Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
MASSIO
A sense of peace washes over me as Thea interacts with my family. She holds herself so well, with an air of confidence I’m proud of, no sign of the arrogance and pompousness her mother radiated.
If ever I thought she was anything like Veronica, I was wrong, very wrong.
Miko eyes me, no doubt taking in my arm banded along the back of her chair as I play with the strands of her pink hair. A smile tugs at his lips, and I want to throat-punch him. He knows damn well I’m not leaving this family any time soon, if ever.
I clear my throat. “Where are the twins? I thought you said you were rounding them up. I was hoping to see them before we leave.”
Zane shifts in his chair. “It appears Fenton is at his friend’s house,” he says with a sneer, causing me to chuckle. “Fern is at a dance class.”
“How old are your children?” Thea asks.
“Seventeen.”
Her mouth falls into an ‘O,’ then she swallows. “Which school do they attend?”
“Bellevue High.”
“They were expelled from their last school,” Miko tacks on, earning him a glare from Zane that would usually make grown men cower.
Zane dabs the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “It was a misunderstanding, that’s all.”
“One the principal refused to retract despite how hard we pushed.” Miko continues as if he has a death wish.
Sal slams his hand down on the table. “Stop goading him, Miko. Do you want him to draw his gun on you again?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, and Thea glances up at me. The questions dance in her eyes, but I don’t answer them. I’m sure she can figure out he’s not joking.
Opting to change the topic, I turn my attention to Miko. “When does your app go live?”
Miko exhales loudly. “Soon. I just can’t decide on my branding. Nothing feels right.”
Ah, there we have it, just what I needed him to say. I clear my throat and pull my phone from my pants pocket, find the photo, then shove it in his direction. “The next two images only.” There’s no way in hell I’ll allow him to see any images of my girl naked.
Miko’s eyes light up. “Who did these?” I tilt my head toward Thea, grateful I had the foresight to take a photo of the images she drew in her journal.
If I can make her see she has a solid career available here, along with the ability to have a family, there’d be no need for her to ever consider moving away.
Not that I’d let her anyway, but it would definitely make things easier for our relationship if she was on board with my plan in the first place.
“They’re impressive,” Miko tells Thea, and her cheeks flush.
I nuzzle into her neck, pressing a soft kiss just below her ear. “Told you, Little Brat,” I whisper against her skin.
“Do you think you could create me something?” Miko asks, with hope in his eyes.
The excitement emanates from her. “Sure. I’d need a mood board, so to speak, for inspiration.”
My spine bolts straight. Hell no! I don’t want Thea seeing the shit he’s into. It’s enough to freak anyone out, let alone someone new to sex. Nope, I like my girl just the way she is—innocent.
“She doesn’t need the rundown, just the essentials,” I say.
“Fucking hell. It’s an app used to link consenting adults into a sex game, nothing sinister,” Miko says, and I close my eyes, trying to rein in my temper.
He really had to go there, didn’t he.
“A game where there’s a sex hunter and a prey sounds just like the kind of conversation to have around the family dinner table. It makes me grateful my children aren’t present.” Zane sneers.
“They aren’t exactly children,” I inform him. “You talk like they’re preschoolers. Pretty sure they know what sex is, Zane.”
Zane blinks as if the thought never occurred to him.
“Still, probably not something he wants them involved in,” Sal agrees.
Winter snorts, then holds her hands up. “Well, you’ll find no judgment here.”
Miko smirks like the cat that got the cream.
“What’s the name of the app?” she asks, oblivious to the fury radiating from Sal.
“The Hunt,” Miko says, and even I can admit there’s an excitement in his eyes that’s been absent before now.
Maybe this is what he needs, somewhere to live out his sexual urges.
“When it goes live, let me know. I’ll follow you,” Winter says. “I have a bunch of influencer friends who will share too.”
“You’ll do no such fucking thing. Give me your goddamn phone right fucking now!” Sal booms, and we all jump.
Winter’s gaze lands on each of us. “B-but. I need it.”
“Winter … give me your fucking phone!” Sal stands, walks around the table, and holds his hand out.
“My life is over. I hope you’re satisfied.” She slaps the phone into his hand. “This is ridiculous! And you wonder why I like going to college so much. To get away from your control!” Then she pushes back in her chair and stomps out of the room.
Sal glances over his shoulder, watching her leave.
“And don’t slam—”
She slams the door behind her, then he turns his attention back to Miko. He pushes the phone in his direction. “Make sure she can’t get on anything sex related.”
A low whoosh of air leaves Thea, and she fidgets in her chair. My lip twitches. I’ve seen her search history, and there’s something very primal about an inexperienced woman searching “how to make a man’s cock fit in your ass.”
“You still have the trackers on the twins too? I don’t want them researching your site,” Zane says.
“Fuck my life. It’s sex with consenting adults. Not necrophilia,” I bite out.
“I have no clue what you just said. But I don’t care. My children are innocent. I intend to keep it that way.”
Thea’s chest wobbles as she stifles a laugh, and my eyes land on her tits. Jesus, they’re impressive, especially for someone her age. I can’t wait to watch them transform when she becomes pregnant.
“Newsflash, dipshit, they’re seventeen. They’re not innocent. Hell, Fen probably has his cock shoved up his girlfriend’s ass right about now,” Miko states.
Zane sucks in a sharp breath, and his face reddens.
Sal claps his hands together. “That’s enough.
” Then he turns toward Zane and rests his hand on his shoulder, his eyes oozing compassion.
“At least he can’t knock her up if he comes in her ass.
” He shrugs, and Zane looks seconds away from blowing.
Then he throws his hand out toward me. “Just make sure he doesn’t get married and tie himself down to the wrong kind, like this idiot did. ”
I swear I want to kill him right now, and judging by the way Thea stiffens, she would love to kill me too.