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“You think I’m too old to kick your ass?”
“Brother, please.” He cocks his head, almost daring me to throw the first punch. “You like her?”
“I know it sounds ridiculous. We just met and—”
“You’re old enough to be her dad,” he points out.
I glare at him. “Thanks, I hadn’t noticed.”
There’s that cocky fucking smirk I expected earlier. “Does she make you happy? Well, as happy as a grumpy old goat like you is gonna get.”
“Yes, asshole.”
“She must, if you’re tagging along to high school musicals with her.” He snickers.
“You’re an even bigger dick than I remember.”
“Thank you.” His grin slides off his face and he flips to serious again. “You make her happy?”
“I want to. I think so.”
“Then fuck what anyone else thinks.” He lifts his gaze to the ceiling for a moment. “No one finds their way here by accident, Grinder. The brothers, the bunnies, the prospects, the hangarounds—they’re all missing something in their life. All been betrayed or neglected by someone. The ones who stay find what they needed all along.”
Damn, that sounds eerily similar to something I said to Wrath a lifetime ago. “Gee, I wonder who shared that brilliant piece of wisdom with you?”
“You.”
“Glad it stuck.” I consider what he said again. “Sounds like she had a fucked up family from stuff she’s said.”
“Didn’t we all?”
I run through the stories that I know of my brothers. Can’t say I know anything about their women. Although, I can guess Trinity didn’t have it easy.
“What happened to Trinity after Bishop died?” I ask.
His expression turns to steel.
“I remember seeing her at the Demons’ compound a couple times when she was little,” I explain, combing my memories for lost nuggets of information. “When Saints and Demons were on the outs, and Bishop went to prison. I lost track of her.”
“Seems like everyone who could’ve done something lost track of her,” he growls.
“Glad you two found each other.”
“Yeah.” His voice and expression turn distant. “Don’t fuck it up, Grinder. Time’s a bitch to get back.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Serena
Baking isn’t an adequate word to describe what Trinity and Lilly are doing in the kitchen.
They have trays of brownie kiss cupcakes, mini apple cakes shaped like flowers, cinnamon rolls, bacon popovers, chocolate-dipped cherry cookies, fudgy mocha cream brownies, and a few cakes spread on every surface of the industrial-sized kitchen.
Sparky seems to have appointed himself the official tester of all the treats. He’s perched on a chair at the kitchen table, nibbling on one of the cherry cookies with his eyes closed. “These are my fave, Trin,” he says in a blissed-out voice.
“I thought the brownie kisses were your favorite,” Lilly says, elbowing Trinity.
The two of them share a laugh.
Without opening his eyes, Sparky holds out his hands. “Let me have another brownie.”
I set my knife down, careful not to smear cream cheese frosting all over the counter. “I got it.”
“Careful,” Trinity warns. “There won’t be any left for anyone else.”
I drop a brownie in Sparky’s hands.
“Thank you, Serena.”
“You’re welcome.”
His blissful smile widens. “You smell like carrot cake.”
Laughing, I turn toward Trinity. “I’m done with mine.”
She glances over and nods. “Thank you.”
The back door flies open. Heidi and her daughter stomp into the kitchen, shaking snow off their coats. “I hope we’re not too late.”
I knew I’d eventually run into Heidi but I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. I don’t have a problem with her, but I can’t say she feels the same about me. Maybe if I stay still, I’ll blend into the wallpaper.
“Aunties!” Alexa races over and throws herself at Lilly’s legs.
“Hey, lil’ monster.” Lilly scoops her up and kisses her rosy-red cheeks.
“Where’s my kisses?” Trinity asks.
While they’re joking around, Heidi hangs up their coats and sets their boots on a tray inside the door. I pick up my knife and mess with the carrot cake some more.
“Oh. Serena, hey,” Heidi says.
I glance at her and force a smile. “Hi.”
We stare at each other for a few awkward beats.
“I roped her into frosting duty,” Trinity explains breezily. “Serena’s got a steadier hand than Mr. Munchies over there.”
Sparky grins. “I’m your taste tester.”
“Parky!” Alexa runs over to him.
Heidi glances at all the treats. “Sorry. I thought I’d make it over earlier.”
“No worries. You feeling okay?” Lilly asks.
Heidi clutches her stomach. “No.” She wrinkles her nose. “Is something burning? My nose is so screwy lately.”
“Oh, shit!” Trinity yelps and races to the wall oven.
“Told you we were doing too much at once,” Lilly mutters, popping a square of chocolate in her mouth.
“Eh.” She pokes at a cast-iron skillet. “The bottom of the chocolate skillet cookie’s a little black. But the rest is still edible.”
“Bring it here.” Sparky holds out his hands. “I’ll hide the evidence, Trin.”
I need to get away from this cozy little scene. “I’m going to run to the bathroom.”
I sprint out of the kitchen before anyone answers. A tremor of fear runs through me as I snake my way through the dining room. Without Grayson by my side, I’m not sure who might stop me. But it seems ridiculous to ask one of the girls to be my bathroom buddy.
