Sinclair jerks his head toward me, "The Father didn’t trust any of us enough for this, apparently."
"What bullshit," Damian bursts out. "Any one of us would have put our life on the line for Edward."
"Evidently, it’s something he values more than his life. Who better than his once best friend to take care of that, hmm?"
"Values more than his life?" Saint glowers at me. "What could he have valued more—?"
Sinclair unwinds his body long enough to clap his hand on the back Saint’s head.
"Ow." Saint snaps his head around "What the fuck, Sin— ah!" He blinks. "You mean—"
Sinner nods. "Yes, dipshit. Exactly."
"Hmm." Saint turns and eyes me with a speculative gaze. "I see."
"What?" Weston glances between us. "The hell am I missing now?"
"Catch up, Doc," Saint drawls. "You’re not normally this slow. Being married, plainly, has softened you too much around the edges."
"Speak for yourself," Weston says mildly. "I am guessing this is about a woman?" He tilts his head.
"Which woman?" Damian blinks, looks between us. "What the hell you guys talking about?"
"Ava," Sinclair clarifies. "Isla’s friend, who was there at Arpad’s wedding."
"She was?" His forehead wrinkles. "Guess I’ll have to take your word for it. I might have been a little preoccupied with my new wife."
"You’re forgiven, man." Saint smirks. "Pussy-whipped, as you are."
"And you aren’t?" Damian chuckles.
I glance between them, realizing just how much I’ve missed this easy banter. It would be so easy to slip into that old routine with them. To be part of the Seven once more. Shit, I really have missed it, missed them…missed the camaraderie. Missed this sensation that there are people who care for me, who may hate me sometimes, but who care enough about me, to fight with me. People who have my back.
Saint holds up his hands, "Hey, I’ll be the first to concede, having Victoria in my life has changed everything. Speaking of," he glances at his watch, "I need to get going, or I’ll be late for the appointment with the midwife."
"Midwife." I stare at him. "You’re going to see the midwife?"
"With Victoria, yes." He scowls at me. "It’s known to happen."
"It is?" I stare at him.
"We’re pregnant, you tosser."
"We..." I open and shut my mouth. "Did you saywe’repregnant?"
"So?" Color smears his cheeks. He glowers back at me. "You have a point you’re trying to make here?" He snaps, then straightens. "Why the fuck am I still talking to this guy, huh?" He glances around at Sinner. "What have we decided to do with him, anyway?"
"Do with me?" I scowl, "You guys aren’t going to do anything with me."
"Oh, yes, we are." Sinclair cracks his neck. "You hurt one of us deeply when you left. Now, you’re back and he’s gone. And for some reason, he’s asked you to keep an eye on his girl."
"Has he?" Damian frowns. "We only have this wanker’s words to go on." He jerks his chin at me.
"I may be many things, but a liar is not one of them," I snap back.
"Hmm." Sinner strokes his chin. "I shouldn’t, but I am inclined to believe you on that."
"You are…?"
