by BJ Bentley
“Okay, but before we go, Minnie and I have something to tell you.”
I looked between the two of them. “Go ahead.”
Bertie turned to our daughter. “Okay, Minnie. You ready to tell Daddy our secret?”
“Secret!” Minnie shouted, her black curls bouncing.
“What’s the secret, baby?” I asked Minnie.
“Baby!”
I chuckled. “Are you just going to repeat Mommy and Daddy?”
Minnie looked perplexed. “Baby!” she insisted.
“Baby, I don’t understand-” My head whipped around to look at my wife. “Baby?” I whispered.
“Yeah. Baby,” she whispered back, her eyes glistening.
I showered both my girls with kisses. “I need a boy, sparrow. Even out the hormones in this place.” I cocked a brow.
“Yes, sir,” she sassed.
I growled. “You’ll get what’s coming to you, later,” I said in her ear.
Bertie
The three of us arrived at Jensen and Charlotte’s house just in time for the food to be ready. Perfect timing as far as I was concerned.
“Lijah!” Minnie squealed when she caught sight of Jensen and Charlotte’s first born, Elijah. I set her down on her feet, so she could join the group of kids in the yard.
“Hey! You’re here!” Charlotte, who had just given birth to her daughter, Alexis, and yet, was somehow full of boundless energy, embraced me in an awfully strong hug for such a petite woman.
“Sorry we were late. We had to have a family meeting.”
“Oh, no, is everything alright?”
I waved off her concern. “Yes, most definitely.” There was not a damn thing I could do to keep the shit-eating grin off my face.
Charlotte took a step back and eyed me from head to toe before gasping. “You’re pregnant!” she said in a stage whisper. “Aren’t you? Tell me I’m right!” she demanded.
I nodded, grinning like a fool, and shedded a few happy tears.
“I knew it! I’m kind of an expert now, you know?” she giggled. “So, no booze for you! We’ve got plenty of iced tea and lemonade, though, so drink your fill of that.”
I laughed. “Sounds good to me.” We walked over to where our husbands were manning the grill.
“Hey, Bertie,” Jensen greeted me. “Heard the good news. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” I wrapped an arm around Aleksander’s waist and eyed his beer longingly, letting a sigh escape.
He chuckled and kissed my forehead. “It’s only a few months,” he said, winking.
I almost snarled at him. Few months, my ass.
“Bertie, you hungry?” Charlotte asked, unwittingly saving my husband’s life, and getting my attention.
Was I hungry? “You got any pie?”
***The End.***
Turn the page for a sneak peek of The Long Game, book 3 in the Syndicate series!
Excerpt from The Long Game
© BJ Bentley
2018
Prologue
Lacey
I was one hundred percent certain that this was a bad idea. A very bad idea. But, I wasn’t in charge, so it wasn’t my call. I held my weapon steady as I slinked my way down the hall and cautiously peered around the corner.
Clear.
I continued my trek until I came to the next corner and again peered around it. I raised my weapon and swept it from side to side in anticipation of being met with the enemy.
All clear.
I came to the door which separated me from either my ultimate goal or my utter failure. Something about the situation felt off. Where were the guards? Something that valuable would never be left unguarded, and the sinking feeling in my stomach had me fearing the worst. The sound of footsteps had be swingin my gun back around.
“Woah! It’s just me,” David whispered, hands and gun held up in surrender. “I thought you were going to wait for me,” he accused.
“I couldn’t. Something doesn’t feel right about all of this. I had to see for myself what was going down,” I explained.
“That’s no excuse,” he grumbled, and I rolled my eyes.
“Whatever. We’re wasting time,” I snipped.
“Well, then, lead the way,” he swept his arm out dramatically in a gesture for me to proceed.
I narrowed my eyes at him before resuming my assessment of the empty hallway and how unnerved it made me feel. Tiptoeing down the hall, we each moved to opposite sides, flanking the door. David tried to peer into the small window, but squinted and shook his head.
“It’s too dark. No visual,” he said quietly.
My hand inched toward the doorknob, gripping it tightly as I silently mouthed, “One, two, three,” and wretched the door open.
I ducked low in anticipation of an attack but none came. The lights flickered on when David flipped the switch. I sucked in a harsh breath at the sight before me. The small, dingy room was coated in blood. The air was thick with the coppery smell.
“Shit,” David bit out. “We’re too late.”
“Yeah,” I croaked, staring at the chair in the middle of the room that held the body of a woman whose life had depended on me. And I failed her.
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Other books by BJ Bentley:
The Intuitive Series
Handcuffs and Coffee: A Psychic’s Guide to Dating
Masonry and Margaritas: An Artist’s Guide to Dating
Temptation and Tea: An Empath’s Guide to Dating
The Syndicate Series
Finders Keepers