Hott and Handled (The Hott Brothers #3) - Leah Sharelle Page 0,71

hopped back in the car with his brothers and Dillion. They had plans to head to a friend’s property to use his shooting range, get Dillion used to the sound of a gun firing and teach him about gun safety. Yes, he had just joined the local gun club, but I had a sense of duty to make sure he was learning the right way, the same way my brothers and I learned.

Nixx suggested I think about letting Dillion get a gun of his own, and I promised Nixx and Dillion I would think about it. However, I wasn’t comfortable letting Dillion use a gun until a decision was made. My man agreed wholeheartedly that no way was he letting Dillion handle a gun without a legal licence, which suppressed any worries I had of my son turning into a Rambo overnight.

I was yet to tell the girls about my new jewellery, when I walked into the house, I turned the ring around, so the stone was under my finger, making it seem like it was just a band I was wearing. It was not like I was hesitant or thinking it over because I was all in with Nixx. It was more because we were yet to tell Dillion. Nixx admitted he wanted to ask Dillion for permission to marry me, but the heat of our lovemaking, and what Nixx termed his sexual fog, meant he’d jumped the gun.

So, until we talked to my—our son, I was keeping the engagement on the down-low.

A smile spread across my face thinking of Dillion as Nixx’s son too. Nixx was adamant he was keen and willing to take on the responsible father figure role in Dillion’s life, and in essence, he already had been since he met him. Dillion too, saw Nixx in that role, and they got along so well, I just went with it. Something I had been doing a lot late recently.

Tossing the magazine to the floor, I noticed an old piece of yellowing paper slipped out from between the pages, folded and torn, it looked like it had a map drawn on it.

“Hey, what is this?” I asked the room at large, bending over to retrieve it.

“What’s what?” Mal asked me, scooting closer to look over my shoulder.

“This.” Holding up the paper, I gently unfolded the fragile-looking paper, not understanding what was before me, but Mallory must have because a string of curses suddenly poured out of her.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” she yelled, snatching the paper out of my fingers, leaving a small piece between my thumb and forefinger.

“Um, gentle Mal,” I drawled, looking to see if the piece that ripped off had any writing on it.

“Mack, you are not going to believe this,” Mallory declared, scanning the paper as if it was the original writings of Moses himself.

I watched as the two sisters read the map, both of them swearing and saying horrible things about their father, not knowing what the hell they were angry about but couldn’t help myself getting caught up in the drama. Blake too, forgetting her rift with Mallory, shuffling on her knees to sit in front of Mal, and waited for them to explain.

In all honesty, the story they spun didn’t make any sense, but that didn’t stop me from getting to my feet, putting my shoes back on and following Mack, Mal and Blake to the back door and out to one of the farm utes.

Yeah, not my best decision.

FENIXX

“Dillion, you touch that gun and your mother will string me up by my balls, mate,” I warned the fourteen-year-old when I noticed he had inched himself closer to the bench where the guns were sitting.

“How is she going to know?”

Hendrixx laughed, then slapped him on the shoulder. “Mate, let me tell you something about women, you only need this one piece of advice for the rest of your life, ready for it?” Hendrixx paused dramatically, Noxx and I both rolling our eyes at his dramatics, Dillion just nodded his head, his eyes wide and waiting for the wisdom of Hendrixx.

“They know everything—believe it, embrace it and accept it. You do that and life is going to be so much easier.”

“Jesus Drixx, just how does Blake put up with you,” Noxx laughed, shaking his head.

“She worships the ground I walk on brother, let’s not forget you are the one that took your kids to Mum’s today because Mack threatened to cut off your balls if she didn’t get