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I almost blurt out something inappropriate, but I manage to press my lips together and stop myself.
I don’t know why I’m so surprised to see that one of the women is pregnant. People have babies all the time. It’s just that, having assumed I’d be forever single, I also assumed I’d never have kids.
Then I met Hans. And then I started to understand just how dangerous Hans’s world is. So I just assumed that would also mean no kids.
And if I have Hans, I don’t need anything or anyone else.
But these women live in that same dangerous world. And it doesn’t look like it’s stopping them from doing anything.
Nice houses. Babies…
Does that mean this is a possibility for us, too?
The tattooed man moves to stand next to his pregnant wife. “Cassie, was it?”
I nod as I feel Hans come up behind me.
Val looks up at her husband. “Did you not introduce yourself outside?”
Dom shakes his head, and the side of his mouth pulls up. “Hans was being a bit… territorial.”
Two large hands settle on my shoulders, and I watch as all three women smile up at Hans.
I don’t really like them looking at him because I know how hot he is, and I can’t stand the thought of someone else having dirty thoughts about my Grizzly Bear. But these ladies all have their own super attractive husbands, so I force my hackles to stay down.
There’s another round of introductions between the wives and Hans, and the guys all officially say hello to me. The whole thing is a lot less awkward than I expected.
I know the three men run some crime organization. And I know my man has a scary reputation for killing lots of people. But it kind of feels like I’m at my boyfriend’s holiday work party.
Then someone opens the first pizza box, and we all grab plates and seats around the U-shaped island. Hans and I seem to be the dividing line in the middle, with the women all seated next to me and the men on the other side of Hans.
“So.” Savannah turns to me as I lift a slice to my mouth. “What do you do for work?”
I halt my hand, the pizza inches from my mouth. “Oh, well, I’m in HR, but my company went through some stuff, like, last week, so I think I’m gonna look for another job.”
Hans shifts on his stool beside me. “You don’t have to work.”
Val snickers from her spot next to me. “Okay, so he’s like the rest of them.”
I’m guessing she means overbearing, so I nod and shove the pizza into my mouth.
Payton smiles. “Well, if the guys are gonna start working together, you could always help Aspen and me organize fundraiser events.” Seeing my confused look, she clarifies, “Aspen is King’s other sister and one of my best friends. You’ll like her.”
My confusion was actually over her just blindly offering me a job of sorts, but I appreciate her telling me who this other woman is too.
Val snickers. “And since Aspen is hooking up with my husband’s second in command, it’s only a matter of time before they become official, and she lives out her ownhappily ever after.”
Savannah snorts. “Any time I want to piss King off, I remind him that he’s gonna have two sisters married into the Chicago mafia.”
I smile and nod as I eat more of my slice. There are too many new names for me to keep up with. I feel like I need a chart, or a book, to keep track of them all.
Payton goes back to her original topic of inviting me to help with their fundraisers. “No pressure or anything. But if you don’t go back to work and want something to do, we can always use the help.”
“That’d be nice,” I say honestly.
I’ve never planned any kind of big event, but I’m good at following directions, so I’m sure I could learn.
“Great!” She beams, then tips her head. “Wait, do you live here? I know Nero mentioned that Hans is somewhere in the cities…”
