“‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord,” she said, reminding me again of her uncanny way of soothing my soul. Even if it meant guarding it.
She’d decided not to pursue her degree at university until after our baby was born next summer. She did, however, take on her role as curate with vigor.
Reverend Primrose gave her three of the five churches to minister to during Advent, and took the two closest to Alfriston himself. Thus, I was able to experience the magic of the Christmas celebration three times over. I’d do it one hundred times again just to see the joy it brought my wife.
Not only did it bring Harper joy, it also kept her busy enough that she didn’t have as much time to fret over our guests’ arrival. Eliza had taken on the planning of the reception celebration that was to be held tonight, New Year’s Eve.
It was early for guests to be arriving or for the caterers to start setting up, so I had no idea who might be knocking on our door. I was delighted when I opened it to find Adam Benjamin and his son standing on our threshold. “Come in, come in. What a pleasant surprise.”
“We’re early,” said Tai Man. “But we don’t plan to stay.”
“Oh. You’re coming back later, though, yes?”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” said Adam.
“So, um, can I get you anything?” I motioned for them to step into the living room at the same time Harper came out of the bedroom.
“Adam, Tai Man, it is such a pleasure to see you!” She stepped forward and cheek-kissed each man, then met my gaze. I gave a discreet shrug.
“I would prefer to offer my wedding gifts to you in private,” said the man who’d saved my life.
“By all means. Thank you.”
Tai Man stepped forward and presented a box to Harper.
“May I open it now?” she asked.
He held up one finger and turned to me. He gave me a box too, much smaller than hers. “Go ahead,” he said to both of us.
I would normally have waited until my wife had opened her gift, but Tai Man’s insistence that he give us the boxes at the same time dictated otherwise.
I raised the lid and smiled. I looked down at the corded leather that held a single tiger claw. “Many thanks.” My voice was too clogged with emotion to say anything else.
I glanced at Harper’s expression and then looked at what was beneath the lid of her box. The Victorian-looking necklace was made from eight claws similar to the one Tai Man had given me. They were mounted in gold and strung on a delicate gold chain.
“In my mother’s culture, a tiger claw is the emblem of dignity, ferocity, sternness, and courage. We believe it is a symbol of protection.”
Harper, wide-eyed and with a look of awe, turned from me to Tai Man. “I don’t know how to thank you. This means so much.”
Little did she know the truth of her statement. If it weren’t for the man standing before me, I wouldn’t be alive. I also wouldn’t have ventured into the tiger reserve in the first place, but that was a sentiment meant for the next time the two of us met to share a glass of whiskey—an occurrence made more frequent by the asylum and subsequent protection the UK had granted him.
Tai Man leaned in closer to Harper, and I heard him whisper. “The claw of a white tiger, in particular, is said to ward off quarrels.”
Her eyes briefly met mine, and she smiled before her cheeks pinked and she cast her gaze downward. Little did my friend know that Harper already had the means to diffuse any disagreement by that look alone, particularly when she showed me her dimples.
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Keep reading for a sneak peek
at the next book in the
Invincibles series,
Hammered
He’s a ruthless attorney.
She’s a determined bar owner.
Together, they’re INVINCIBLE.
HAMMER
Bottom line, I put the hammer down. That’s the truth and nothing but the truth. But when the CIA director calls in a favor, I’m forced to comply. Keeping an eye on his feisty, reckless sister goes way beyond my retainer. The relentless bar owner doesn’t know when to throw in the towel, which is why I can’t get enough of her.
MAEVE
On my own, doing it my way, that’s all I want. Maybe the bar wasn’t the greatest idea. Punks are stealing from me, quitting on the spot, and worst of all, I’m breaking up bar brawls nightly. Now, I’ve got a rabid lawyer breathing down my neck. Granted, he’s hot as Fireball on a Friday. But I have a job to do; the last thing I need is to get HAMMERED.
1
Hammer
When I saw Money McTiernan’s name show up on my cell shortly after my flight landed in Dallas, I let it go to voicemail. What could he possibly need to talk to me about now, anyway? It hadn’t been that long since we went our separate ways after traveling to DC from London following Saint and Harper’s wedding celebration. Not to mention, it was eight in the morning and I hadn’t gotten any sleep on either plane ride.
My phone vibrated again, this time with a text message.
Urgent I speak with you asap, it read.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, wishing I could wait until I’d gotten some rest to respond. However, that was out of the question. As the Invincibles’ attorney of record, I had no choice but to answer when one of them called with something urgent. While Money didn’t work for the organization directly, he was our primary contact at the CIA, which meant he counted.
“What can I do for you, Money?” I asked when he picked up.
“My sister needs some legal help.”
She better be in lockup for him to send me a message saying it was urgent he speak with me. “What’s going on?”
“She’s buying a bar and the owner tried to renegotiate the sale last night.”
“And?”
“She shot him.”
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Hammered
Also by Heather Slade
BUTLER RANCH
Kade’s Worth
Brodie
Maddox
Naughton
Mercer
Kade
THE WICKED WINEMAKERS’ BALL
Coming Soon!
The Wicked Bachelors’ Auction:Brix
The Wicked Bachelors’ Auction: Ridge
K19 SECURITY SOLUTIONS
Razor
Gunner
Mistletoe
Mantis
Dutch
Striker
Monk
Halo
Tackle
Onyx
K19 SHADOW OPERATIONS
Coming Soon!
Ranger
Diesel
Wasp
Cowboy
THE ROYAL AGENTS OF MI6
The Duke and the Assassin
The Lord and the Spy
Coming Soon!
The Commoner and the Correspondent
The Rancher and the Lady
THE INVINCIBLES
Decked
Undercover Agent (written in Cocky Hero Club World)
Edged
Grinded
Riled
Handled (written in KB Worlds Everyday Heroes)
Smoked
Bucked
Irished
Sainted
Coming Soon!
Hammered
Ripped
COWBOYS OF CRESTED BUTTE
Fall for Me
Dance with Me
Kiss Me Cowboy
Stay with Me
Win Me Over
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