I narrowed my eyes, not appreciating their questioning and comments. “None of that matters. She’s mine.”
Lynx elbowed me. “About fucking time, brother. I’m happy for you.”
“Who do you want?” Storm asked. “With Track and Ryder leaving, I don’t like giving up two men. Karma hasn’t agreed yet to stay in the family unit, so she’ll need protection too.”
Lynx snickered. “All you have to do is tell Cobra she’s at risk, and he’ll guard her himself. I mean, you saw how he sniffed around her in Vegas.”
Track jerked his chin at Storm. “Yeah, what’s their story?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care,” Prez replied. “My cousin will handle his own personal business. You all stay out of it.”
“No problem there,” Dodge said. “Em and Dante are my focus. My hands are full with her pregnancy, and he’s walking.” He grinned like he loved every minute of it. Dodge was the epitome of a family man.
Lynx smiled wryly. “Well, according to my woman, Karma is giving Cobra a run for his money.”
Storm groaned. “Enough talk about Cobra and Karma. You sound like the old ladies gossiping in the kitchen.” He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. Prez looked tired.
“Agreed. Karma wouldn’t appreciate it.” Art reached for the bottle of Jack. “I’ll talk to her, see if I can convince her to stay at the compound. Going on lockdown, we’ll need more supplies. I’ll take Sugar to the store and bring Hollywood along.”
I considered Art for a second. No one else suspected anything about him and Sugar as far as I knew. I couldn’t be the only one who did though. The brother was getting bold, hanging around her all the damn time. I’d even caught them together in the kitchen pantry with the door closed after I got home from Ava’s place on New Year’s Eve.
“Sure. Take her in the morning. Now can we get back to the Vipers?” Prez gritted out. “I’m fuckin’ tired. I may as well make the announcement now. I knocked up Angel again.” He grinned wide. “Between her morning sickness and Birdie waking in the middle of the night because she’s teething, I’m fuckin’ wiped out.”
Congrats were shouted.
Prez motioned his hands for the room to be quiet. “You can’t tell anyone. Angel wants to make the announcement once she’s out of the first trimester.”
“You know the old ladies know,” Boxer said. “They tell each other everything.”
“Doesn’t matter. You all aren’t supposed to know.”
My phone came alive with a text from Ava.
Ava: Wanna watch a movie tonight?
Ire: Sure. Whatever you want.
Ava: Have you seen The Bodyguard with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner?
Ire: Nope
Ava: Good! See you tonight.
Ire: Looking forward to it
I lifted my chin and found everyone looking at me.
“Is Ava okay?” Boxer shot me a shit-eating grin.
“Fucker,” I hissed.
“Jesus. I swear some of you have grown a pussy.” Prez shook his head. “We hit the Vipers where it hurts tomorrow night.”
7
Ava
When Whitney ran into Kevin’s arms at the end of the movie, it put a lump in my throat, like every other time. They obviously loved each other but still chose to go their separate ways…out of love. I didn’t like it. The romantic in me wanted them together. Their careers couldn’t have meant more to them than each other. Could they?