Into the Blackness (Blackness Series Book 4) by Norma Jeanne Karlsson

related by blood and he’s not blind.”
    “She’s hot and she’s my aunt so let’s not talk about it,” Jake growls.
    “Aunt Kay’s my new favorite,” Cole states.
    There are agreeing grunts before Jake suggests, “Let’s go shoot.”
    I make my way up the rest of the stairs as I hear them exiting the back door.

Nick
    I arrive home to a mostly quiet house smelling like slow cooked meat. This I could get used to. I spy Jake out back with three guys playing two-on-two. They’re having a good time based on the smiles plastered on their faces. I’ve got to get out of this suit jacket. I climb the stairs and pick up my pace when I hear the sounds of grunts coming from our room.
    I fly through the door to find Kat beating the shit out of pillows again, with no shirt on but still wearing heels, pants, her bra and most of her jewelry, her wedding ring on the bedside table.
    “I figured out what I’m gonna buy,” she states through a ragged breath not looking at me.
    “Yeah?”
    “A fuckin’ heavy bag,” she growls before unleashing vicious punches into the pillows. I stand in the doorway watching in amazement as she pummels the poor things.
    Once she’s worn herself out, she collapses face first into the mattress and screams at the top of her lungs in anger. I shut the door and shrug out of my jacket before approaching her.
    “Kat what’s goin’ on?” I ask from the end of the bed.
    She pops up on her knees, shuffles over to me and starts waving her hands around crazily as she speaks.
    “Did you know that there are parents that are millionaires that just abandon their children and force them to fend for themselves?” she screeches.
    “Yes.” I thought this was common knowledge.
    “Did you know they have to eat alone and sleep in houses with live-in staff?”
    “It doesn’t surprise me.”
    “Well, it shocked the shit outta me. And that was the easy part of my day, Nicky. Some motherfucker slammed Jake into a locker and held him against it by his throat, bruising him,” she seethes.
    “What?” I growl low and menacing. Now I feel like accosting a pillow or two.
    “You heard me. And Jake wasn’t gonna tell me. His new friends let it slip and then I had to drag it outta Jake. He doesn’t want me to do anything about it either. So instead, I’m up here beating the shit outta pillows which does nothing to release the fury boiling inside of me!”
    “Why aren’t you wearin’ a shirt?”
    “Really? That’s what you ask right now?” She rolls her eyes but continues. “I couldn’t get a good swing workin’ and I was gettin’ sweaty. I was tryin’ to preserve my outfit. Why the fuck aren’t you as pissed as me? Big talk this morning, you’re lettin’ me down a bit.”
    “I don’t attack pillows when I’m pissed. I attack people. Get cleaned up. I’ll deal with this…like I told you this morning. I’ll take care of you both. Trust me,” I say trying desperately not to look at her tits, which are on display through her white lace bra.
    “I may have also adopted three teenage boys,” she informs me like she’s talking about the weather.
    “Is that right?”
    “They’re left on their own all the time according to them. We have a gigantic house and I like to cook. I don’t think it should be an issue. I’m trying to find something to do and four teenagers is something to do.”
    “It’s a lot to do. We are runnin’ an op here, Sunshine,” I point out.
    “Well, I’m not a stripper suckin’ dick to get to my mark this time. I’m a housewife tryin’ to be brought into a tight knit fold. More kids, more ins. It’s not like we’re hiding tactical gear in the spare rooms.”
    “I’m not arguing with you. I’m just talkin’,” I point out because I can feel her hackles rising. I’m also reminding myself to calm the fuck down because her talking about sucking dick to get to a mark makes me see red.
    “I’m talkin’ to you too.”
    “All right, so we’ve unofficially