Page 77 of Witches Be Damned

His fingers slid into the hair at the back of my head, and tingles burst in my neck. “Gotta look out for my gal when she looks out for me.”

Double oh. He referred to the time when he was depressed and not adjusting well to his new circumstances. He didn’t have to worry about that for too much longer. A few months tops, until we roped in all the fugitives… or the biker Castor’s intervention came through.

“What are you planning for your Christmas break?” Tor switched topics as if he sensed I didn’t want to say more.

“Dad and I are heading home for Christmas Day. That’ll be a hoot,” I muttered the last part.

Tor grimaced with teeth. “I don’t think I’d trust Dad with a turkey carving knife, Supergal. Maybe keep that away from him.”

I snorted into his chest. “I think I’m more afraid of what my mom will do to him with the carving knife.”

Knoxe tapped a ball our way. “No more talk of knives, you two!”

Tor and I laughed into each other’s necks, and I loved the softness of his skin and the sweet kisses he dusted me with.

When our laughter died down, I addressed the topic my men didn’t broach, probably to avoid upsetting me and that I didn’t address when my heart was still bruised and tender. “I’d love it if we could arrange to visit Raze. If you have time, that is.”

Tor’s palm shifted from my thigh to my back. “I’d love to see my brother from another mother.”

“Me too,” Knoxe grunted, returning fire to Pascal, their game having officially commenced while Tor and I chatted.

My heart stretched into a smile.

“Make that three,” Pascal added, my heart expanding wider.

“Eavesdroppers.” Tor pretended to be offended.

I laughed, relieved that they were onboard and supporting their brother. “Do you want to day trip it or make an overnight stay out of it?”

“Overnight stay, at least,” Tor threw into the mix, stroking my spine.

He knew how much I missed Raze by the quiver of my mouth.

“I’ll do Christmas with my mom and the rest of my time is yours and Raze’s, Sunset.” Knoxe batted the ball over the net.

“Same,” Pascal echoed, and my heart grew wings and flitted through my ribcage with the butterflies.

I smiled, proud of engineering our little getaway, and bouncing to give the news to Raze and hear his rumble of delight.

Tor and I discussed his plans for his family, completing last minute shopping on Christmas eve, combined with ordering gifts online and sending them to Janet’s apartment.

When Knoxe and Pascal finished their game with Pascal the first to reach eleven points, Knoxe tapped Tor on the shoulder, gesturing for him to take over, and give him time with me.

“Go easy on me P-man.” Tor collected the ball and served over the net.

They played a lighter, less competitive game than Knoxe and Pascal had because of Tor’s slower ability in his chair. I fell a little more in love with Tor for the extremes to which he went for me and keeping me out of maximum security’s grasp.

Knoxe situated me in front of his body, wrapping his arms over my shoulders, and used his back to shield me from the wind and any trouble… not that it was such an issue anymore… and I preferred the quiet and less bustle.

“Will you be okay to get back into it tomorrow?” The weight of his head took up residence on my skull. “Because if you’re not, tell Serena and the doctor, and ask for a few extra days.”

My protective man always looked out for mindset.

I kissed his arm and replied, “I’d rather get back into the swing of things.”

My mind needed to stay active and busy. Some might call that an avoidant personality, but I called it getting on with it. We had three months until the holiday period, and I was going to throw myself into it fully, apprehend as many of these assholes as possible, and celebrate the best Christmas and New Years ever. Hopefully we’d be free by then, and if not, I’d send Raze around to the Jackals for a visit.

“All right, Sunset.” Knoxe kissed the top of my head and rested his cheek on my hair. “You let me know if circumstances change.”

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