“It’s good news.”
Cross glanced up at Addison, watching her approach. “Cleo called a few hours ago. Wraith figured you were sleeping but wanted to make sure you were home.” She blushed. “I don’t think Cleo was technically supposed to tell me, but she was really excited.”
“What’s going on?”
“Jekyll and Hyde” —she giggled— “It’s going to take some time to say their names together and not laugh.”
“What about them?”
“They got released this morning.”
Early?Cross knew it was coming up but not for another few weeks.
“Cleo said Penny picked them up, and they’d be home by tonight.” Addison cocked her head. “That’s good news, right?”
Cross glanced up, his chest easing, and he drew in a deep breath. “Yeah, it’s good news.”
Finally, all Inez’s boys would be back together.
Epilogue
Years later…
Asshole!
Addison stood in her kitchen window, sipping her coffee and glaring into the backyard. The irony? Most days, it was her favorite place. They’d done some work since they’d moved in years ago. A deck was added, along with a screened porch. She’d planted some shrubbery and trees, which had filled in nicely. Off to the side of the deck was their newest addition. A hot tub. They made use of that often.
It was perfect.Was,being the operative word. Over the years, more members had utilized the opportunity of the houses. At this point, it was almost at full capacity. But it always struck her as odd that as the properties filled in, the one directly behind theirs stayed vacant.
Until last month.
Asshole!
She heard Cross’s footsteps before he came into the kitchen and stood behind her. She had her hair in a bun exposing her neck. She knew what was coming and smiled. His calloused fingers lightly slid over her neck, circling the tattoo. It was reminiscent of how he’d done it the first time he saw her added ink. Underneath the original tattoo “Property of Knox’s heart” read in a similar script, “And Cross’s.”
She expected him to get coffee, but instead he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his chest.
“Of all the houses, why does ours have to back up to Gent’s?”
“Pretty sure the dick did it on purpose.”
She groaned, knowing there was nothing she could do about it. She gasped when Gent walked out onto his deck, stretched his arms over his head, and glanced over. He was completely naked. A small smile played on his lips, and he waved.
“Fucking asshole,” Cross snapped.
“When we have kids, that shit better end.”
“It will, or I’ll fucking kill him.”
She laughed. “A world without Gent? How would we ever survive?”
“We’d manage.”
****
Cross tagged her from across the room. Anytime his woman was within a hundred-foot radius, he could detect her. His blood would pump through his veins, his muscles tightened, and he couldn’t completely settle until he laid eyes on her.
And there she was.
