“Have you been playing nicely, T?” My lips turn up.
“He’s a fucking asshole. What Crystal sees in him I’ll never know.” Pouring himself a drink, he tips it back.
“If you weren’t so hung up on being jealous, you’d see they are friends now. Nothing more. She’s had your baby, it’s time to move past it,” Caden tries to pacify him.
Shrugging his shoulders, he grunts.
“Where is he?” I join him in a drink.
“In the back room of The Gem.” Slate drops onto the seat, rubbing his head. “The selfish prick whined all day about having to be babysat by us. As if we haven’t got anything better to do but watch his ass.”
“I’m sure Emerald appreciates it.” She loves her brother, tending to overlook his problems.
Slate nods. “Yeah, she better.”
A cell rings, Slate answers. “Were your ears burning?” Seriousness leaves his face.
“You’re where?” Our ears prick up, listening in on the conversation. “How could I forget that fine ass of yours bending over the table, slamming the balls around while you ran your smart mouth off.”
Much has happened since that first night. I chuckle to myself remembering how he has tried to tame Emerald.
“Yeah? You’re having it now?” We look to his face, relieved to see it’s still light. “Give us an hour and we will be there.” Ending the call, he smirks.
“Our girls are fucking trouble. They’ve been at Charlie’s all afternoon. Emerald decided it was a good time for her bachelorette party.”
Raising my eyebrows, we shouldn’t expect anything less. Letting them lose together, first time out since baby Jayce was born, celebrating the engagement, it was bound to happen. “How far gone is she?”
“Not slurring yet, but well on the way.”
“I say we go now. My girl’s not seasoned to keep up with your women.” Stubbing out my blunt, I start walking to the door.
“Your girl?” Tanner cocks his arrogant head.
“Yeah, Phoebe’s mine.”
“We know.” Clapping me on the shoulder, Caden walks with me. “Let’s go get our women.”
The live music is pumping at Charlie’s Bar and a mass of people are crowded around the small stage. The bar’s full with a few patrons lined up behind the first row waiting to get a drink.
“They’ll be down the back.” The people part like the Red Sea, allowing Slate to lead us to where our women are. We keep a low profile, only going to public venues other than our establishments when the girls insist or do what the fuck they want and the others have to go and claim their asses, reminding them of the world they now inhabit. Even with their skills, any low life trying to make a name for themselves could take anyone of us out if security isn’t tight.
People know who we are.
They know what we do.
And they fucking know to stay out of our way.
Sure as the nose on my face, Emerald and Crystal are holding cues, next to the exact table we first tracked her down a year or so ago. A cider in one hand, talking animatedly to some dickhead that is leaning close to her face, Slate strolls toward them without missing a beat.
My head turns, finding Phoebe perched on a laid-back seater, chatting with Lace. She looks calm and happy watching Crystal sticking her ass out, about to take a shot. Heat spreads watching her like this, knowing how much she struggles with insecurities.
I want to keep that smile on her permanently.
“What the fuck are you doing?” High pitched, Emerald catches everyone’s attention.
My eyes turn, Emerald moves closer to the dickhead who hasn’t realized that he’s next to the girlfriend of the leader of The Savage Shadows or what Slate’s about to do to him for being within a mile of his woman. Emerald’s loud voice at her fiancé should be a dead giveaway, but this guy’s obviously stupid.
She only has to talk about another guy and he’s a jealous prick. Seeing her close to one, fuck, we’ve seen many times how it can end.
She enjoys messing with Slate, and I’m guessing the make-up sex.
Finally, he catches on, wide-eyed and panicked, the guy takes a step away from Emerald and bumps into Crystal who is trying to take a shot at the red ball. “I’m leaving.” Pathetic and weak, Crystal pushes her elbow into him moving him behind her so he can make a quick escape.
“No point having a problem just yet, the night’s young.” Drawing the stick back, the white ball slams into the red, sinking it in a hurry. “Your go, Em.”
Like nothing has happened, Emerald leaves her drink and starts around the table toward Slate. I’ve seen the Emerald and Slate show where they work out who the more dominant one in the relationship is, numerous times, I don’t need to see it when I’ve got a sexy chick waiting for me.
Grinning at the two idiots, I make a beeline for Phoebe, trying to surprise her. Facing the commotion at the table, she’s unaware of me moving behind her as Slate wraps Emerald up in his arms, not allowing her to move while he whispers something.
Bending down, I inhale her citrus scent. “Hey baby.” My lips kiss her rosy cheek.
Swiveling, her face lines with mine and my lips latch onto hers fast before she realizes. She takes my breath away.
“You look beautiful and like you’re enjoying yourself.”
Brushing her fingertips through her hair, her eyes bright, she stands up with excitement. A glow on her skin tells me she’s had a few drinks already. “We had a pamper session and a makeover today and Crystal also took us to a dress shop. I’ve never seen so many couture gowns and glasses of champagne and…”
Plastering my lips on hers again, I stop her. Slowly and gently, I move my tongue, exploring her mouth and her body relaxes into mine. Her tongue follows mine. My arms mold around her waist. “Slow down. Breathe.”
Not letting her go, her face moves back but she dips it. Her body rises and falls with her breathing. Lifting her chin with my finger, I gaze at her beauty.
“I’m so fucking lucky finding you again.” My thumb glides over her lip, methodically. “Sounds like you had a busy day with the ladies.”
She nods her head. “It was awesome. Something I’ve never done.” Running my other hand up and down her spine, her hands make their way around my hips.
“I’m glad they showed you a good time.”
“It’s been the best.”
“They looked after you ‘cause I’ll kick their butts if they didn’t.”
Shifting on her feet, she laughs. “No kicking required, Emerald wouldn’t let me pay for anything. Can you get me her bank details so I can transfer?”
“Baby, if she paid then Slate paid and it’s a gift.” Placing a kiss on her forehead, I move on. “Have you played pool before?”
“No.” Her back tenses but I continue rubbing it and she rests her head on my pec.
“Good, I get to teach you.” Grinning, I lift my head up to see if the girls are nearly done. Six sets of eyes are plastered on us. The ladies grinning and nodding, the guys smirking. Thank fuck Phoebe’s not looking, she’d be rattled by my idiot family. But they feel it as well. This girl has broken through my barriers and is now a part of me, bringing me calmness, soothing the savage beast alive inside me.