“Screw off,” Karissa huffs. “How many times do I need to remind you that I was drunk and thought I was getting in my own bed. You being naked was your problem. Who the hell sleeps naked in enemy territory? Were you hoping some drunk blonde would come stumbling into your bed and you wanted to be ready?”
“Oh, that wasn’t you?” Taz tosses back, laughing when Karissa tosses an empty drink cup at him and manages to dodge it easily.
“I swear we don’t let him out often,” Simba drawls with a shake of his head.
“That’s because that one’s twins like to rank us for replacements when his Old Lady finally gets smart and kicks him to the curb,” Taz laughs, jerking his thumb at Rogue, who narrows at him in warning. Then, just because the man has a death wish, he adds, “Isn’t that right, Uncle Ro-Ro? Wasn’t it Viking Daddy and Daddy Bear who were top runners at last count?” He nods his head at Vulture and Ursa, who both unsuccessfully try to hide their smirks.
“You might be going home with one less member,” Rogue warns darkly, looking at Simba. Simba rolls his eyes, clearly used to the threat.
“I like him,” Isla announces as she goes to stand next to Taz before turning back to Avery and me, who are just watching this entire show in awe. “Can I keep him? We can trade Sawyer.”
“Dude, I’m not even going to argue with that,” Sawyer scoffs. “I think I’d enjoy his club more than being around you and your crazy shit.”
“I’ll sell him to you for free,” Glitch calls out. “But you have to take his giant room full of sex toys with him. The man has a problem.”
Avery chokes, and I only blink. Taz grins and winks at me. “Trust me, none of the ladies ever complain. As they say, they’re addition, not competition, am I right?”
I don’t answer him, unsure of what to say. Trying to follow this man is definitely not a simple task. The more I deal with him, the more I realize his name suits him. I look at Isla, who curls her nose, but her eyes are full of laughter. Yeah, I don’t think I want him influencing her. I glance at Avery and see the same thought on her face, though she’s also looking amused.
“Like hell am I letting him around my little girl,” Shadow growls. “Macy would be in juvie before she turns eight.”
“Brother, giving me some credit,” Taz gasps, dramatically putting his hand over his chest and looking offended. “She’d be ten at the earliest. We’ll work on it, though, so we might be able to push it to thirteen. I can only do so much when they hit their teens. They get all hormonal and moody, so you’re on your own there.”
Shadow doesn’t look the least bit impressed.
I just shake my head and look at Rose. “Food still in the kitchen?”
She nods and gets to her feet. “Here, let me help you.” Avery and I follow her into the kitchen, and I partly want to go back and drag Isla with me, but she’ll be safe with everyone out there. Though, from the sounds of things, I need to worry about the shit people put in her head.
“I don’t know whether to laugh or run the other way,” Avery remarks as we move to the island to fill our plates with the spread in front of us. Rose went all out this time. Wings, burgers, hotdogs, salads, salsa, chips, and fries. Thank God, because I’m starving.
“This is the first time I’ve met the Devil’s Predators, but they’re funny,” Rose states, grinning. “And considering the daywe’ve all had, I think we need this. The normalcy.” Her smile falters. “I just wish everyone could enjoy it.”
We’re silent for a moment, the air thick with grief and tension. I don’t want to touch that yet. Just for a little longer, I want to focus on the lighter parts. There will be plenty of time to mourn and dissect things later. “I’m surprised you’re up and moving with how pissed off your Old Man is,” I remark with a wicked smile.
Rose’s melancholy is instantly gone, and she laughs before giving me a sly smile. “Oh, I’m counting on having an interesting night.” She winks at Avery. “Rather, we both will, from the looks of things.”
Avery grins back at her, unembarrassed, and winks at me. I smirk but say nothing. Instead, we head back out into the common room, only to find Taz in a chair, hands bound behind his back, and his mouth taped shut. Behind him stand Karissa and Glitch, neither of whom looks out of breath, before they turn to Vulture and Ursa, and wave a hand.
I stare in shock as they lift Taz, still in the chair, and carry him over to a corner, turn him toward the wall, and then walk away. What the fuck?
“Sometimes when he’s being a pain, we give him a time out,” Karissa explains when we all stare at her. Even Isla looks like she’s in shock. “We tied the knot around his wrist enough that it’ll take him about fifteen minutes to get out of it, so we have that long.” Then she turns and walks over to sit in her man’s lap, who’s laughing his ass off.
“Alright, I’m starting to see why we don’t call you into shit often,” Bullet remarks with a huff as he looks at Savage. “Your club is far weirder than ours.”
“Trust me, this was not my fucking idea,” Savage grumbles. He glares at Karissa. “That one there is the one you can thank for bringing all this shit into our lives. Now I have to deal with all ofthem on a regular basis since our two brothers took two of them as Old Ladies.”
“Which is so freaking cool by the way,” Isla butts in excitedly. “Girls can kick ass too. I don’t get the point of this whole boys club bullshit.”
“Isla, just let it go,” Avery admonishes her tiredly. Isla looks like she wants to protest, but Glitch and Karissa both wink at her as if to tell her that they wholeheartedly agree.
“See?” Savage sighs, as if this entire thing has proven his point.
I glance over at Avery, who’s quietly eating and taking it all in. “Regretting saying you’re willing to be mine now?” I whisper to her.
She instantly shakes her head. “Never.” Then she smirks and adds, “But I’m starting to wonder about the people you hang out with. I thought you were weird before, but this is next level.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, even for us, this is weird. I have a feeling Bullet is counting down the minutes before they leave so that they don’t corrupt Rose or Thea, or worse, Isla.”
