“Sounds judgmental.”
He shrugged. “She was just one of those jealous psychos.”
“Good thing it didn’t work out.”
He smirked then took another step forward. “The guys told me you took Fleur to the warehouse.”
“Taught her how to shoot.”
“Why?”
“Because she needs to know this stuff if she’s gonna be around.”
“Fleur doesn’t seem like the shooting type.”
“Well, she is, and she’s pretty good at it,” I said with pride. “She said the rifle is her favorite.”
He looked like he was about to chuckle. “I can picture that. Sounds like it’s gotten more serious…” He didn’t outright ask meif anything had progressed, but he definitely dropped a line to see if I would take a bite.
“It has.” I smiled.
He studied my expression before his smile mirrored it. “Happy for you, man.”
“Thanks. That means a lot.” I wasn’t the kind of man to have a best friend because that was pussy shit, but if I did, it would be Luca.
“She’s a good woman.”
“She is.”
Luca made it to the front and ordered drinks for him and Amelia.
I did the same, getting myself a stiff drink and Fleur a glass of wine.
Luca walked with me back to the table. “And she really is a good woman if she’s willing to learn all that, especially after what happened.”
“She’s braver than most men I’ve met.”
“Damn right, she is,” he said. “Too bad she doesn’t have a sister.”
I chuckled then let the conversation die because we’d returned to the table. I took my seat beside Fleur then dropped my arm over the back of her chair, making it clear to the room that she was mine.
She drank from her wineglass, smearing her lipstick on the rim just the way she did when her lips were around my dick.
I stared at her harder than I should in public, and then some of the guys came over and disturbed the moment. I knew a lot of people at the wedding so I was sure it would turn into an unofficial meeting when we should be relaxing for once.
Rudy sat directly beside me. “First Regis and then Oscar…it’s been a rough couple months for you.”
“Just doing my job.” I’d known this would be a boring night for Fleur, just sitting there with her hand on my thigh, drinking her wine, while she was pretty much ignored. But she was my girl, and she was the one I wanted beside me. I wanted her to be a part of my world, for the guys to know who I shared my life with.
“The Aristocrats have always been a bunch of cult freaks,” he said. “But dangerous cult freaks.”
“I’m not worried about it.”
“Word on the street is you should be worried.”
I smiled like it was nothing to be concerned about. “I’ll handle it.” I was aware there would be some kind of retaliation for Oscar’s death. Even though their organization was sizable, they still didn’t have enough power to challenge me.
“I’m sure you will, Butcher.” He raised his glass to me then took a drink.