Chapter 69
CHAPTER
SIXTY-NINE
LOOT
Their heads are bent toward one another. I watch as they look at something, and there are matching smiles spread across their faces. I don’t know what they’re looking at, and I don’t give a shit, either. The sight of them is all I need.
Absolute fucking perfection.
They must sense me watching them, because in perfect sync, they turn their heads and look over at me. Both of their smiles spread from ear to ear. Taking one step toward them, then another, I close the distance between us.
I cup Juliette’s cheeks, touching my mouth to hers in a light brush. Straightening, I lift my hand and ruffle Cade’s hair.
“What are you two doing together?” I ask, not speaking to either of them specifically.
Juliette shrugs a shoulder, but Cade can keep zero fucking secrets, something we might have to work on later in life if he’s going to join the club. But as I watch him reach for his magazine and slide it in front of me, I wonder if maybe he should be doing something else with his life.
“I found a robotics camp, and I’d really like to check it out. Juliette said it was a possibility.”
It’s my turn to smile. “It’s not a possibility,” I murmur as I watch his face fall. “It’s happening.”
His gaze lifts to mine, his eyes widen, and then a smile appears on his face. It’s huge, massive even, and I know that whatever the cost of this robotics camp, it will be worth it. Because when it comes to Cade’s happiness, every penny spent is worth it.
Every fucking penny.
“Wow, Dad. Thanks,” he cries as he throws his arms around me in a hug.
Wrapping my arms around him, I keep him close to me for a moment. I know these hugs are going to be few and far between with each passing year, so I need to soak them up and in when I can, like now.
“Anything for you, Cade,” I murmur, then lower my chin and touch my mouth to the top of his head.
I release him and watch as he takes the magazine, then walks over to the dining room table and sinks down in a seat. He focuses on the pages, flipping one every so often as Juliette moves toward me. Her arms slide around my waist as she tilts her head back, and her eyes find mine.
“Welcome home. You smell like smoke,” she says, wrinkling her nose.
“Bonfire,” I grunt.
She snorts, her eyes dancing as they search mine. “Liar. I know what you do.”
“Yeah?” I ask. “You do?”
Juliette hums, shifting her hands between us, and I feel her warm palms press against my chest, but I can’t tear my gaze away from hers. Fuck me, but I could fuck her right here if Cade weren’t in the room.
“You burn down buildings for a percentage of the insurance money. Elodie and Alex told me all about it over pastries and coffee this morning.”
I should be surprised by her words, and I am, but I’m more interested in the pastries and coffee. Arching a brow, I start to ask her about said pastries and coffee, but she speaks first before I get the chance.
“We meet for coffee and pastries once a week. We talk about work, but mostly we don’t.”
Laughing, I shake my head a couple of times. “Does it bother you?” I ask.
She shrugs a shoulder. “I knew you weren’t doing anything legal, but I thought it was worse.”
I shift forward, my lips touching hers. Slipping my tongue out, I slide it through the seam of her lips, tasting her, and when her mouth parts, I take the opportunity to explore deeper. It’s deep, hot, and wet, though it doesn’t last as long as I would like.
Lifting my head, I look into her eyes before I speak. “How worse?” I ask.
She shakes her head once, her lips curving up into a smirk. Lips I want on mine or wrapped around my cock. Basically, I’d like them to be busy on me, with me, whatever the fuck works. I’m not picky.
“I don’t know. Drugs, sex, maybe rock and roll.”
I burst out laughing. “I’ve done drugs, I’ve had a lot of sex, and I’ve listened to a hell of a lot of rock and roll.”
“You don’t burn anything down unless the person who owns said thing asks you to, right?”
“Right,” I agree.
“Then it could be worse,” she murmurs.
I don’t tell her how illegal it is to do what we do and how I’ve used all the proceeds from that very illegal business to fund my own business. Getting convicted of any wrongdoing could put my entire retirement plan in jeopardy.
I’m not sure what it says about her that she’s accepted my career choice so easily. She knows the club is involved in illegal shit, and she knows what that shit is, but she’s acting as if I’m working a nine-to-five when I’m clearly not.
I guess it doesn’t matter as long as she knows the basics and she’s good with it. She still accepts me for me, loves me for me, and is mine. All she really needs to know is that I’m her man.
And that I’m going to take care of her. Plus, I fucking love her.
Every goddamn ounce of her.