He sidesteps from view as I make my way to where the panel for the alarm is, re-emerging from the kitchen with his handgun at the ready by his thigh. I point to the flashing light that indicates the backyard, and we spread out either side of the French doors that lead out onto the patio. Bronx checks through the windows, nodding to indicate it’s clear on his side, and I do the same.
There’s no one there.
Yeah, and a house alarm also doesn’t set itself off.
The cops may not have been able to pin a thing on me, given that I’m legally dead, but everybody connected to the underworld in the northern states knows what really happened. So it’s fair to say we both have a few enemies.
Bronx reaches out, flicking the latch and pushing the door open as he straightens back to his side of the doorway. We wait for a beat, nothing happening, and then the last thing I expect to hear has me leaping out of my skin.
Meow.
“Fucking cats,” Bronx hisses, stepping out the door and glaring at his two dogs who lie on the grass with tongues hanging out. “And you two . . . fucking hopeless.”
The stray moggy wraps itself around Bronx’s legs, rubbing its back high on his calves. He shakes it off with a gentle push, stooping down to pick it up, and walks across the lawn to drop it back over the six-foot fence that rings our property.
As I look around the yard, mind-mapping how I’m going to landscape the garden, it hits me. This right here—this is what it’s all about. Every experience that caused me to suffer, and every heartache I endured, it all led me to this. Our love might not be conventional, and we may need a shitload of assurance that what we are is enough a lot of the time, but this love? It’s ours.
I put the safety on the gun, and shake my head with a smile as Bronx reaches the edge of the lawn. “Those strays are getting worse. I think I need a new dog.”
“I think you may be right.” He steps up on to the patio and tucks his gun in the back of his shorts to pat the rottweilers on his way past.
“But first . . .” I squeal and giggle as Bronx scoops me up, carrying me inside the house and pausing to shut the door. “You look too fuckin’ sexy carrying that piece to make me wait any longer.”
Bronx captures my mouth with his own, groaning as I toss my gun onto the sofa as we pass by. He hesitates at the alarm panel, re-setting the zones, and then gives me that one-sided smile that sets my heart on fire each and every time.
“Love you, darlin’.”
“Love you more, trouble-maker.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Love King? Want to know more about Dog? Missing Hooch?
Sign up to Max’s newsletter and be first to know the release dates for the Fallen Saint series.
ALSO BY MAX
BUTCHER BOYS SERIES
Devil You Know - FREE!
Devil on Your Back
Devil May Care
Devil in the Detail
Devil Smoke
BANJAXED SERIES
Pistol - FREE!
Loaded
Recoil
OTHERWORLD DESIRES (Paranormal)
Battle to Become
Methods for Mayhem
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
And so comes to an end the Butcher Boys series.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that, but I know I won’t miss them too much as they’ll be sure to pop up throughout the Fallen Saints series.
I’m beyond excited to bring you King’s story next. He holds a special place in my heart (alongside Sawyer, of course). After King will be Hooch, and then at this stage Tap. If you want to be first to know the details of the Fallen Saints as they are released, then make sure you’re on my newsletter list here.
But who to thank?
Well first up this time I’m making it you. I attended a signing in Australia last weekend, and as well as being blown away by the fact I had a line at my table, I almost sold out of the books I took with me; I carried two home. Life goal smashed right there, and it’s because you love to read about these messed up men as much as I love writing about them. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, truly—thank you.
Secondly, as always, my family. Not only am I lucky to have found my happily ever after with a very alpha hubby who supports me one hundred percent, but I am blessed to have two amazing children who love what mummy does. I’m not afraid to say it brought me to tears when my oldest asked me if he can come to my next signing because ‘Mum, I want to watch you do your book thing.’ He’s five. Freaking five and he’s that proud of me. *melts*
Enormous thanks to Lauren and Abbey. You girls made this story so so much better through your advice and honest opinions. Love you forever for that. Keep telling me how it is ;)
I have to give a huge shout out to Eric Battershell for offering me Don (not literally, LOL). I messaged Eric and told him what I was after and he gave me the perfect Bronx. So to both of you, Eric and Don, thank you for the perfect cover.
Last, but by no means least, thank you to my fellow authors. I’d be lost without the support and advice I can find amongst you all, and more often than not, it’s the epic friendships I’ve made these past two years that keep me sane.
Now, back to the grind, eh?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Originally born and bred in Canterbury, New Zealand, Max now resides with her family in beautiful and sunny Queensland, Australia.
Life with two young children can be hectic at times, and although she may not write as often as she would like, Max wouldn’t change a thing.
In her down time, Max can be found at her local gym, brain-storming through a session with the weights. Or, she may be out bumping, and jostling her way along a dirt track with the family in hubby’s 4WD.
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CONTENTS
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Epilogue
Also by Max
Acknowledgements
About the Author