Toni beamed up at him. “Would you prefer I call it our escape word?”
“Seeing as my mother and sister are both here, very much so.” He bent to kiss her.
“Fine, but my safe word for later is ‘frog’.”
Ranger groaned. “I should have never told you that story.”
Toni laughed as Ranger led her forward into the crowd. Standard patrons didn’t know about several of the safety features added during the construction, but Ranger and the rest of the club did. Similar to the flooring at his security building, Keys installed a sensor system that detected any weaponspatrons might be carrying. Additionally, bullet resistant glass was installed, and a two-way mirror behind the bar. The new office space in the back was now entirely closed off, requiring a club security code to enter.
Mind, all this worked so long as it wasn’t anyone close to the club who was attacking. One of the reasons Cameron was able to place the bomb where she had was because the club had trusted her. She’d been with Ranger, and though she hadn’t worn his cut, she’d been around long enough that it had not been unusual to see her at the bar, or more specificallybehindthe bar.
Every club member and ol’ lady was present tonight, with the club’s nannies, older club kids, and the Riley brothers looking after the younger club kids. Bree kept sending pictures in the group chat they had with Carlos, Zoe, and all the club teens and adults of the Riley brothers’ multiple failed attempts to change a diaper. When Cage asked his daughter why she didn’t help them, Bree replied because it was too entertaining to watch them. Scotty, out of the goodness of his heart, tried to help, which resulted in Bree sending a video of a poop-filled diaper getting tossed across the room.
Bulldog was not looking forward to going home and seeing the disaster left behind. While the clubhouse was big enough to fit all the kids for an occasion like this, they generally gathered at Bulldog’s so Cassie could be included. No one wanted to pressure her to feel obligated to come down to the clubhouse when she was not mentally able.
Carlos, Zoe, and the rest of the Mount Grove Sheriff’s Department were also present, as were the mayor and several council members. The fire department came out, including Captain Hunter. Ghost made it known that any first responder got to drink for free, and any of them currently on duty would be allowed back to redeem that drink.
A very large comfy chair that looked like it would be more at home in a lavish living room than at a bar was positioned next to a group of tables where several ol’ ladies were socializing. Becks, now into her seventh month of her pregnancy, looked half asleep in her throne-like chair with her feet raised, showing off a pair of fluffy slippers with monster toes.
“Oh my God, Becks,” Toni laughed as they approached. “I’m not sure if I’m impressed or surprised by this.” She ran her hand along the top. “Oh, that’s so squishy. Nope, I take it back. Not surprised at all. Let me guess, Ghost insisted?”
Becks smiled sleepily up at her. “He wanted me comfortable. I don’t think he realized at this stage in my pregnancy that comfortable also means sleepy.”
Toni bent to give her a hug. “Yeah, but you look like a queen.”
Ranger also hugged his sister. “Are you good? Do you need anything?”
Becks held up a button trigger remote. “I’m good. Ghost outfitted the prospects with bracelets that buzz if I press this. The closest one is to immediately stop what they’re doing and attend to me.”
Ranger rolled his eyes at his best friend’s antics. “Honestly, I’m impressed at his restraint. I would have thought he’d put shock collars or something on them.”
“He tried. I called him ridiculous and told him I wouldn’t press the button even if I did need something for fear of hurting them.” Becks wiggled the black remote. “This was our compromise.”
Ranger squeezed her hand. “You’re a good influence on him.” Kissing Toni’s temple, he told her, “I’m headed up to the bar. Want to stay here or come with me?”
“I’ll stay with Becks,” she told him.
“What do you want to drink?” he asked her. “I’ll try to snag you a chair, too.”
Becks held up her hands to Ranger. “Here, scoot me over to the left and she can sit with me on my throne.”
Shaking his head at his sister’s ludicrousness, he helped maneuver her until there was room for Toni to squeeze into the giant chair next to her. “Drink?” he prompted Toni again.
“Just an iced tea is fine,” Toni told him.
“You’re allowed to drink,” he reminded her. “It’s not going to bother me.”
“No, it’s okay. Really. Just an iced tea is fine.”
“Oh, have you checked out the club’s new mocktails?” Becks asked Toni. She looked around and then said, “Dosia, can you pass me one of those menus?”
Like an assembly line, the menu worked its way down the ol’ ladies until it reached Becks. Ranger just stood there, flabbergasted. “That was ridiculous. I could have just grabbed it for you.”
Becks waved him off as she passed the menu to Toni. “So far the Wicked Tongue and the Big O are my favorites.”
Ranger groaned, not needing to have ever heard those words pass his little sister’s lips.
“Ooh, Lip Service sounds really good,” Toni mused, pointing at it on the menu to show Becks.
