted.

Unless now I wanted to place my two brothers in that category. I moved to the back door, taking a second before opening it and heading outside. The day was warm, a few clouds in the sky, and being able to watch her tossing Magnum a ball tugged at my raw emotions.

I wasn’t able to determine whether she sensed my presence, but Magnum did almost immediately, bounding in my direction as he barked.

Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof!

As soon as he jumped on me, his tail wagging like a helicopter, it was impossible not to laugh. He had a way of livening up the room.

He still had his ball in his mouth, slobber dripping from both sides.

“What do you have there, buddy? Your special ball? Do you want me to throw it?”

His entire backside was wiggling.

I tried to pry it out of his hands, but he refused to let go.

“Tell him to drop it,” Valencia said as she walked closer.

“Hmmm… Drop it, buddy.” Magnum did almost immediately. Impressed, I chuckled and retrieved it, teasing him for a few seconds before tossing it a significant distance.

Afterwards, I shoved my hands into my jeans, which I’d worn to the house for no other reason than she preferred me in casual clothes.

She tugged hair from her face in the wind, even looking away briefly before walking to me. She’d said nothing on the drive over, other than cooing with Magnum who’d insisted on being a lapdog.

“Hi,” she said. “He loves when you play with him.”

Magnum was already back. “Drop it, Mags.”

He did and once again, I tossed the ball almost all the way across the oversized yard. “He’s a great dog. Just amazing. Like his mom.”

She snorted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just floored and scared. But I had no right to take it out on you.”

“You had every right. I all but derailed your entire life. That wasn’t my intention, but I felt I had no choice.”

“Why? Because there are bad men out to get me?” She took another step closer and when Magnum wanted to continue playing ball, she held out her hand to him, giving him what could only be described as a motherly look. “Not now, baby. Go play by yourself for a little while.”

Magnum continued staring into her eyes for a few seconds before whining only once and scampering away.

“You’re good with all creatures,” I told her.

---