Page 9 of Spook’s Honor

Then there’s the ten-year age gap. Another reason not to venture into anything with this woman. Admittedly, to most people ten years isn’t a huge gap. But when you’ve seen and done the things I have, those ten years may as well be twenty.

It doesn’t escape me that I’m listing all the cons while lusting after the daughter of one of my brothers. I’m not even going to try to look for the plus points.

That’s not to say I won’t enjoy the view while she’s visiting. Because I will.

So, fucking much.

All these thoughts run through my head right up until Axle goes and introduces Honor to Maverick.

Possessiveness like I’ve never felt streaks through me, and I can’t suppress the growl that escapes me or the glare I aim at my best friend.

All my good intentions of keeping my hands to myself disappear in a puff of smoke the second Maverick greets her with his usual, charming grin. And he knows it. The fuckhead.

He knows me so well. I may as well piss on her leg when I crowd her and growl. Jesus Christ, I fucking growl. At my best friend.

Maverick smirks at me.

Fuck me. I’m so screwed.

***

I leave the boys with Honor and walk to the bar where Maverick is eyeing me with unholy glee in his eyes. The fuckhead. Sometimes it sucks to have a best friend who knows you so well.

Taking the beer that Muppet hands me with a nod of thanks. I turn and lean against the edge of the bar, folding my arms as I keep an eye on Mason, Reed, and Honor.

“You should ask Honor to be your nanny,” Maverick says.

Side-eying him I ignore his suggestion. He’s a pushy fucker though so I know he won’t stop. “The boys like her and she’s here for a bit. Fuck’s sake, you like her.”

“No.” I turn and stare at my friend.

“Why not?” he demands.

“She’s too soft for this life and she’s here to get to know Axle and Angel.”

Mamba scoffs. I turn and glare at him, but as usual, he’s got his head buried in a computer.

“You got something to say?” I growl.

He lifts his head and smirks, “Nope. I think I’ll let you make a fool out of yourself on this one.”

Straightening I demand, “What does that mean?”

He shrugs, closing the laptop, he slides from his stool. “You’ll see.”

Turning back to Maverick, my eyes catch Jake’s. He’s looking amused, I raise my brows. “She’s not as soft as you think. But I’m with your computer brother on this. I think I’ll sit back and watch.”

They’re all pissing me off. Maverick with his pushing. Mamba with intel he isn’t sharing. It isn’t lost on me that I can find out whatever I want with just a call. For some reason, I don’t want to do that. Learning information the old-fashioned way is sometimes better. I want her to tell me. This push and pull feeling I’ve got when it comes to her is driving me nuts. I need to get a grip.

It’s only been a few hours since we met, and she’s already turning me inside out.

“What about you?” I turn to Axle who until now hasn’t said a word. “Would you be happy to have your daughter in this life?”

Axle takes a swig of his beer, lowering his arm, he eyes me steadily, “Not really my choice VP. She’s an adult and can make her own decisions. Would I like her to have a reason to stay here? Fuck yeah, I would. But it’s not my right.” He hesitates and scratches at his cheek. “That being said, my brothers are some of the best men that I know, and I think she could do a lot worse. Is she cut out for this life?” He shrugs. “I don’t know. That would be up to her. But if she’s anything like her mother, then she’s a fighter and she’ll thrive.”

He stops for a minute, and we watch as Angel and Honor lean towards each other as they discuss something. Reed has given up on playing and has curled up on Angel’s lap much the same way that Mason is in Honor’s. Not sure what it is about these women that they’ve enthralled my boys. Axel’s voice intrudes on my thoughts.

“You’ll be a lucky man if she’s half the woman her mother is… but it’s your decision on whether you’ve got the balls to put up with a strong, take-no-shit woman.”