Page 44 of Mitch

“We have him, Hench, and Midas under surveillance now. We need to get into the warehouse and end this.”

“Agreed.”

He looked up, and Jack followed his gaze. Mitch felt the air leave him at the vision of perfection in front of him.

Jack laid a hand on his arm. “Take tonight, and we’ll follow this up in the morning.”

Mitch nodded but couldn’t take his eyes off Autumn. She wore a bright pink dress that clung to her body like a glove, the hem hitting mid-thigh, the silk sheen of her muscular thighs making his mouth water. His eyes travelled up over her curved hips, small waist, to lush breasts encased in the black lace bodice of the dress.

He heard a chuckle beside him and dragged his gaze away for a second as he saw Liam and Taamira heading towards the ballroom where he realised music had begun to play. Ignoring the knowing grin on Liam’s face, he looked back to Autumn who was nearly to him. She’d applied make-up that made her look like a siren, full pink lips covered in gloss, with long dark lashes.

Holding her hands at hip level palm up, she turned a grin on her face. “Well?”

Mitch growled, everything else falling away as he grasped her, pulling her to his body. “You make me want to hide you away. Every single man in the room is going to be imagining you naked when they see you.”

“Well, only one gets to.”

With his arm firmly around her, he kissed the spot just below her ear, feeling the full-body shiver before he led her towards the ballroom. He saw Alex and Evelyn with Liam and Taamira and nodded as he headed to the bar. “What would you like to drink?”

“Can I get a vodka and cranberry?”

Mitch ordered it for her and a beer for himself. He had every intention of fucking her tonight and wanted to be sober when he did it. He handed her the drink before moving through the bar. He introduced her to Dane, who was Zack’s second and his wife Lauren. Then Daniel and Meg, who was also a scientist and before long, the two women were talking about compounds and formulas like best friends.

Mitch turned to Daniel. “Does anyone know why he’s throwing this party?”

Daniel shrugged. “It’s her birthday next month so we figured that, although I think Roz and Skye might know more. It’s been a nightmare keeping this from her though.”

Mitch raised his brows. “She doesn’t know anything?”

Celeste had a very rare gift; she could read peoples thoughts and feelings through touch.

Daniel nodded. “No. Do you know how hard it was keeping it from her? It’s okay for Zin, he can block it somehow, but the rest of us have been avoiding her like the plague in case she accidentally brushes an arm or hand.”

“I guess you’re all still frightened of Zin?”

Mitch was joking, nobody was scared of Zin as such but he was a deadly bastard with a knack for torture.

“Okay, everyone, quiet down. They’re pulling up,” Skye said, waving her hands as Roz just glared them all into silence.

The doors were closed, and the room fell silent. Autumn looked at him and lifted her shoulders as she grinned at the drama of it all, excitement evident in her face. They could hear murmuring and then the door swung open and Celeste stopped dead, her hands slapping to her cheeks as she looked from them to Zin and back again.

“Surprise,” they all called out.

Celeste looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights as Zin ushered her into the middle of the room. As she turned back to Zin, a gasp rang through the room, not just from Celeste but from every female in the room.

“Pixie, I’ve loved you since the day I met you. My life meant nothing without you in it and now you are my life. The air I breathe, the life running through my veins belongs to you. Will you please be my wife and let me love you into eternity?” He was down on one knee, an open velvet box in his hands and looking more terrified than Mitch had ever seen.

He heard a sigh beside him and Autumn leaned into him with a sniffle as Celeste threw her arms around Zin, knocking him to the floor.

“Yes.”

A cheer went up, but Mitch doubted Celeste or Zin heard, too caught up in the moment.

Autumn touched her heart. “That was so beautiful.”

“I think she’d given up hope of him asking, they’ve been together a while.”

“I guess he wanted the timing to be right,” Meg said.