Hans (Alliance, #4)

by S.J. Tilly

Little Cassie, in her band shirt and ponytail, reaches up and grips Hans by the face with both hands. He slowly lowers his eyes to hers, and only because I’m so fucking curious, and listening so fucking hard, do I hear her whisper. “That’s one.” I roll my lips into my mouth and bite down on them to keep from busting out laughing. She just fucking scolded the ghost man for throwing a fit over some cookies. Goddamn, it’s gonna be fun having them around.

“Throwing blades, huh?” Nero asks, then balances the knife on the edge of his palm, testing the weight. “These are nice.”

“Seems like no all around then.” Nero grins around another bite of cookie. I hadn’t even noticed the corners of paper sticking out of Hans’s pocket. Cassie breaks the silence first as she uses her hand to shove the pieces of paper deeper into Hans’s pocket. “He’s a little particular about these.” “Oh?” I ask, not able to help myself. She looks up at me. “Well, he beheaded the last guy who touched them. And that was only a few hours ago, so probably best not to poke the bear.” When she refers to him as a bear, I watch Hans dart his gaze to her. “Plus, they’re just notes from me. Nothing to do with the mission. Or whatever you call it. But, please”—she waves her hands toward the island—“have some cookies. I made them as a thank-you for the hospitality.”

Val takes a cookie next, then King, and before I can move to grab one, Hans stomps around Cassie and picks up three. Then another two. He hands one to Cassie, then shoves two into his mouth—at the same time. “How’d you behead him?” Nero asks, still holding the small knife. “Schmord,” Hans replies with his mouth full of cookies. “What was that?” Hans stares at Nero while he chews. When he’s swallowed enough to talk again, he answers. “A sword.” “Seriously?” I’m the one to ask it. Because fucking seriously? Hans nods. “A katana.” Then he shoves the third cookie into his mouth. “You bring it with you?” Nero’s eyes are way too interested. I shake my head. This cheap bastard is gonna try to get a free sword out of Hans, and I give it a fifty-fifty shot that either Nero gets one or Hans tries to kill him with one. And if those two go head-to-head in a fucking sword fight, my money is on the guy who looks like a damn Viking. CHAPTER 98

I grip her hips and hold her on my length as I lean over her. “I’m going to fill you so full, every single night, that you’ll be leaking my cum for the rest of your life.”

Without a greeting, I follow him around to the back of the van, where Cain opens the rear doors, revealing an arsenal. Dom, King, and Nero step up beside me. “All of it?” I ask. Cain dips his chin. “All of it.” King leans into the van. “Is that what I think it is?” “Hans said there’s a helicopter pad at the target,” Cain replies as King drags the case closer to himself. “You might not need to use⁠—” “Oh, I’ll use it,” King cuts him off.

He slips his fingers through the carved metal and… I narrow my eyes. Does this guy seriously have a set of diamond-encrusted brass knuckles?

My blade arcs down between us, and I sever his hands from his body. Nobody touches my Butterfly.

“If it helps”—he gives me a soft smile—“I cut the big asshole’s hands off after I shot him. Twice.”

Nero looks at the man. “What the fuck? There’s not a drop of blood on him.” Dom snorts. “He was hiding behind the curtains.” We all turn and look at the massive broken window and the heavy velvet drapes bunched up on either side. Nero glares at the man. “Seriously?” “You wanna kill him?” Dom asks Nero. “If my calculations are correct, I’m still two up on you.” Nero rolls his eyes. “Your calculations are never correct. And I want to kill him just for hiding like a bitch in a cartoon.” Dom snorts, and Nero looks at me. “Can I borrow that sword?” I narrow my eyes. “You gonna give it back?” Nero lets out the most dramatic sigh ever, causing Cassandra to snicker against my chest. “Yes, I’ll give it back.” Keeping my eyes narrowed, I draw the katana and twist my wrist so I hand it to Nero handle first. The man in Dom’s grip starts to struggle, but a pair of Alliance guys step over to help hold him still. Nero gives the sword a few lazy figure eights. “Hans, mind opening his shirt for me? I don’t want to fuck it up and accidentally gut him.” He turns his attention to the man and whispers like he’s sharing a secret, “I’m still learning.”

“So… I’m part of The Alliance, huh?” “You’ve practically been begging to join,” Nero lies as he reluctantly hands my sword back. “Uh-huh.” The Alliance. Who’d have thought? I sheath the katana and start walking with Nero out of the room. “Any chance you know how to fly a helicopter?” His mouth pulls into a devious smile. “Thought you’d never ask.”

The noise of the rotor blade whirling above us is louder than I expected. “You sure you know how to fly this thing?” I shout to Nero. He looks over his shoulder at me from the pilot’s seat. “Pretty sure.” Dom, in the copilot position, tightens his seat belt. “How about we don’t tell the wives this part?” Nero grins. “Pussy.” Dom gives his seat belt another tug. “Get Payton pregnant and then see how reasonable she is.”

The properties out here are massive, and people this rich—people like us—tend to mind their own business. But there was a lot of gunfire, and I can already see the flickering lights of emergency response vehicles in the distance. Meaning it’s time to light this bitch up. “Go time,” I call to Hans.

My laugh gets lost in the wind as I pick up the item that first caught my eye in the back of Cain’s van. With a big stupid grin, I hoist the rocket launcher onto my shoulder. “Fire in the hole!” I shout. Then I pull the trigger.

So, while everyone else is working to ready the plane we’ll take back to Minnesota, I continue to cling to Hans like a koala.

“Hans Tomas, my butt is sore from sliding down the stairs. My hands are sore from holding that gun. My feet hurt”—she wiggles her toes—“so on my knees and elbows is the most comfortable way for me to be right now.” I shove away my desire to reach out and rip her pants down her hips and focus on the fact that my Butterfly is hurting. Then she smiles at me. “And if being like this makes you want to fuck me, well, I bet that would make me feel better too.”

The bratty part of me wants to argue that I can stay quiet on my own. But the needy part of me wants to do whatever it will take for him to hurry up and put his dick in me.

I need to find the realtor who sold Cassandra 1304 Holly Court and give her a million dollars. Maybe four.

Nero shrugs. “Whatever. Just don’t wake me up at five a.m.” “That happened once. Get over it.”

“The realtor that sold Cassandra her old house. Kinda feel like I owe her.” “Because you blew it up?” Nero jokes. I give him the middle finger but admit, “I will need to find a realtor, but yeah, don’t really want to try and explain the circumstances to anyone who already knows Cassandra.” Nero tips his head. “What sort of place are you looking for?” I hug Cassandra to me as I answer. “Something big, lots of space for kids. And a big yard. Obviously fenced in and rigged for security.” I think about it. “Pool would be nice. I grew up with one and I miss it.” Nero nods slowly. “Sounds like my neighbor’s place.” “They selling?” I joke. “I’m sure I can convince them to.” “What? No. Nero, that’s—” I was going to say crazy, but crazy is kind of his brand. He leans back against the seat and closes his eyes. “Tomorrow.”

“Fine?” Cassandra scoffs. “This is a ten-thousand-square-foot mansion with a pool, a seven-burner stove, and a greenhouse. It’s more than fine. We’re gonna have to kick them out when we want them to leave.”

Mrs. Cantrell hooks her arm in Cassandra’s. “Show me inside.” As they pass me and head up the steps, I hear Mrs. Cantrell say, “Your house is cute. His was sad.” Both houses are equally destroyed now, but it’s still a fair description.

It was his idea to officiate this wedding. He argued that since he was already ordained, there was no reason to use anyone else. But we all know it’s because he and Hans have become nearly inseparable. Nero claims it’s just because Hans is our neighbor, so it’s convenient to see him, but really, those two are a pair of peas in an unhinged pod. It was also Nero’s idea to order that ridiculous black robe to wear over his suit. It’s truly absurd. And when he stepped into the backyard wearing it, I figured Hans would tell him to take it off. But instead, Hans grinned and presented Nero with a red-handled katana as a thank-you for marrying them.

It’s just a stack of yellow Post-it notes. With the same words as before. “Thank you,” he whispers. And just like I knew he would, he lifts each piece of paper to make sure they’re all there. I did them in the opposite order from the way he’d saved them before, with the newest at the bottom. When he reaches the last one, he pauses at the words. And when he looks up at me, I lift the little plastic bag with two Skittles sugar cookies in it. Without saying a word, Hans takes the bag, removes the cookies, then shoves both of them into his mouth.

“I’m pretty sure Cassie’s parents would adopt us all if they could.” “They really would.” I smile against him. “I have to admit, I wouldn’t say no.” King hums his agreement.

Rob lifts Aspen’s hand to his mouth and licks the crumbs off her fingers. “Oh, fuck off,” King grumbles, then turns us the other way. I can’t help my laugh. They do such a good job of needling him.

While Payton does the countdown, I look across the room to where my husband is standing. He’s talking to King, and his big, tattooed hands are gently cradling Danielle, our infant daughter, to his chest. I’ll never get tired of the sight.

Rob is grinning ear to ear as he holds them above his head. And I don’t care how much Dom complains about me saying it, Rob is hot. “Put those down!” King shouts, stomping toward the man dating our sister. Rob skips backward, away from King, and finds Aspen in the small crowd. Then he drops down onto one knee in front of her. King’s “Oh, hell no!” is drowned out by all the women gasping. “Aspen, my love.” Rob looks up at his woman. “Will you do me the honor of telling your terrifying brother that we’re already married?” My mouth drops open, and I whip my head over to look at Dom. My husband is smiling at the pair, and when his gaze moves to find mine, he winks. That bastard already knew. King stomps over to Aspen. “Is this true?” Aspen, not at all intimidated by his attitude, slips her hand into her dress pocket and pulls out a big, shiny ring. “We did it last week.” She slides the ring onto her finger, then uses her left hand to pat King’s chest. “You can stop worrying about me now. I promise I’m happy.” King heaves out a loud exhale, then pulls her into a hug. Rob is grinning when he stands, and he holds his arms out for a hug next. King rolls his eyes, then embraces the other man, but when he lets go, he punches Rob in the shoulder. Hard. “Don’t fuck this up.”