AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lucatook care ofthe father…
All the air rushes from my lungs in a giant whoosh, and I dart my gaze to Nora, where she chatters with Dani and Caroline in the dining room, clearing off the table from brunch and resetting it for dinner.
Last night, Luca said he was going to track down Jude’s father, but this is the first confirmation he succeeded in his righteous and violent endeavor.
I step closer to Gabe. “Already?”
He nods slowly and takes a giant drink from his beer, even though it’s barely noon. “The dad came back to the club early this morning, looking for Jude…”
Shit.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t expected this, or that it wasn’t warranted. If anyone deserves to end up full of bullets and dumped in the bayou, it’s that piece of trash who called himself Jude’s father.
But I hadn’t anticipated it happening so fast.
One thing we’ve all learned over the years is that rash moves usually result in consequences we may not want to face. We’re careful. Meticulous. We don’t rush into anything—except apparently taking out abusive douchebags like Jude’s dad.
“Does everyone else know?”
Gabe shakes his head. “Not yet. Luca let Savage and me know, but we didn’t want to bring murder into our Christmas celebration right away this morning.”
“Holy shit.” I down the rest of my drink, wishing it were a glass of bourbon or even vodka at this point, after a decade and half of sobriety. “I’m glad the kid is safe. I just hope Luca did it right and I won’t have to represent him in felony court.”
A smirk tilts Gabe’s lips. “You really think Luca would do anything stupid like leave evidence or get caught?”
Good point.
I shake my head. “No…”
Rubbing at the back of my neck, I look at Savage, where he talks with Saint and Landon. He nods at me, his jaw tight. I return a bob of my head, and we don’t even have to speak for him to know that I’m now in the loop, which is likely what he’s telling the other guys.
It may be Christmas and not the ideal time to be discussing Luca’s late-night vengeance, but everyone’s tense. Knowing that’s been taken care of will certainly bring a much-needed sense of peace to the gathering.
A moment of silence lingers between us while Gabe watches the girls in the dining room across the foyer from us.
“You think Luca and Byron will have any trouble keeping Jude with them?”
I glance at him. “They shouldn’t. I spoke with Judge Cramer in children’s court personally last night, and I made a call to HSD this morning with his order.”
Gabe raises a blond brow. “So, they’re going to give a kid to the former head of the mob and his husband…just like that?”
Scowling, I shake my head. “No, notjust like that. It’s a temporary order. They’ll have to get approved as foster parents and go through all the proper certifications. If this ends up being a permanent thing, then…we’ll see what happens.”
Gabe snorts. “Luca with a kid.” He takes a swig of his beer. “Now, Byron…thatI can see. But Luca?”
I laugh and motion toward the open archway to the kitchen, where Skye busily bustles around with Storm and Mom, making dinner. “Did you really thinkyouwould be a father when you got together with Skye? I seem to remember you saying something aboutneverhaving kids.”
His lips droop into a frown. “No. I never thought I wanted that or that I’d be any good at it. But”—he shrugs—”things changed.”
“Not enough for you tomarrymy sister, though. Just knock her up with twins…”
He rolls his eyes at me. “Ha, ha. Very funny. As we’ve said a hundred times, we aren’t the marrying type, but you know your sister has me locked down for life.”
I snort. “She better. You and Luca aren’t the only ones who can make someone disappear.”
Gabe’s green eyes widen. “Wow, threats on Christmas Day. Now the party has really started!” He smacks me on the shoulder and grins. “I guess it wouldn’t be a Hawke holiday without some.”
Chuckling, I push off the mantle and point a finger at him. “Why don’t you have another beer while I go find mywife?”
