Page 200 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

“I’m a cop. It’s in my job description. Sue me.”

It’s the shrug he adds that seals his fate.

“I’m going to beat your ass is what I’m going to do.”

“You can try,” he baits, smirking at me.

He’s successful in pissing me off more. I know he’s goading me, but I’m too mad to stop myself from playing along.

“Game On!”

I slide forward, stepping in front of him and squaring my shoulders. I can do more than try. I’ve been back at Knocked Out for two weeks now, working out with Nikki. During those six weeks I spent not working my physical abilities were awful. Kicking Eric’s ass might be the extra workout I need.

Eric glances over my head. “A little help, D.”

Looking over my shoulder, I see Drago walking down the stairs, Gabriel clutched snugly to his hip.

I was just up there. Where were they?

“Bro, that’s between you and her. I’m not stupid enough to get in the middle. Sorry, you’re on your own.”

He stops next to me, transferring Gabe to my arms. The smell of lavender wafts up my nose. Leaning forward, I smell the top of Gabriel’s head.

“I gave him a bath,” D says, confirming the fresh scent I smelled was the baby.

He has lavender soap just lying around?

Who is this man, and where’s the badass I thought he was supposed to be?

Drago wraps his hand around my elbow, tugging me to his chest. His lips brush against the top of my head a second later, making me melt into the embrace.This is definitely where we belong.And the only place I want to be.

“You really think it was smart telling her your true identity?” It’s Justin who asks the question.

My eyes snap to his, watching him exit from the kitchen holding a black coffee mug in his hand. His green eyes are full of contemplation as he assesses Drago and me, and maybe Gabriel too. My back goes rigid, not liking the judgment he seems to be making.

“Bringing her into an already dangerous situation that’s almost gotten her killed twice now?”

“Hey,” I bark, pulling away from D. “He”—I throw my thumb over my shoulder—“didn’t willingly tell me a damn thing. I saw the proof sprawled out in front of me last night. None of you had the right to keep this from me.”

I look over my shoulder, telling Drago with my hard eyes,especially you.

“I’m a part of this whether any of you like it or not.” I gently squeeze Gabriel tighter to my chest.

Justin scowls.

Eric shrugs again.

Drago’s expression remains neutral, not giving any of his thoughts away.

I open my mouth to make sure I’m clear when my phone rings. Glancing over, I see it lying on the bar that leads into Drago’s kitchen. I don’t remember bringing my purse inside last night, so Drago must have gotten all of my stuff out of my car at some point. I hadn’t been planning on staying. I’d only stopped by to give him a piece of my mind.

Luckily for us, the night turned out completely different than I’d expected when I drove over here angry.

Handing Gabriel over to his dad, I walk over to retrieve it.

Picking my phone up off the counter, I say hello as I turn back around to face the guys.

“Where the hell are you?”

---