Page 91 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
Shock grinned.“So you admit she’s mine?”
I leaned forward.I was just inside his reach and invaded deliberately as I raised my voice so others could hear me.“Hell to the fucking no.She’s mine.She was conceived in New Hampshire or Maine.I should know, because my dickwas there, andyourswas not.”This wouldn’t be a surprise to any of my men because they’d all seen Zoe.Not one of them had any doubt she was mine.
Shock pulled out one more page from his binder.It was a photo of me at Nonno’s.There was a hooker on my lap.The same one I’d fucked right after leaving Kate.“Where was your dick again?”
That photo could link me to an unfortunate drowning.And with Zoe conceived in Maine mere days before it was taken and a body dead in the time and space between, I was fucked.If I went in for murder one, Kate and Zoe would be on their own against Shock and his shady legal team.But doing that would also expose Nonno as the guy who ordered the hit.
That really wasn’t an issue for Shockifhe was gunning for a spot higher than the regional president.
He leaned in and spoke much more quietly than usual.“Bring them to me.”
I stuck out my thumb to begin my count.“One, you gotta burn that photo.Nonno’s in it.”I added a finger.“Two, do you think you’re theonlyone who’s been digging up dirt?”I squinted at him to warn him I’d spent sixteen years finding filth on him.
Then I stuck up my middle finger all by its lonesome.“Three, fuck you.No deal.”
“You’re going to regret that.”He stepped back and snapped his fingers to summon his men.
This conversation needed a good course correction.I raised my voice a bit louder.“The only thing I haveeverregretted was not killing your ass eighteen years ago.One good bullet…” I cocked my fingers and pointed at his head.“Boom.”
His mouth twisted into a smirk.“I heard that about you.You’re just like your father—killing the competition on your way up.”
“It beats blackmailing them,” I fired back.
Chapter 26
The Lake House—Kate
Ifound Zoe on the deck.She stood beside Danielle and stared at the lake.“You really live here?”Zoe asked Danielle the question I was too polite to utter.
“Yes.It was my grandfather’s house.”
Zoe whistled.“I could get used to this.”
I had to agree with her; the house was amazing.Jackson’s “fishbowl” comment resurfaced, but somehow, this was more an example of letting nature in rather than letting mankind in.The house exuded peace and elegance.I could hardly find fault with it.
Gina heard us and joined our group.“I got your things situated.It’s time to take you out on the range for a little target practice.”
I shot her a glare over my shoulder.We had not hashed out the details yet.
“It’ll be fun,” she echoed her son’s words.
“This club’s idea of fun has people falling from balconies.”I paused and addressed Danielle, “Surely you’re not okay with this?Sprout could have been seriously hurt.My daughter could get seriously hurt.”Guns were much more dangerous than climbing.
“I get to shoot a gun?Fucking cool.”
“Zoe, language,” I hushed her exuberance.
“I see Sprout is rubbing off on you.That’s not a good thing.”Danielle’s teasing smoothed the conversation into a lighter tone.But I was not on board with this.
“I don’t think Zoe’s ready for this.”
Without hesitation, that set of notes emanated from my daughter.“Ma-ahm!”
Counting to ten wasn’t going to work this time because Gina interrupted me.“Firearm training is a must-have in this house.There are too many idiots coming in and out.Igother, Mama Bear.”
“You do?”As much as I adored Gina for helping me all those years ago, this was crossing a line.
“Certified concealed carry, licensed nurse, part-time paramedic, and I’ve been shooting since I was six.Please don’t do the math.”
