“How did they clock every single camera?” I asked as Glitch cycled through again.
He stabbed at the screen. “Luck? The damn camera detectors they sell to paranoid people that just make it harder to actually keep people safe? He’s a time-traveler sent to stop the timeline from fracturing? Who the fuck knows?”
“If it has to be anything, I hope it’s the last one,” Hollywood said. “I like the idea that the fate of the world depends on painted wieners.”
“Neonwieners,” Rhys bit out. “They fuckin’ glow every time headlights hit them.”
“Haze and Texas have that handled.” Glitch clicked some buttons, and the stream changed from the past view to a live one. “Probably.”
Rhys rubbed his palm down his face at the mess out front.
The porosity of the brick wasnotmaking cleanup easy, and the festive phallics were beginning to look a little… mutilated.
I had no right to do it. I had no reason to do it. The Court of Mayhem brothers knew who I was and why I was there, so I didn’t have to play a role.
I moved to Rhys because I wanted to.
He must’ve wanted it, too, because as soon as I was within reach, he hooked an arm around my waist and plastered my front to his side.
I tilted my head back to look at him. “It’ll get clean.”
“I know, baby,” he said.
That’s a new one.
I liked it.
Too bad it triggered the reminder that he was too big, bad, and scary for little ol’ me. He instantly released his hold and stepped away.
It wasn’t the time, so I didn’t push. Instead, I twisted to see Hollywood checking different footage on his phone. It took me a second to realize it was of a sleeping baby.
“Is that your daughter?” I asked. “I saw her at the bakery.”
“Yeah, my Maevey.” He turned the screen to face me. “She’s been dealing with reflux, had to make sure she was sleeping okay.”
Even in her crib, she looked tiny. “She’s cute.”
I couldn’t see her or anything, but that seemed like the right thing to say.
“Hold on.” Hollywood was a big, muscular guy who rode a motorcycle in a biker club. He was also an absolute softie—at least where his baby and wife were concerned. He brought up his photos, and almost every single one was Mac or Maeve, with the occasional bike or part interspersed. “I took this one earlier.”
“Adorable,” I said, meaning it that time as the chunky baby slept on her mom.
My focus moved from the smooshy face to the peaceful calm on Mac’s face. I was sure it was just the timing that made it look that way. I couldn’t imagine life with a newborn was ever calm.But there was something in the small smile she was giving the camera.
Giving her husband.
It was so beautiful, it hurt to look at. So I didn’t. I said all the right things as Hollywood showed me a couple more without me actually seeing the details.
“Windows are replaced,” Jury said as he and Judge entered the office.
I used that opening to shift away from Hollywood until I was lurking off to the side.
A voyeur to their close-knit group.
I had no doubt that MayCo offered a lot of assistance to their clients, but I doubted that included most of the club hauling ass at four in the morning to come help. That tier of service was likely reserved for their friends.
“Hellcat,” Rhys called, even though he was already moving to me.
