Now we just found out something really telling about Senator Mayfield that I am sure not even Trace knows. I do not want her finding any of this out now, not when we just got into our groove and started living as a loving couple.
This honeymoon period in our relationship is too great to ruin, and I sure as hell will not be the one to tell her that her mother and father are into some serious kink and the chances of him being part of the Patriots are slim.
“Jace, take it from me, be honest with your woman, always. This info will affect not only her, but that scope of her investigation, as well, and you know it. She needs it all to form her profile. Without this, she’s flying blind. Tell her,” Miah says, shaking his head at me when all I do is scowl.
“I don’t want to tell her this shit, bro, it’s Goddamned awkward. How would I do it, anyway? ‘Hey, Trace? We just found out that your mother and father are into threesomes and some kinky shit, and their partner of choice just so happens to be the guy they want you to marry.’ No fucking way, man, that’s just weird,” I mutter, cringing when I hear a gasp behind me and look at my brothers to see them all wincing and looking at a point over my shoulder with horror-filled eyes.
“Well, this is awkward,” Jared mutters, rubbing at his beard growth with a frown.
I turn slowly, not wanting to see her face but knowing that now that it’s done, I can’t take it back. My bastard brothers probably knew she was there and let me run my mouth off. Assholes.
“Trace.”
She’s white as a sheet and looks like a statue just standing there with her eyes wide and her mouth trembling softly.
“That is like the grossest thing I ever heard, and I thought overhearing your mom and dad yesterday was horrible,” she breathes, looking up at me with what I now see is anger, not hurt. “Are you telling me, my own father is trying to marry me off to his, his…I can’t even finish that sentence, for God’s sake!” she yells, pacing into Jared’s command center with a scowl and her fists clenched.
It’s probably a bad idea to touch her right now, but I do it anyway, needing to give her some comfort for the terrible way she just found out that her parents are…God, even I can’t finish that sentence and I know more than she does.
I get a good right hook to the gut and double over in pain, wincing when I wrench my shoulder.
“Ow!”
“You weren’t going to tell me, huh? Shame on you, Jason Antonio Lane. Shame on you! I need to know these things…well, not all of it, but…Jesus.” She groans, pulling a face. “Who the heck would even want to bone Timothy? Have you all taken a good look at the little weasel? And to think, they were all discussing grandchildren a few weeks ago. Gross!”
I’m certain now that my little princess is not happy about learning this—hell, I’m not happy knowing this shit and they aren’t my parents.
“You know what this means? Shit!” she says, cursing and pacing with renewed vigor as the four of us just stand there, watching her have a meltdown, stopping every once in a while to shudder before resuming her trek across the carpeted floor.
I have no idea what that means and I can’t say I care right now. I’m still stuck on her disdain for the guy I’ve been jealous of for days. So she thinks little Timmy boy is gross, huh? Score one for me, asshole. Let’s see how well you hold up when my little fighter stops being grossed out and starts realizing what you all had planned for her.
“What does this mean?” I ask, throwing my brothers a look when the three boneheads start chuckling under their breaths.
“It means they can’t freaking extort money out of me for marrying you! That’s what it means. Oh my God, this is the grossest best thing that has ever happened to me!” she shrieks, jumping up and down in glee.
Did you know my baby is the type to look on the bright side while making an ironic comment about damn near everything?
It’s one of the things I love best about the woman.
Her words make me smile and I start making some lofty plans now that I’m not four million short anymore.
“Come on over here, babe,” I purr, flipping my three brothers the finger when she leaps at me and starts kissing all over my face.
They’re finding this amusing…hell, why not? I’m totally bowled over by the fact that instead of remaining horrified and crying in her milk, my Trace is looking for positives and enjoying the heck out of it.
“Oh!” she suddenly gasps, pulling away with a frown. “Do you think this means my dad’s not corrupt or involved with this whole Patriots thing?”
I can’t help it. I start laughing at her chagrin, and soon my brothers are laughing right along with me while Trace just looks around with her nose scrunched as if she’s smelled something particularly bad.