Page 70 of Falcon

“That’ll be great,” I replied. I was looking forward to fishing but not to spending time with Falcon’s parents. They scared the hell out of me.

I leaned back and cast my line. Artemis made a noise of disgruntlement.

“I thought you were being polite,” she complained.

“No. I really enjoy fishing. It’s so relaxing,” I replied.

Artemis scuttled aside as Jayes’ rod, with its worm, dangled close to her. Ace helped him cast it as she wrinkled her nose squeamishly.

Ace looked highly amused. “My wife. She’d take on the world and win, but is terrified of a worm.”

“Shut it, husband, if you want S.E.X. ever again,” Artemis threatened, spelling sex out.

Jayes frowned and tried to mouth the word. “Six?”

“Yup, six,” Artemis agreed.

Artemis squealed as Ace dangled bait near her and shot down the other end of the boat. Wow, this woman was truly scared of them.

“She’s a fuckin’ assassin and walks into terrorist camps for a career to rescue hostages, and she’s frightened of a tiny animal,” Ace muttered, shaking his head.

“What?” I gasped; sure I’d heard him wrong.

“Guess Falcon didn’t share that. Not a surprise. Ain’t something that comes up in everyday conversation. Let me tell you a story. Hey babe, keep Jayes down with you, we need to balance the boat,” Ace called.

Artemis nodded and beckoned Jaye to her. He cast her a dubious look. “I’m not calling you Grandma!” he stated, but moved down to her end. I chuckled at the expression on Artemis’ face as Jayes took his rod with him.

Ace’s explanation of how he and Artemis had met and then broken up held me spellbound. I was aware of some details from what Falcon had told me. He’d missed out telling me his mom was a mercenary and a famous bounty hunter. Who the hell was this woman? I gaped in surprise as the diminutive redhead screeched as Jayes showed her his bait. Artemis would slit a guy’s throat and walk away, but turned pussy over a worm?

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Ace murmured.

“How do you cope with that knowledge?” I asked.

“Because she’s never killed an innocent. And if Artemis fucks up, she bends over backwards to make shit right again. Because, quite simply, I love her,” Ace replied.

He had to, to live with Artemis. She could slit his throat when he was sleeping if he pissed her off. Jesus!

“Artemis will go to the ends of the earth to protect those she loves. Ain’t nothing she won’t do. My wife has a monster inside her; targeting bad people keeps that beast under control. She’s not ever going to be classed as normal, and I don’t care. Is my family happy, loved, and safe? Hell yes, and that’s what counts,” Ace remarked.

I saw his point. I felt the same way about Jayes. Ace was right. Those were the important things. Even so. Falcon’s mom was a mercenary! No wonder he was so badass.

“Does it worry you—Artemis, going on missions?” I asked.

“Nope. Because she’ll do everything possible to get back to me, and I know what my wife’s capable of. Only an idiot would try to stop her.” Ace grinned.

Fair enough.

I rested against the edge of the boat and stared out at the water. Ace left me with something to consider.

I was laughing as Artemis skipped away from the coolers Ace and I carried. Jayes held one, and I had three while Ace juggled four. Artemis was muttering death threats at Ace, who’d picked a fish up and moved its mouth as if it were talking to her.

She’d yelped, pulled a gun and shot it. Jayes and I stood open-mouthed before I grabbed him and shoved him behind me. Ace roared with laughter, and I decided they were freaking insane.

“I’m gonna kill him,” Artemis complained, walking a distance away from us.

“Not in front of me. I don’t want to testify against my boyfriend’s mom.” The words left my lips, and I stopped moving. I blinked in surprise. Artemis turned to me with a grin when she caught my expression.

“You just realised that,” she teased.