life.”
Two
“I hope it isn’t a bad sign that she isn’t meeting us at the airport,” Jane said as the four of them rolled their meager luggage out the airport doors. “I know these aren’t the ideal circumstances to meet her under, but I’d hate to make a bad impression…”
John smiled as he raised a hand to hail a cab, after checking to make sure the twins were close by their side. “No, you don’t have to worry about that. Trust me, if mother doesn’t like you, she’ll let you know.”
That didn’t seem to comfort Jane very much, and she gave a half-smile as a cab pulled over, and the driver got out to help them load everything into the trunk. As they did, she gave her new husband a once-over, head to toe. “And I suppose just about everyone in your family is as... nice as you? I think I saw Quinn in the newspaper on one or two occasions. He looks formidable.”
Despite traveling across the country on a plane, John managed to look so effortlessly hot. His hair was tied back in a messy ponytail, springs of it breaking free here and there, and stubble scattered across his chin. He’d rolled up his sleeves and put away his blazer for the trip, but despite the messy look, he never seemed to be lacking in energy, acting as bright and affable as he had when they were having breakfast.
“You could say that,” John said. There was that fierce glint in his emerald eyes again. He couldn’t possibly know that she knew his secret, but that didn’t stop him from holding back his predatory instincts. “You’ll see for yourself, don’t worry.”
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about,” Jane said with a deep breath.
One taxi ride later, Jane could hardly believe her eyes when the car came to a stop at a ritzy apartment building on 5th Avenue. “You’re kidding me,” she breathed as the group clambered out of the car.
“This is my mom’s place. I crash here when I’m in New York. We’ll be staying here for a while,” said John.
“You don’t have your own place in here?” She started to panic. Living with the in-law after she blackmailed her son seemed… wrong. Damn it. It was fucking wrong. What if his mom saw through her little scheme? What if his mom tossed her and the twins to the curb? It wouldn’t be the first time she had been evicted, but Jane wanted to spare her brothers from that unpleasant experience. George and Harry were only kids, and they had already been through a lot for children their age.
“I’m afraid not. Should we shop for a house? My family is very close, you see. I could tell you a little more about it, but really, I think you should see for yourself.”
“Maybe we should just go back to our place,” she suggested. “It’s small but at least it’s… private.”
“Ah. Your studio apartment in Chinatown? You told me about that. And where am I going to sleep? We’re married, remember? We need our privacy.” John nodded at George and Harry. “Come on kids, grandma can’t wait to meet you two.”
Grandma?
Jesus H. Christ!
This thing had spiraled out of control.
The marriage was supposed to be farce. They were supposed to go their separate ways after a quickie wedding.
A doorman greeted John with a friendly smile as the group made its way in, and moments later, the elevator was ascending to the top floor. Jane privately took it as a good sign that the apartment staff regarded John so well. Having been put through the ringer of working-class service jobs, she knew how rare that was, especially among the rich.
When the four of them approached the door to the apartment, Jane could hear someone on the other side of the door already bustling towards them, as if the occupant knew they were coming. An auspicious voice boomed from inside the apartment.
“I didn’t expect you so soon—come, come!” A moment later, the door was thrown open to reveal Savannah Alexander standing there, her face positively glowing. “Show me