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I like seeing that. I like it more than I should.

After Evie is satisfied with Jess’s grasp on what’s pictured so prominently on the pillow, she wanders off to explore some more.

I swear to all that’s good and holy, Jess stays down on her knees intentionally. In fact, she relaxes into it, demurely placing her palms on her bare thighs, and lifts just her gaze to meet mine.

When her little pink tongue darts out to sweep across her lips, I’m done.

Fucking done.

I’ve got to get out of here before I do something stupid. Because getting mixed up with Jess would be reckless. Irresponsible.

I push all the air from my lungs and drop the eye contact.

“I hope it’s okay, but I put Evie’s lunch in the fridge. Her sippy cup is on the counter next to her bag. Diapers and a change of clothes are in there.” I rattle off her typical morning schedule all while willing my dick to behave. It doesn’t want to, so I turn my back and rifle through the bag for absolutely nothing and tuck my wayward cock into the least conspicuous arrangement I can manage. I breathe through the entire process willing the blood flow to reverse direction.

“Got everything handled over there?” Jess asks without a hint of innocence imbued in her words.

“I’ll manage. I’ve already imposed beyond what’s reasonable.” I step around the kitchen island, putting the slab of granite between us before I venture to look at her again. It doesn’t help. I’m hard as fuck and need this woman to get up off her knees and stop looking at me with those thick lashes framing her dark eyes.

“You know I’m always happy to give you a hand, reasonable or not.”

My chin hits my chest as the air rushes from my lungs. I have got to go. Got to get out of here. Got to… “I have a meeting. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

The air shifts as she finally rises and sidles up to the counter next to me. She leans her back against it so she can keep an eye on Evie? So I have to look her in the eye? I don’t know, but it would take nothing to step to the side and hoist her up onto the surface, step between her knees and fuck her senseless. Me. I’d be the senseless one.

“We will be just fine. You go be a big bad-a… attorney, and we girls will entertain ourselves and pine away for you while you’re gone.” Her lips lift on one side in an off-kilter smile.

“We have a problem.”

Those are words I never want to hear from Christophe Robicheaux, head of le Milieu. Bullshit aside, he’s the head of all the organized crime families.

Though, there’s always bullshit when it comes to my job situation.

I sink into the leather club chair across from him, not quite sure whether I should brace or try for unbothered. “What kind of problem?”

“Hold,” he says, glancing at the door.

Teague Grey, Christophe’s right hand and enforcer, joins us, dropping into the seat next to me. He lifts his chin, greeting me with a simple, “Eddie.”

“Nice of you to tear yourself away and join us,” Christophe says, glaring despite the new arrival’s shit-eating grin. “Showing up to work is a good look on you.”

“Satisfaction is a good look on me. Sunshine and fucking in the garden, man. That is where it’s at. Maybe you should take Winnie away for a while.”

I glance toward the window and observe, “It’s been raining all morning.”

“When? How? Things are still unstable; factions are still making plans to try to overthrow us and take control.” Christophe sags back in his chair, gaze sliding from his monitor to the whiskey decanter on the edge of his desk and back again.

If it weren’t still morning, I’d suggest we all have a drink. But it’s early, and I have my daughter to consider. I glance at the Moritz Grossmann prominently displayed on my wrist.

Evie’s been with Jess for less than an hour, and I haven’t gotten a single SOS. Not even a text, and honestly, that worries me. Maybe I need to ask for proof of life, a picture to ensure that they’re not riding around town in the murder van, getting pulled over by filthy cops.

I scrub my hand down my face and try to breathe normally, but it’s no good. A sigh heaves from my lungs, air echoing in the curve of my palm.

“Then take her to the woods for fuck’s sake. Fuck her up against a tree. Get creative for the love of God.” Teague’s on rapid-fire mode, spitting life advice and sex tips at the man who could snap his fingers and have him killed.

And then Jess would have to clean that shit up. A shiver runs through me that I can’t suppress.

“And you—” Teague’s attention turns in my direction.