Chapter Fifteen.
Myka
I was surprised Falcon wasn’t waiting for me, like he usually was. Penny had met me in my bedroom and helped me wheel myself to the elevator.
“How bad?” Texas was demanding, as I entered the rec room.
“Just outside damage from what Hunter reported,” Glitch replied.
“Who’s with Prez?” Texas demanded.
“Klutz and Ghost,” Steel answered him.
“I’m riding, need a backup,” Texas snapped.
“Coming,” Fragment responded, heading toward the door. Texas fell into step beside him.
“What’s going on?” I asked softly, noting everyone’s worried faces.
“Someone tried to burn the garage down. Hunter called in five minutes ago; luckily, the damage seems minimal. Felix was there and got hurt. Calamity is at the hospital with Klutz and Ghost,” Penny murmured.
“What can I do?” I inquired.
“Nothing. Eat,” Artemis interrupted, placing a plate in front of me.
“Where’s Jayes?” I demanded, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.
“Grace has taken him and the rest of Satan’s Spawn to the daycare centre. He’s fine, Myka, look.” Penny tapped on her phone and then passed it to me. My eyebrows shot up as I realised it was the daycare cameras. Jayes sat with a couple of children in a corner, painting.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
“Why? If you hadn’t thought of Jayes, I’d have been alarmed.” Artemis placed a cup of coffee in front of me.
“Is Falcon at the garage?” I asked.
“Yeah, he’ll probably be there all day as Veep,” Ace said.
“Okay.”
“Don’t be so scared. We’re not going to eat you. I’m aware I’ve a reputation, but I’m a pussycat with family.” Artemis frowned.
“A kitty that will scratch your eyes out,” Carmelle quipped, and Artemis sent her a dark look, which Carmelle shrugged off.
“I’m trying to get to know my future daughter-in-law, shut up, bitch,” Artemis snapped, and I began choking on a bite of sausage.
“Yeah, don’t think Myka was ready to hear that, babe,” Ace said, patting my back.
I swallowed hard and blinked at Artemis.
“Um,” I managed, and Ace grinned. Damn, now I knew where Falcon got that shit-eating grin from.
“Yup, terrifying, isn’t it? Imagine Artemis as a mother-in-law,” Ace continued. He pulled a sad face to loud giggles.
“I get no respect,” Artemis complained, and flicked her fingers at Ace.
“Stop frightening Myka. She’s dealing with a lot,” Carmelle chided. I liked Ghost’s woman. Carmelle was quiet, but there was a sense of strength about her.
“I thought we could take you out with Jayes. Calamity said there’s a couple of boats tied up. Ace wants to go fishing. Would Jayes like that?”
I lit up.
Artemis blinked. “You like that idea?”
“Yeah. But Jayes hates worms. As long as someone baits the hook, he’ll be okay.” That was the one thing that Dawson allowed, as it brought food to the table and saved him money.
“I got licences from Calamity yesterday, and I requested a picnic from the kitchen,” Ace said.
“That’ll be great,” I replied. I was looking forward to fishing but not to spending time with Falcon’s parents. They scared the hell out of me.
I leaned back and cast my line. Artemis made a noise of disgruntlement.
“I thought you were being polite,” she complained.
“No. I really enjoy fishing. It’s so relaxing,” I replied.
Artemis scuttled aside as Jayes’ rod, with its worm, dangled close to her. Ace helped him cast it as she wrinkled her nose squeamishly.
Ace looked highly amused. “My wife. She’d take on the world and win, but is terrified of a worm.”
“Shut it, husband, if you want S.E.X. ever again,” Artemis threatened, spelling sex out.
Jayes frowned and tried to mouth the word. “Six?”
“Yup, six,” Artemis agreed.
Artemis squealed as Ace dangled bait near her and shot down the other end of the boat. Wow, this woman was truly scared of them.
“She’s a fuckin’ assassin and walks into terrorist camps for a career to rescue hostages, and she’s frightened of a tiny animal,” Ace muttered, shaking his head.
“What?” I gasped; sure I’d heard him wrong.
“Guess Falcon didn’t share that. Not a surprise. Ain’t something that comes up in everyday conversation. Let me tell you a story. Hey babe, keep Jayes down with you, we need to balance the boat,” Ace called.
Artemis nodded and beckoned Jaye to her. He cast her a dubious look. “I’m not calling you Grandma!” he stated, but moved down to her end. I chuckled at the expression on Artemis’ face as Jayes took his rod with him.
Ace’s explanation of how he and Artemis had met and then broken up held me spellbound.
I was aware of some details from what Falcon had told me.
He’d missed out telling me his mom was a mercenary and a famous bounty hunter.
Who the hell was this woman? I gaped in surprise as the diminutive redhead screeched as Jayes showed her his bait.
Artemis would slit a guy’s throat and walk away, but turned pussy over a worm?
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Ace murmured.
“How do you cope with that knowledge?” I asked.
“Because she’s never killed an innocent. And if Artemis fucks up, she bends over backwards to make shit right again. Because, quite simply, I love her,” Ace replied.
He had to, to live with Artemis. She could slit his throat when he was sleeping if he pissed her off. Jesus!
“Artemis will go to the ends of the earth to protect those she loves. Ain’t nothing she won’t do.
My wife has a monster inside her; targeting bad people keeps that beast under control.
She’s not ever going to be classed as normal, and I don’t care.
Is my family happy, loved, and safe? Hell yes, and that’s what counts,” Ace remarked.
I saw his point. I felt the same way about Jayes. Ace was right. Those were the important things. Even so. Falcon’s mom was a mercenary! No wonder he was so badass.
“Does it worry you—Artemis, going on missions?” I asked.
“Nope. Because she’ll do everything possible to get back to me, and I know what my wife’s capable of. Only an idiot would try to stop her.” Ace grinned.
Fair enough.
I rested against the edge of the boat and stared out at the water. Ace left me with something to consider.
I was laughing as Artemis skipped away from the coolers Ace and I carried. Jayes held one, and I had three while Ace juggled four. Artemis was muttering death threats at Ace, who’d picked a fish up and moved its mouth as if it were talking to her.
She’d yelped, pulled a gun and shot it. Jayes and I stood open-mouthed before I grabbed him and shoved him behind me. Ace roared with laughter, and I decided they were freaking insane.
“I’m gonna kill him,” Artemis complained, walking a distance away from us.
“Not in front of me. I don’t want to testify against my boyfriend’s mom.” The words left my lips, and I stopped moving. I blinked in surprise. Artemis turned to me with a grin when she caught my expression.
“You just realised that,” she teased.
“Yeah.”
“I get the idea; that’s a huge thing to admit.”
“Yup.”
“Breathe, Myka,” Artemis chortled, and I drew in a deep breath and released it.
“Hey!” Falcon called as he approached the dock where we had tied the boat up.
“Good timing, son. Between Jayes and Myka, we’ve caught enough fish to feed the club,” Ace replied. Falcon came up to me and glowered at his mother.
“What have you done to Myka? She looks shell-shocked.”
“You’re my boyfriend,” I said, and Falcon frowned before a shit-eating grin crossed his face. Yup, definitely got that from his father.
“You just realised?” Falcon asked.
“Yeah.”
“It’s okay. I’m a lot to take in. Naturally, you’re overwhelmed that this prime specimen of a male wants you. You’re gorgeous too, but not like me. Everyone wants to be me,” Falcon crowed, and I shook my head.
Ace shook his head in despair at his son’s joking.
“Not me. I want to be Jayes,” Jayes replied, frowning, and I began laughing.
“Out of the mouths of babes.” Ace laughed.
“Come on, these won’t gut themselves,” I said, ruffling Jayes’ hair.
Artemis led the way, still staying away from us.
“Will we have enough?” I worried.
“Yeah, Axel went fishing with Felix, and Fragment was also out on the water. There’ll be plenty of fish, even with the one Artemis shot,” Ace muttered, glancing at his phone.
“Mom, you did what?” Falcon growled out. “I told you not to scare Myka.”
“Pah. Myka’s not scared of me. We spent the day together,” Artemis tossed over her shoulder.
“Yes, and your mother is certifiably insane, and she shot the fish,” I retorted, and Artemis grinned.
“Too true,” she exclaimed, and swanned off in front of us.
“Can’t you keep her under control?” Falcon whined to Ace.
“Nope,” Ace replied. “Anyway, that’s not what frightened Myka so much.”
Falcon turned to his dad, “So help me, I’ll…”
Ace’s laugh cut Falcon off. “Myla realised you’re her boyfriend.”
“And that shocked you?” he asked me with a smug grin.
“Yes. It just seemed to hit me out of the blue,” I admitted. Falcon took a cooler from me and slung an arm around my shoulders.
“Boyfriend will do for now. Everything else can come later,” he promised.
“Okay,” I said, and let the ‘everything else’ fall by the wayside. One day at a time. That’s what counted.
Falcon
If I was shocked Myka could fish, and that Dad praised her skills, then I was even more so when she got down to clean them. Mom disappeared as she always did, which made me laugh. She’d gut a human with no concern, but a fish—no, not Mom. Between us we’d caught a good haul.
Fragment caught the most, and Myka came second with Dad after her. Jayes beat Axel, Dad, and Elijah. Penny, Myka, and Axel cleaned them while the other old ladies busied themselves preparing corn and baked potatoes. Mina and Carmelle were also making some side dishes.