Page 109 of Ashes of Sin

“I think the chicken comes before the egg, Penny.”

Does she not know how the birds and bees work? I’m not spelling it out for her.

“You need to work on his sense of humor.” She deadpans Kyra and they both nod knowingly.

“Work in progress.” Kyra pats my chest. I snap my hand over it and then kiss her fingers.

She melts before my eyes.

I’m already eager for our guests to leave so I can rip her yellow sundress off. It curves over her breasts and hugs her hips, while stopping just above mid-thigh. It’s almost inappropriate, but I’m not sorry. It teases just enough that I think I might get a look at her panties.

I never do.

Or she’d be fucking changing.

The urge to run my hand up her thigh has my cock semi-erect all damn night.

“Ugh. So damn jealous.” Penny rolls back her head and then spins back to check out my friends. She’s way too much of a good girl for them, but I know they’ll treat her with respect.

The doors open behind us again, and I turn to watch Derek and Sally Fox walk in.

It’s been two weeks since we learned we were going to become parents. It changes you whether you like it or not.

Kyra told her mom, because that’s what girls do, and a day later Derek phoned me.

News of Pierce’s death had already been front page news. I was questioned by police but as it turns out I was with my driver on the way home to see my girlfriend the night it happened. Then, celebrating the news of our unborn child.

True story.

I don’t know who killed him.

Also, the truth.

The money I paid...untraceable.

So, when I answered the phone, Derek cleared his throat and said, “I know it was you.”

No, he doesn’t.

He suspects, but he doesn’t know for sure.

Not even Parker, Travis, Zayne, or Killian truly know. They simply sat across from me at breakfast the following Wednesday and all met me in the eye, nodding.

I nodded back.

Then we ate as normal.

“You’re my child’s grandfather. That is all we need to discuss. You’ll be welcome in my home if you respect both Kyra and our children. If not, I won’t allow them to see you.”

The truth is, I would never force Kyra to stop seeing her parents, but I do have a say about our kids.

Fox’s outdated and abusive beliefs have no place in our world. And she agrees with me.

“Well, I’m not sorry he’s dead. Whoever did it freed a lot of people.”

I shake my head even though he can’t see me.

“Weak people. You should’ve taken fucking responsibility for what you did and called his bluff.” I ground out. “Giving power to a man like Pierce is an endless game. One you failed at.”

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