Page 132 of The Ecstasy of Sin
I slide the heavy doors open, ushering her through. The sound of raised voices echoes off the walls, leading us to a smaller room tucked in the back corner. It’s a private alcove, outfitted with couches, armchairs, and a wall of fridges stocked with bottled water, energy drinks, and protein bars.
“Don’t you fucking start with me,” Ghost snaps, pointing a finger in Ryker’s face. “I can only take your bullshit in small fucking doses.”
“I’m just pointing out the obvious,” Ryker says with a shrug, infuriatingly calm.
“Whoever told you our family needed a sarcastic, pot-stirring asshole was delusional,” Torin mutters from his post against the wall, his heavily scarred arms folded across his chest. “They were probably just hoping one of us would shoot you someday.”
Ryker smirks, stepping back and mirroring Torin’s stance. “Without me, the three of you would be boring, cranky fucks with sticks jammed up your asses.”
“One day,” I groan as Wren and I step fully into the room, “the sun will rise and set without Ryker starting shit.”
Ryker grins at our arrival, and Ghost—still visibly seconds away from violence—turns away from him to face us.
“Doubtful,” Ghost mutters, his eyes narrowing.
“How’d it go?” Torin asks, pushing off the wall and striding toward us.
“My appointment?” Wren asks, glancing between the three of them.
Torin nods. “Yeah. Dom said you were meeting the new doc. Thought he might be late.”
Ryker steps up beside Torin, throwing an arm over his shoulders. Torin flinches, but quickly hides the subtle reaction. He isn’t big on uninvited touch, not that I can blame him. “The hot new doctor? Fuck, man, she’s a stunner.”
“She’s old enough to be your grandma,” Ghost deadpans.
“Experienced,” Ryker corrects with a wink. “And she’s an educated woman. Bet she knows exactly what to do with a dick as big as mine.”
Torin groans, and shoves Ryker away.
I shake my head, scowling at the idiot I somehow love like we share DNA.
Wren giggles, a sound that is unguarded and light. I want to hear her laugh just like that every day for the rest of our lives.
Ghost smacks Ryker on the back of the head. “Let Wren talk, you fuck.”
A small smile tugs at the corner of Wren’s mouth. “The appointment went well, I think. I’ve got new medications to try.”
Torin nods. “Glad to hear it.”
I tug Wren closer, and place a kiss to her temple, before shouldering past my brothers and guiding her to one of the couches. They move behind us, and within seconds, we’re all seated together.
“Let’s get down to business,” I start, nodding towards Ghost.
“Actually,” Torin interjects, his voice low. “I was hoping we could discuss the compound first.”
Ghost nods. “Security is set. I’ve got multiple systems live as of this week. Electric fencing with a barrier to keep the dogs and wildlife safe, full camera coverage, gate entry, and patrol routes active across the property. I’ve also hijacked city cameras, and installed some new ones at key points, so we always know what cars and bodies are moving in and out of the area.”
Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he takes a few seconds to pull up a program before turning the phone to face me. “The entire security system is accessible by three points. The main command center is here in the house, in the front room near the entrance. A secondary access point is in the security building by the gate. Lastly, we can access it from our phones.”
I nod. “I’ve decided to train Hunter as Wren’s service dog. So I want to add one more dog to the working roster. That gives us three patrol dogs and Hunter, who’ll double as backup in emergencies. I’d rather him stay with me and Wren full time, though.”
Wren leans toward me, her voice low. “More dogs?”
I nod, offering her a smile. “Yes. We’re going to bring some new pups here, and their assigned handlers will make sure they have a lot of fun and exercise every day.”
Ryker chimes in next. “I’ve deployed my most loyal men to your team, Dom. I’ve got plenty of new hires in training, so it wasn’t any real loss to send my best here. Especially if we’re all moving in.”
Torin leans forward, his scarred arms resting on his knees. “I know you already gave us rooms, but I’d like to move in permanently.”
