“King, just find someone else to babysit Gator and the Bourbon Kings,” Lidi spoke up, backing me up.
“Hang on, I’ve got a plan,” Sugar muttered, typing into her phone.
“Wanna let us in on your idea, Shug?” her husband Enigma asked when she didn’t elaborate fast enough for everyone in the room.
“You know that Wade’s my cousin, right? Well, my mom is Wade’s aunt, and Aunt Marabella, Wade’s momma is a force of nature. So is Auntie Glorianna. Wade is scared shitless of hismôman, especially when the aunts get together. No one disrespects the aunts.” Sugar said, typing away again when she gasped, jumping to her feet, eyes locked on her phone screen. “Holy Shit! Devlyn’s pregnant!”
“What?!” Henley screeched.
“No fucking way!” Bailey howled.
“Yep, and that’s why Gator and his boys are in town.” Cameron smiled, walking down the stairs as all eyes turned toward him. “He’s come to claim his woman.”
Narrowing my eyes, I glared at the little shit. “How in the hell did you find out about Devlyn and, more importantly, why the hell aren’t you feeling like shit?”
The brat smiled, jumping down off the last step and walking right over to King, who just stared open mouthed at the boy. “Mornin’, Prez. What’s on the agenda today?”
“He’s not normal,” Gunner grunted.
“No one can be that drunk and wake unscathed,” Priest declared.
“I’m hungry,” the pain in the ass grumbled, looking around. “Catch me up later, King!” the brat said, walking toward the kitchen when King narrowed his eyes and growled.
“Freeze, Carnage.”
I watched as the brat’s shoulders fell as he stopped dead in his tracks. Everyone in the room held their breath as King pulled out a chair, placed it front and center, and watched as Cameron slowly walked over and sat. My brother Frank couldn’t stop smiling at the brat. I knew Frankie had a soft spot for the pain inthe ass. He did for all kids, but there was something special my brother saw in Cameron that none of us saw.
What the hell that was, we didn’t know.
As Cameron sat in the chair King provided, Prez didn’t even bother grumbling as he pulled out another chair. Leaning forward, King took a deep breath and asked, “Alright, you little shit. What the hell is going on in that devious mind of yours now? And don’t even think about giving me the runaround. Just give it to me straight.”
“I’m hedging my bets,” Cameron simply offered, as if that explained everything.
King slowly shook his head and muttered, “Nope. Gonna need more. Just hit me with it.”
“Well.” The kid sighed. “It all started shortly after Mr. Munson died.”
“What did?” I growled, glaring at the brat as the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I had an eerie feeling we all just got played big time, and the devious mastermind was about to lay all his cards on the table.
“I had to do something,” Cameron grumbled. “You and Ms. Josie weren’t talking, and when Mr. Jack, Ms. LeeAnn and Granny approached me, I couldn’t say no!”
Turning to King, the kid continued, “After your meeting with them, they approached me. Said they needed my help, and you know I’m all about helping, if I can. Anyway, we were talkin’ and they laid everything out for me. It was a rather rudimentary plan on their part, so I made it better.”
“What was their plan?” Laurel asked directly in a firm voice.
“They wanted Carebear and Josie together.”
“OH. MY. GOD,” Josie whispered.
“It wasn’t easy.” Cameron huffed, glaring at me and Josie. “You two were the worst! I had to get suspended from school soI could supervise you two and boy howdy, were you two a pain in the ass. I’m tellin’ ya, King, those two ’bout wore me out!”
King barely hid his smirk and ordered, “Get on with the story, Carnage.”
“Like I was saying, I got myself suspended from school and, like I expected, you pawned me off on Carebear. Gotta say, Carebear wasn’t too happy about that. He almost tore up the new coat Sissy got me.”
“Oh, Cam.” Skylar sighed, hanging her head as Pyro leaned back, enjoying the story. Fucker was probably thankful Carnage wasn’t his problem anymore.
Lucky fucker.
