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With part two in motion, all I can do is settle in and wait for Jessop’s greed to catch up with him.
EIGHTEEN
Wine Whispers
FRANCESCA
Hammer dropped me off four hours ago. He’s on his way to some big meeting with Guard, Risk, and War. Hammer’s been honest with me all along about what they have planned to lure Jessop out of hiding, but I could tell that he was holding something back about this visit.
“What aren’t you saying?” I asked him outright.
“The plan remains the same, babe.” He glanced over for a split second before turning back to the road and taking my hand.
“You’re not going to tell me.” I removed my hand and crossed my arms over my chest. We’ve told each other everything up till now, and it hurts that he’s keeping this from me. I hate not knowing, especially when it involves me in the first place.
Hammer pulled over to the shoulder of the road. “I don’t like when you pull away from me.”
“Can’t you understand how this makes me feel? Do you think I’m too weak to hear it? Or worse, you don’t trust me. Maybe you don’t realize how unnerving it is not to know when this is all happening, especially when it’s happening because of me.” I wish I could have stopped, but I couldn’t. Everything gushed out so fast that my hands were shaking. “I’ll be responsible if something goes wrong. Everyone will blame me.”
He took my hands in his. His mere touch soothed me. “The meeting is with men who don’t want to be named. They’re important and dangerous, but not to Satan’s Pride. There’s mutual respect between us. Guard asked me to go, and as a Pride brother, I can’t refuse. Nothing has changed. I swear to you, you know all there is to know.”
Hammer kissed me sweetly, and after a few minutes, we continued on our way to Izzy and Saint’s place.
Little did I know that there was going to be a houseful of Lady Pride women, copious amounts of wine, chocolate, and ice cream, along with a charcuterie board the length of the table with all kinds of cheeses, deli meats, fruits, and nuts.
Ava sits next to me on an oversized rug in the family room. The others are scattered around the room, some on the sofa, others in chairs, but all of us laughing and drinking.
“I’m going to have to head out soon. I have to get home to the boys,” she says, her voice slurred. She’s more than a little tipsy.
“Me too,” Maddie says, then she stumbles to the floor next to us. She lifts her glass. “This wine is soooo good.” She giggles while covering her mouth.
Most of the women are in the same state, including me. Izzy is the only one pretending to drink. She hasn’t told anyone about being pregnant yet. She and Saint want to keep it quiet for a little longer. I, at least, have a reasonable thought process and remind them, “You can’t drive home. You’re both too drunk.”
Saint, who has been standing guard all night, says, “No one is driving. Whenever you ladies are ready to go home, I’ve arranged for rides.”
“You’re so sweet.” I glance up at him before I turn to Izzy. “You’ve got a good man.”
“I know,” she says.
“I do too,” I say.
“I know.” She nods.
“We all do,” Ava shouts, lifting her arms straight into the air with glee. “I know. I know. Why don’t we all say one thing we love about our men?”
Vi, also very intoxicated, replies in a loud whisper, “We can’t. Saint will tattletale.” She jerks her head in his direction. I notice the smirk on Saint’s face. He’s so going to tell.
“We’ll make him pinky swear,” Willow says, coming up with a solution to the problem.
Quinn squints her eyes, trying to make a serious face, looking directly at Saint. “Do you pinky swear?”
Saint plays along and crosses his fingers over his heart, but I notice he keeps one hand behind his back. “Absolutely.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll go first,” Maddie cries out. “I love the way he makes me sit on his lap when it’s just the two of us having a late dinner together. He holds me close, and it feels like home.” Her voice drifts into a dreamy lilt.
“My turn,” Vi says. “I fell in love with the crappiest house with the loveliest yard. Orion worked day and night to make it our dream place. He does that every day for me. Makes my dreams come true.” I like Orion even more now. Vi nominates Hanna to go next.
“He makes me feel beautiful,” Hanna says simply.
