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With a grin, I turned to face him. We gave each other one-armed hugs, clapping each other on the back. “Good to have you back, man,” Adrian told me. “Tag along with me as much as you fucking want. After ten years, I’m tired of doing your shit,” he joked.
“I’ll gladly take my job back if you deal with the paperwork,” I told him. His mouth twisted in disgust at the thought, making me snicker.
We stepped into the dining room. Mrs. Judy looked up, her eyes brightening the moment they landed on me. She had been our nanny when we were little, and James had taken her in afterward, though Mrs. Judy refused to just live with him for free. So, she cooked and cleaned and helped keep other workers in line.
She rushed around the counter and launched herself into my arms. I laughed, leaning down to hug her as she started crying. “Boy, do not get your stupid ass sent to prison again,” she scolded, leaning back to swipe at her cheeks. “Ten years is way too long.”
I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I have no plans on going back ever again,” I promised her, and that was the damn truth. I’d rather kill myself first. “But do you mind feeding a starving man?” I teased.
She rolled her eyes, smacking my abs, though it didn’t affect me. “Like you’re starving,” she scoffed. “You’re huge, boy. Did you eat steroids in prison?”
I rolled my eyes at the same time James barked out a laugh. “No, Mrs. Judy,” I told her. “I had a lot of free time on my hands, so I worked out.”
She handed me a heaping bowl of chicken alfredo with a warm, motherly smile on her face. “Go sit down and eat, Darren, before your food gets cold.”
I saluted her, just barely jumping out of the way in time as she swung her towel out at me, but she was laughing. I turned and sat down at the table that everyone else was at. Carter was almost finished with his food, and his eyelids were beginning to droop.
“Almost nap time?” I asked.
Emmaline nodded. “Thank God, because I need a breather.”
James smirked at her. Her cheeks burned red under his heated gaze. I laughed and dug into my food, my stomach rumbling.
Fuck, I had really, really missed home-cooked meals. I probably missed it more than I had missed my damn freedom, to be honest.
~*~*~
James pushed open my office door and flicked on the light. My eyes widened in disbelief.
Someone had redecorated my office. I had all new furniture and what looked like top-of-the-line equipment that I already knew I was going to get pissed at when I tried to figure out how to work it all.
“Jesus Christ,” I swore as I moved around the desk, staring at the computer in front of me. “The fuck am I going to do with all of this shit?” I asked.
James laughed. “You’ll get used to it but thank Emmaline for all of the furniture. She wanted to make sure you would be comfortable when you finally got to come home.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Your wife is too damn good for you.”
James shrugged. “I know.” Thumbs up to the man. He hadn’t even tried denying it.
James and I had never pretended to be better than we were. Even though we were rich, highly feared, and had more connections than the fucking President himself, we also knew we were no better than the next low-life piece of shit.
But his wife was pure fucking gold.
I could only hope to find a woman as amazing as she was one day.
I blew out a soft breath. “I’ll fuck with all of this fancy shit some other time.” James snickered when I cast the equipment a look of distaste mixed with hatred. “I need to run out and get a few things and also get my license again. What time is Adrian leaving?”
“Nine,” James informed me. “Make sure you’re armed when you leave,” he said, striding towards the door. “And don’t call me unless it’s a fucking emergency. I’ve got an appointment with my wife.”
I rolled my eyes, watching as my older brother walked out of my office. Shaking my head, I grabbed the keys that had been left on a hook by the door and locked my office, heading out to the garage to see which vehicle was mine. I knew my brother well enough to know that he would have traded in my old car and gotten me something else as a welcome home gift.
It just better not be a fucking SUV. I needed a fast, small vehicle that I could easily whip around and maneuver. Ten years ago, I’d been drowning in dead bodies, enemies, and bullets. I lived for the adrenaline, and I knew that wouldn’t be any different now.
I enjoyed getting my hands dirty.
And I needed the equipment to be able to do that.
When I stepped into the garage, I hit the panic button, grinning at the fancy-ass sports car that sounded off.
I could always count on James to come through for me.
I slid into the driver’s seat and backed out of the massive garage, heading to the DMV. First, I needed to get my license. After that, I could get a watch, buy some new clothes, do this job with Adrian, and then head to my brother’s BDSM club – all in that order.
I hadn’t had pussy in fucking years – only the company of my hand – and I badly needed a release.
