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“Ah, come on now, Gareth. Don’t be like that. I just appreciate the female form. I’m only fucking with you.”
“Appreciate someone else.” I stare hard at him. “I want to be your family lawyer, but I won’t tolerate disrespect.”
He chuckles, but his laughter slowly fades. We stay together, bobbing up and down. Waiting for a wave.
“You know what I like about you?” he says finally, eyes narrowed. “You don’t have scruples. Everyone knows it. Gareth Kane, lawyer to criminals, willing to take on any case so long as it pays.”
“That’s my reputation?” I work my jaw, not happy about it. I’m fairly sure he’s baiting me, but here I am, taking it all over again. “That’s not how I see myself.”
“You’re a mercenary. But don’t feel bad.” Carson’s smirk is hateful. “All fucking lawyers are mercenaries. You don’t give a shit about anything but yourself. Meanwhile, my family and I, we care about each other. What makes you think we should trust you?”
“You have to trust someone, and I’m here. How many lawyers come visit their clients at the beach?”
“Not many,” he concedes. “But here’s the thing. I want you to do something for me. Something that will prove you’re loyal.”
My stomach tightens. I look at the big man, at the massive mob captain. I worried this might be an issue—I’d heard the Crowley family sometimes asks for proof that their people are willing to do whatever it takes to bring strength to the organization. I didn’t think that would extend to their lawyer, but maybe I was wrong.
“I’m loyal so long as you treat me well,” I say, trying a disarming smile. “Which means, so long as you pay your bills.”
He laughs but shakes his head. “No, Kane, I need more than that. How about this. Since you’re such a mercenary, and you don’t give a shit about anything but yourself, how about you give me something of yours? More specifically, how about yousharesomething of yours?” His eyes narrow into a smirk. “I want your wife, Kane. I want to fuck your pretty young wife tonight. If you let me do that, I’ll make sure my father hires you.”
Rage explodes in my chest. Rage so hot it threatens to overwhelm me. In that moment, I forget Carson is a massively dangerous gangster, I forget Fiona isn’t my real wife, I forget everything.
There’s only an overwhelming need to protect her.
To protectmywife. My girl.
“You won’t go anywhere near Fiona,” I snarl at him, teeth tight together. “I’ll cut your fucking throat if you touch her, you piece of shit.”
A wave swells a few feet behind us. It’s a big one, sucking everything back from the shore. Carson’s lips pull into a sneer—then into a grin.
“Good for you,” he says, paddling hard, and catches the wave.
I watch him go, anger still bubbling in my stomach.
What the fuck was that?
I stare at the big guy as he rides the wave. When he reaches the shallows, he stands and says something to Nolan, pointing back at me. Both brothers start howling with laughter.
I catch the next wave, paddling the last few feet. Nolan and Carson are doubled over, slapping each other on the back. I stare at them, not happy about being the butt of their fucking joke.
But my eyes drift to Fiona.
She’s kneeling on her towel, watching.
Beautiful fucking Fiona.
“He really thought—oh my god—that I wanted to sleep with his wife!” Carson doubles over with a howl. Nolan’s grinning at me, his laughter fading. “He thought I wanted to fuck his wife! Oh my god! He was so angry!”
Nolan shakes his head. “Sorry, Gareth. Carson’s got a sick sense of humor.”
“I see that.” I stare at the big guy, trying not to knee him in the face. “I can take a little abuse.”
“Ah, fuck,” Carson says, wiping tears from his eyes as his laughter dies down. “You’re okay, Gareth. Your wife really is fucking hot, but she’s not to my taste, so don’t worry about that.”
I take a step forward, hands curled into fists. Nolan’s expression changes, his tilted to the side, frowning at me. A hint of surprise in his eyes.
“Make jokes at my expense,” I say loud enough that they can just hear me over the waves breaking on the sand. “But don’t make jokes about my wife. I know who you two are. I know what you two do. I’ve worked for men like you all my life, and I know how to hurt you. Don’t talk about my wife again.”
