“Good. He sometimes loses his temper when he can’t remember something, or rather when he gets bombarded by what he calls flashes that don’t make sense to him, but he never takes his anger out on me or Oliver.”
Clarity and Meg shared a look.
“What?” I asked.
“The Ashes we know, from before the incident, would never lose his temper around a woman or kid, much less his own. Are you sure everything is okay? You aren’t scared being there with him?” Meg asked.
“We’re fine. Really.” I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince them or me. “He leaves when he realizes he’s let his anger take over.”
Clarity rubbed her hands together. “Then let’s get things started. I had the Prospects lay out the food and drinks, all non-alcoholic. If the guys want beer, I’m sure they’ll just grab them from behind the bar. I just didn’t want any of the older kids to pick one up out of curiosity.”
I heard the door open but ignored it. The way Meg’s eyes went wide as she stared over my shoulder made my shoulders tense. Then the cloying scent of way too much cheap perfume assailed my nose right before Oliver started to cry. Don’t ask me how I knew it was my son and not my nephew, but I just did. I could tell his cry from any other baby’s. I didn’t know if that was a maternal thing or just a gift I had. Turning to see why my son was so upset, my eyes narrowed as I stared at some trashy woman shoving her cleavage in Ashes’ face.
My hands clenched at my sides, and I growled as I started across the room. The way she pawed at him was enough to make me grind my teeth. It was only the way he was trying to shove her away that tempered my rage even a little. I’d never felt anger over another woman coming on to my boyfriend in the past, but Ashes was mine and I would damn well fight for him if I had to.
“Get your hands off him,” I said.
She turned her face toward me, her lips painted a dark red. It was a stark contrast from her bleached hair with dark roots, layers of black mascara and eyeliner, all set in a ghostly pale face. The makeup couldn’t hide the lines around her lips telling me she either was or had been a smoker. She also looked quite a bit older than me. Unless partying at the club had just prematurely aged her. I knew a lot of drugs and alcohol could do that.
She eyed me up and down before facing Ashes again, dismissing me like I was nothing. Oh no, she fucking didn’t! I marched around the table, reached out and grabbed a handful of overprocessed hair, and pulled the bitch away from Ashes. She teetered on her heels before landing on her ass. When she tried to stand, I shoved my foot in the center of her chest and knocked her back down.
“Just stay down there. You don’t talk to him, you don’t touch him, and you sure the fuck don’t offer yourself up like a whore to him.”
She sneered at me. “I can do whatever I want. You don’t make the rules.”
I felt a presence at my back, the type that only Scratch and Cinder could pull off. One of them placed a hand on my shoulder.
“She may not make them, but we do. She’s also his ol’ lady, so you’ll show her some fucking respect. You were told not to show up here this early, and whoever let you in is going to be dealt with. I have no doubt you got him all worked up, but it’s no excuse. It’s family time, and you have no place here right now.” Cinder moved forward, and I knew it was Scratch holding on to me, probably worried I’d lose my shit on the bitch. “You can come back in three hours.”
“Feel free to crawl back. I’m sure you’ll spend the night on your knees anyway,” I said.
Scratch squeezed my shoulder, but I felt the vibration of his silent laughter.
Ashes stood, our son in his arms and stared down at the woman on the floor. Then he turned his back on her to face me, a dismissal if ever I saw one. Tipping my chin up, I met his gaze. All I saw was warmth and concern. I pressed a kiss to his lips, letting him know I wasn’t upset with him. Just with the slut who had dared to go after him. There was no way he’d have asked for her attention. He’d looked decidedly uncomfortable when I’d walked up to the table.
“We good?” he asked.
“Yeah. Just need to take out the trash.”
I stepped around him and Cinder, grabbed the woman by the hair again and started dragging her ass out of the clubhouse as she shrieked and squawked. I could hear the other ladies clapping as I slammed the door shut, the woman still lying on the porch, her face twisted and flushed a bright red. Maybe she’d think twice before going after a man who was claimed, and everyone by now knew that Ashes wasn’t single anymore. It seemed some of the club sluts didn’t care.
“Feel better?” Cinder asked.
I paused, trying to determine if he looked pissed. I was still trying to learn my way now that I wasn’t just the sister of a Devil but claimed by one too.
“Maybe.”
He cracked a smile before sobering again. “Good. Now let’s show these kids a good time.”
I went to Ashes and kissed him and Oliver. Ashes leaned down, his lips brushing my ear. “That was so fucking hot. I can’t wait to get you home and put Oliver to bed.”
My nipples went instantly hard and my panties grew damp. I was starting to worry he’d never touch me again! If I’d known all I had to do was beat some whore’s ass, I’d have done it a week ago. He nuzzled my neck, then kissed my cheek.
I could feel my cheeks burning when I joined Meg and Clarity again. We set up a pin the tail on the werewolf game, a bean bag toss with a board shaped like Frankenstein, and someone had filled a large bowl with water and apples on a table away from everything else. Havoc pumped some kid-friendly spooky music and songs through the speakers and I smiled as Allegra and Caleb started bouncing and dancing. It didn’t take long for the other kids to join in, except for the babies.
I noticed Jordan kept eyeing Oliver with longing. I took him from Ashes and walked over to her, then held out the baby. “You can hold him,” I said.
Her lower lip trembled, and it was the only time I ever remembered Jordan showing a vulnerable side. I heard she’d lost her shit when Havoc went missing, but I’d never seen her look close to crying before. Losing her baby, and knowing she’d never have another, must have been tearing her apart. I couldn’t even imagine if Oliver hadn’t survived.
“You know, if you want to keep him sometime, you can. Not that I think you’re a glorified babysitter, but… I’m just saying, if you get baby fever and need a fix, I’m sure Oliver would be happy to visit with you.”
She held my son close and hugged me tight with her other arm. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“I know we aren’t exactly friends, Jordan, but have you thought of maybe adopting? It’s not the same as giving birth to your own, but I’m sure there are babies out there who need a home.”
A shadow fell over me and I tipped my head back to look up at Havoc. He had an arched eyebrow as he stared at me before settling his gaze on his woman. “She’s right. Might be something we should look into.”
Jordan nodded and kissed Oliver’s forehead. “Okay.”
I left them and went to find Ashes. He’d claimed a table with Scratch, Renegade, and Jackal, each with a beer in their hands. It seemed Clarity had been right. The guys had wanted alcohol so they’d gotten bottles from behind the bar. The table still didn’t have a drop of alcohol where the kids could reach it. Instead of intruding on their time, I went back to Clarity and Meg, but Josie had joined them since I’d walked off earlier.