Page 104 of Lethal Attraction

Intrigue peaks in him as he lifts a brow. “That sounds really efficient.”

“You’re not freaked out by it?”

He snorts before wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. “My girlfriend is an assassin. Nothing freaks me out.”

I roll my lips in as we step into utter chaos. All across the bar, assassins are enjoying their drinks while examining the Kill Catalog for their newest hit. A few patrons shout at Dale as he dips back and forth behind the bar, and there’s a rather loud game of pool going on in the furthest left corner. Heavy metal blares over the speakers, and someone belts along with the lyrics, sounding like a dying cat.

Theo notices us first from their table in the right corner of the bar. He waves us over with a crooked smile. “Glad you could make it! How’s it going, Reed?”

They do that weird man handshake where they slap each other’s backs and pull away quickly.

“Doing good,” Reed smiles.

Addison wiggles her fingers at me as she sits perched on Rowan’s lap, who’s kissing her neck and moving her hair aside for better access. I make a face akin to disgust, and she waves at me.

“Ignore him,” she grins with flushed cheeks. “He’s a little drunk right now.”

“Drunk, stressed,” Theo shrugs. “Same thing.”

Dom nods silently as he sits beside Bailey. The South branch leader looks as if she’s seen better days as she grumbles over her glass of beer and barely acknowledges anyone. I’m sure this whole situation has had her in knots, and staying with Dom and Theo isn’t helping.

Alana bounces off Connor’s lap, dragging him after her as they greet Reed brightly.

“Hey!” Al exclaims. “So good to see you again, Reed.”

“Welcome to the family, man,” Connor nods as he rubs his wife’s back.

“Thank you,” Reed says genuinely as he shakes hands with Connor.

Taryn and Emma appear to our left, drinks in their hands as they talk quietly among themselves. As soon as Taryn notices us, her eyes light up. “Reed! Have you seen this place?”

He glances down at me with heat in his gaze as he answers. “Yeah, I’ve seen a little…”

I elbow his side as we chuckle quietly at our inside joke.

Taryn nearly spills her martini as she spreads her hands wide. “There’s at least a solid thirty to forty acres on this compound!”

Emma places a hand at the small of her wife’s back as she appears amused. “She’s been talking nonstop about this place. It’s in a great location and there’s a hospital not even twenty miles from here.”

“Hospital?” Theo snorts as he wraps an arm around Taryn’s shoulder. “Why even bother with professionalism when you two could work for the compound? Rowan pays well.”

My brother’s head shoots up as he frowns. “And who said I was hiring them?”

Addison rolls her eyes with a slight smirk before she whispers in Rowan’s ear. His brows hit his hairline before his tune changes. “You’re hired. Start whenever the fuck you want.” He tucks his head into her hair, nipping at her skin. “So…are we doing that now or?”

Eww.

The door to the bar opens, and in waddles poor Loxley, her belly straining against her Sweet Haven shirt and poking out of the bottom of it. She huffs as she stops in front of our table, a sour expression on her face. “Still no baby.”

Atlas comes up behind her, offering a hand of support on her back as he tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s early, Short Stack. The doctor said to give her a few more days.”

Loxley groans, her eyes screwing shut as her head rests back against her shoulders. “I’m evicting her. I can’t get comfortable at night, everything tastes wrong, and I can’t even put on my own shoes.”

Atlas kisses her temple. “And that’s what you have me for. Do you need another body pillow at night? I’ll get one. I know you love the taste of ramen right now, and we’ll have it every meal if we have to. And your shoes? I can put those on, baby.”

My sister-in-law opens her eyes, her face softening into something fond. “What would I do without you?”

Atlas tilts her chin up before kissing her slowly and sensually. “I’m here to make things easier.”