Mary pointed to the hearth. “Lassiter is in a Santa suit, stuck in the chimney, impaled on something that means he can’t dematerialize. So we’ve got a problem.”
Rhage blinked once. And then threw his head back and laughed so loudly the windows shook. “This is the best fucking Christmas present ever!”
“Fuck you, Hollywood!” Lassiter yelled from inside the chimney. “Fuck you so hard—”
Brothers started filing in, and Rhage was all over it, reporting the situation—while nearly wetting his pants laughing.
Then Rhage marched over, put his hands on his knees, and hollered up, “How’s it feel to be a proctologist, angel! You like that tight squeeze? I’d call you something else but my daughter’s in earshot. Starts with ‘d’ and ends with an ‘o,’ though!”
“I’m gonna kill you as soon as I’m out of here!”
“You want a Little Mermaid doll to keep you company? Or, wait, I’ll send that stuffed tarpon up—”
“Eat me!”
As the two exchanged festive holiday cheer, and the rest of the household gathered around and laughed until they were hoarse, and V decided that maybe they could run a chain from the back of Ruhn’s new truck, Mary stepped out of the way and just watched her family.
“Mom?”
Focusing on Bitty, she smiled and stroked the girl’s long dark hair. “What, my love?”
“Merry Christmas, Mom.” The little girl came in for a hug. “This was the best Christmas ever, don’t you think? I mean, I know it’s my first, but I don’t think it gets any better than this.”
Mary tucked her daughter in close, looked at the load of opened presents and the acres of crushed wrapping paper and the utter and complete chaos … and found herself filled with such joy, her body and soul became a happy balloon, bouncing in the air even as she stayed with her feet on the ground.
“No, Bitty, Christmas doesn’t get any better than this.”
Bitty frowned. “Are they ever going to get him out?”
Mary laughed. “Yes. But they’re never, ever going to let him forget this one. Ever. Yes indeed, this is one holiday everybody’s going to remember!”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With immense gratitude to the readers of the Black Dagger Brotherhood!
Thank you so very much for all the support and guidance: Steven Axelrod and Kara Welsh. With love to Team Waud—you know who you are. This simply could not happen without you.
None of this would be possible without my loving husband, who is my adviser and caretaker and visionary; my wonderful mother, who has given me so much love I couldn’t possibly ever repay her; my family (both those of blood and those by adoption); and my dearest friends.
Oh, and my WriterDog, Naamah!