Illicit Temptation (Astoria Royals #3)

CHAPTER NINE

Trace

S hea puts her phone away, her skin pale. “There’s been a shooting... At Lachlan’s wife’s college campus. She was hurt. They’re on their way out here.”

Lachlan showing up is a wrinkle I didn’t count on. There are only two men who scare me. Lachlan O’Rourke is one., Faolan Malone, my old commander, is the other.

“I have to find them someplace to stay.” Shea skirts around me, but I catch her by the arm, her skin as soft and supple as I remember. “Lachlan’s not exactly an easy house guest. He prefers his own space.”

“Where you go, I go.” I pull her in close to me.

Her eyes flutter in aggravation. “I know. They should be landing with Kieran’s helicopter in twenty minutes.”

I steer her to the parking lot and open the door to the backseat of her SUV. I set the nav on her dash to the airfield and ease along the one-lane road while Shea makes calls to secure an Airbnb and rental car for Lachlan and his new wife.

“Thank you so much, Raymond.” Her flirtatious cooing pours gasoline on the flames of jealousy smoldering in my gut.

I don’t know who’s on the phone, but Raymond is toast if he touches her. She’s my wife .

Shea clears her throat, still on the line with the dosser. “Oh... Tonight?”

My body tenses, and when I look in the rearview, she’s staring right at me. With one hand, I lower my shades so she sees my pissed-off look.

“Can’t. Sorry. But thank you for setting me up with the beach house. And sending a car over there.” She ends the call without another word, her gaze lifting back to mine .

“Trace!” she shouts.

“Fuck,” I mutter, swerving away from oncoming traffic.

“Do you even know how to drive on the right side of the road?” she pants.

“I got it, wife.” I loosen my tie, getting my heart rate in check.

“And do not call me wife in front of Lachlan, or you’ll be roadkill.”

“We agree on something. See, we’re already getting along as a married couple.” I settle into the seat and keep my eyes on the road.

We arrive at the helipad as the O’Rourke helicopter is landing. The Enforcer steps out and swings a delicate blonde wearing a yellow sundress off the top of the airstairs.

She looks strong and poised for someone who just came face to face with an active shooter. I hang back from them, remembering my place.

Shea scrambles my head, and I sense how difficult this will be. To guard my wife. All while not letting on that we’re secretly married.

While Shea speaks to Lachlan and his wife, my mind cranks into overdrive. Getting married was a joke. We were goofing off, having a grand ole time. I honestly didn’t think she’d go through with it. Or that I would.

Yet, there we were, saying our nuptials. Then there was the kiss when we were pronounced husband and wife that stopped my heart. I’ve not been the same man since.

Shea chirping Archer’s name to her brother, and how Lachlan went to the scumbag for his wife’s diamond, draws my gaze to the conversation happening a few feet from me. The way Lachlan calmly reacts suggests no one knows about Archer.

Lachlan also barely registers my presence. His focus is entirely on his wife. It’s a stunning transformation from the bloodthirsty killer I’ve known all these years to a gentle and loving husband. It eases my nerves that I’m not being irrational with my feelings for Shea.

Only, I have a lot of time to make up for.