“Whoa whoa whoa.” Luke grabbed her around the waist, careful of the raised weapon, just before she started swinging. “Easy there, tiger,” he murmured to her as he took the bat from her and tossed it toward Daniel. “Let me at him—I’ll kill the son of a bitch,” she screamed.
“Language!” Luke, Daniel, and Sam admonished her at the same time. She just rolled her eyes and huffed as she realized Luke was not letting her go that easily.
“You all right there, Pops?” Sam yelled toward the house and Sophie looked to where Bob was sitting on top of Marco, who had his hands cuffed behind his back and was just rousing from his state of unconsciousness.
“Never been better.” Marco struggled beneath him before Bob knocked him out again. “Stay down, son.”
Sophie put a hand up to her mouth as the adrenaline finally dissipated from her bloodstream. It was over and everyone was safe—for now.
“Baby? Look at me.” She turned around to look at Sam. “Are you okay?” She nodded her head as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She’d been so afraid when Marco had arrived—afraid to lose him, afraid she’d die without ever telling Sam how much she loved him.
“I love you, Sam! I love you so much. Will you marry me?” Sam pushed her away roughly.
“What?” he asked her incredulously.
“I love you and don’t want to spend another minute of my life without you. Will you marry me?” He ran a hand through his hair and looked at their friends who were standing around them. They all smiled at the two of them, even though there were four gangsters lying cuffed and unconscious around them.
“Dammit, woman!” he cried out in frustration and Sophie bit her lip to keep the tears at bay. She should have known that something like this would happen. Why would he want to marry someone like her? Why would he... all train of thought left her mind as Sam kneeled in front of her while pulling a velvet box from his pocket.
“I wanted to ask you, but as always—you just had to go and jump the gun.” He flicked it open and there, nestled in the soft royal blue cushion was the ring she knew had belonged to his mother: a plain silver band with a small diamond in the center and so beautiful that she couldn’t hold back the sob bubbling in her chest.
“You are stubborn and frustrating and so damn brave. You are beautiful and exceptional, and it would be the greatest honor if you would marry me.”
“Of course I would.” She watched as his face broke out in a smile and he slipped the ring onto her finger. The sound of sirens filled the night air just as Sam rose to his feet, kissing her fiercely. As he pulled her in to hold her tight, he whispered in her ear.
“There’s a long list of transgressions that needs punishment after tonight. Putting yourself in danger, taking on a criminal by yourself, and then you proposing to me? Oh, yes, we are going to be busy for quite some time.” Sophie shivered, and she hugged him tighter.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter Eleven
Riley was lounging on her bed as she watched Sophie packing her clothes into the duffle bag she had arrived with two months ago.
“Aren’t you going to pack?” she asked Riley as she threw some toiletries into the bag.
“I’m already done,” Riley said with a shrug of her shoulders.
“What? The guys only told us this morning that we are going to New York.”
Riley sat up with a slight blush. “Luke told me last night, so I had plenty of time to pack.”
Sophie raised her eyebrows.
“Don’t ask,” Riley muttered and Sophie giggled.
“I wasn’t gonna.”
Riley rolled her eyes as she got off the bed and clapped her hands. “You done?”
Soph nodded. “Good. Then let’s get this show on the road.”
After the chaos of what was supposed to be a relaxed Sunday afternoon barbeque, they had basically been on lockdown until Daniel had finished with all his arrangements. His leave period was coming to an end and he had arranged for all of them to return to New York with him. He had a few good connections, apparently, that would help keep them safe while the investigation into the Connor brothers started. Luke and Sam had put in a leave of absence immediately and Riley had refused to leave Sophie’s side unless Sam was around. They were flying out that night, using a private jet that was sent to collect them by these ‘friends’ of Daniel’s.
Sam and Luke came into her ridiculously small apartment and Sophie had a hard time not tearing up at leaving her little sanctuary behind. She didn’t know when she would come back again. Their move to New York was going completely under the radar so that Grant wouldn’t know where to find her. They were leaving Ripley in an inconspicuous sedan and the plane would be picking them up a few towns over. They didn’t want to leave any breadcrumbs for Grant to follow.
“Do you know these friends of Daniel’s?” she asked Sam as he picked up her bag.
“Not personally, but I’ve heard of them.” He allowed her to walk out first and she glanced at him over her shoulder.
“What have you heard?” She was nervous about going back to New York, scared that someone would recognize her and inform Grant, but most of all, she was afraid that more people would get hurt because of her.
“That they are powerful enough to keep you safe.”
“Are they like Grant?” Riley piped up from behind.
Luke laughed. “Sweetie, you might not want to insinuate that the Dunfords are into illegal business.”
“Why not?” Sophie asked as they all got into the car.
“They’re not bad people—just powerful, influential...” Luke answered her from the front seat.
And stinking rich apparently, if the private jet was anything to go by. Sophie didn’t know anything about airplanes, but the three hulking men waiting next to it screamed ‘private security’ and the plane was bigger than Grant’s so—enough said.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” The biggest man of the three, with a buzz cut and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward and he and Sam gave each other that whole man hug, slapping each other on the back kind of thing.
“Mike! Good to see you, man! What are you doing here?” The big guy, Mike, turned to greet Luke in the same way.
“Mrs. Dunford sent us to accompany you on the flight.”
“No need to be so formal, man, I thought we were all friends.” He cast a quick glance at Riley before giving her a small smile. “Hey, Riles.” She ignored him and strode past him into the plane.
“She’s still pissed at you,” Luke muttered as he followed her.
Sophie looked from Luke to Sam and focused back on Mike. “Did I miss something?”
Sam just shook his head at her. “Don’t worry about it. Mike, this is my fiancée, Sophie.” Mike smiled down at her before slapping Sam on the back again. “Bagging a married girl. Not too bad, Hunter.”
Sophie glared at him. “Don’t stick your nose in our business!”
He fixed his gaze on her and she immediately recognized the look. “Thought I taught you better than this, Sam.”
Sam sighed. “We’re not in the lifestyle, Mike.” Sophie frowned—what the hell was he talking about?
“That’s a shame. A bit of discipline goes a long way in keeping your woman in line—and safe.”
One of the other guys coughed out a laugh before Mike turned toward him and introduced them to Sophie and Sam.
“This is Russel and my computer specialist, Dean.” Sam shook their hands before placing one hand on Sophie’s lower back and leading her into the plane.
Riley was already seated and sipping on a glass of champagne that the hostess had offered. The girl glanced up at Sam and gave him a flirty smile. “Can I get you anything?”
Sophie glared at the girl but another voice spoke up before she could leap and scratch the girl’s eyes out for looking at Sam like he was a piece of meat. “Maria. You know better.” The girl cast her eyes down immediately before taking a s
tep back. Sophie turned and her mouth nearly fell open at the handsome man standing just outside the door leading to the cockpit. He smiled at her.
“Sophia Connor. Never thought I’d be lucky enough to meet you face to face. Always saw that pretty face on the TV and in the magazines.”
“Who are you?” Sam asked with a hint of anger in his voice.
Mike came in and smacked the guy on the back of his head. “Can you never just meet a beautiful woman and not immediately piss the man off standing next to her?”
The handsome guy, dressed in dark jeans and a t-shirt, gave Mike a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his neck. He had tattoos running up and down his arms, and his t-shirt rose at the action of his uplifted arm. Sophie could see the vee of his body disappearing into his jeans. He was incredibly attractive but she still only got butterflies for Sam—no harm in looking, however.
“Holy shit!” Riley exclaimed and waved her hand in front of her flushed face.
“Language,” Luke admonished her before glaring at Mr. Hot Stuff in the same way that Sam was. Riley just rolled her eyes at Luke before relaxing back in her chair and allowing her eyes to take in the glorious specimen before them.
“Beau. Get the fuck back in the cockpit before we have to find another pilot. Sage would kill me if we returned with you in a body bag.” Daniel’s voice came from the entrance as he entered the plane. The hostess immediately started pulling up the stairs and locking the door.
“We need to get airborne ASAP. There were two of Connor’s guys spotted a few miles out of Ripley to the north. They are watching all the roads in and out of town.”
The severity of the situation settled around all of them as Beau nodded at Daniel. “Sorry, Chief. I just can’t help it when there are pretty women around.”
Mike slapped him again. “Sophie is too much woman for you and you’re not getting anywhere near Riley, so get back in the cockpit and get us home.” Beau rolled his eyes and Sophie giggled as it made him seem more like a stubborn little boy than a grown man.
He winked at her and Riley moaned out loud next to her.
“Of all things...” Luke slapped a hand over her mouth as Beau chuckled and went back into the cockpit.
“Sorry about that,” Mike apologized as he sat down opposite of Sophie and Riley. Sophie noticed immediately how Riley clammed up. She hardly recognized her fun and flirty friend with the glare she pinned on Mike.
“Beau is a bit rough around the edges,” he continued explaining and one of the other guys sitting toward the back of the plane snorted out load.
“That’s putting it mildly. He’ll fuck anything with a skirt on as long as she doesn’t look...”
“Leave him be. He’s had a hard time,” the second man interrupted him. She thought his name was Dean. And the one who snorted was Russel.
“Hard time, my ass,” Russel grumbled before settling down in his chair.
“Don’t mind them,” Mike said as he too relaxed back in his seat. “They’re like a bunch of delinquents when they’re all in the same room.”
Daniel cleared his throat. “Get some rest. We’ll debrief at the mansion.”
Sophie didn’t like the sound of that. Mansion meant rich people. And rich people were stuck up and judgmental. They’d probably take one look at her and tell Sam to send her back to her husband where she belonged. The high society of New York tended to turn a blind eye to anything that was wrong unless they could benefit from the situation. It was a messed-up lifestyle. Sam squeezed her hand before raising it and kissing her palm. She smiled at him. As long as he stuck by her, she could do anything. Even turn her husband and his entire empire over to the police.
Chapter Twelve
Sophie gaped, open-mouthed, at the gardens leading up the biggest house she had ever seen in real life. There was sloping green grass, rosebushes, and beautiful fountains as far as the eyes could see. This was no normal mansion; this was a big ass estate! The house itself was Victorian style, with huge balconies at some windows, all overflowing with green shrubs and colorful flowers. It looked like a place straight out of a Garden and Home magazine. Riley was just as impressed as she was, her nose nearly pushed against the black tinted window of the SUV they were traveling in. Upon arriving at a private airstrip, the relaxed atmosphere that had settled in the airplane had vanished. The men had all pulled their weapons and checked their ammo before holstering them again, but leaving them unclipped. Riley had given her a reassuring look as their startled eyes had met hers across the small space. Riley had assured her time and time again that the men were made for this kind of stuff. Obviously—they were all in the army. They’d all killed before, but seeing the trio of friends look so serious, deadly, and dangerous brought the idea home all the more. There had been three SUVs waiting for them. Mike was driving their vehicle while she, Riley, and Sam were seated in the back. Luke and Daniel were in the vehicle in front of them, while Dean, Russel, and Beau were in the vehicle behind them. Sophie felt it was a bit much, but she appreciated the fact that whoever was helping them was pulling out all the stops to keep them safe.
They pulled up in front of the big mansion’s wide staircase and Sophie had a hard time settling her nerves. She really hoped that these people weren’t like the other socialites she knew in the city.
They got out of the vehicles and she glanced at the other cars. Beau jumped and leapt up the stairways just as the huge front door flung open.
“Beau!” A woman with long blonde hair streaked in purple and almost every visible inch of her exposed skin covered in tattoos came rushing out.
“Baby!” Beau held his arms open and she jumped into them, wrapping her leather-clad legs around his waist. She gave him a quick kiss before flinging her arms around his neck and holding him tight. It was a sweet moment and Sophie and Riley sighed in unison.
“Lucky bastard,” Dean mumbled behind them.
“He’s gonna get socked in five seconds,” Russel muttered.
“Five bucks says he’s out cold in three,” Mike chipped in too.
“I’ll take that action, boss.” Dean shook his head. “You’re both gonna owe me a drink at the pub. She won’t allow it.” Mike and Russel bumped their fists against each other’s and folded their arms waiting expectantly.
Before Sophie could attempt to figure out what the hell they were going on about, another man came strolling out of the house. He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, but before she could ponder about the insane amount of handsome men surrounding them, another man followed shortly behind, slightly taller and even more handsome than the first one. The first man gestured at Beau to let the woman go and he slowly allowed her to place her feet on the ground. The man made to take her arm and pull her away from Beau, but she turned to them with her hands on her hips. She was stunningly beautiful with her wild hair. Sophie could see various facial piercings and small star tattoos behind her one ear as the woman flung her long hair over her shoulder.
“Don’t look at me like that! You sent him on an extraction without telling me and I didn’t even get to say goodbye!”
Sophie assumed that the two men were her older brothers and that Beau was her boyfriend, but then the taller man opened his mouth. Velvet, smooth, melting chocolate—that’s what his voice sounded like.
“Doesn’t give him a reason to be pawing my wife the moment he gets home.”
Wife? She glanced at the woman’s hand and sure enough, there was a beautiful and intricate tattoo on her left hand’s ring finger.
“Don’t start, Caleb.” She pointed her finger at him with a dark scowl on her beautiful features.
“It’s all right, love,” Beau mumbled behind her, rubbing his neck again in that gesture that showed he was feeling sheepish. “Sorry, man. I was just happy to see her.” The woman beamed up at him.
“Sage!” Caleb’s voice clapped like thunder and she rolled her eyes at him.
“Oh, she’s done it now,” Mike muttered.
“Did y
ou just roll your eyes at me?” Sage blushed delicately before looking down, a half smile on her lips.
“Little brat,” Caleb muttered before holding a hand out to her and she stepped into his embrace, nuzzling her face into his chest. “That’s twenty—for later. Did you greet our guests?” he asked and she whirled around with a sheepish look on her face.
“Fuck! Excuse my rudeness!” She got a sharp look from Mike, Caleb, and the other handsome man before Caleb gave a hard smack on the ass.
“Language,” he said as he took her hand and walked closer to them.
“Welcome to the Dunford mansion. I am Caleb, this is my wife Sage and my brother Lazario.”
Sam stepped up. “I’m Sam Hunter, this is my fiancée Sophie. That’s Luke and Riley.”
Daniel dropped their bags and walked closer. “Hey,” he greeted quickly before Sage launched herself at him as well and Caleb groaned.
“Dan-dan!”
He laughed as he gave her quick hug. “Hey, sweetie. How’ve you been?” She smiled at him.
“Driving Caleb nuts.”
He laughed again.
“Of course you have.” Sage turned toward them and held out her hand with a wide smile.
“Hi! I’m Sage.” Riley and Sophie quickly shook her hand. “Come on. I’ll show you guys where you’ll be staying. Beau?” she asked over her shoulder as she grabbed each of the girl’s hands and started pulling them up the stairs.
“Yeah, babe?” Caleb growled softly and Sage giggled before pecking him on his cheek as they passed him.
“Be a darling and go fetch Mills. She’s gonna love meeting the girls.”
“Can I take Hector?”
Sage smiled at him. “Of course.”
“Absolutely not,” Lazario answered at the same time as she did, and she rolled her eyes again.
“Why don’t you boys go and talk business and leave us girls alone for a bit? I’m sure you have a bunch of serious security details to discuss and I’m going to let the girls unwind and relax a bit.”
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