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“Sorry, Little One,” Asher rasps, smoothing down his hair as he walks into the living room, awkwardly looking around. “But you weren’t too innocent yourself. You kick like a donkey. Did you have dreams?”
I try to hold in my snort, but it doesn’t work when she frowns at me and gasps. “I do not kick! I sleep like a log, ask Mommy. That’s what she says.” She pouts a little, crossing her arms. “No dreams. Not like at home when the ghosts tap on my windows.” My brows raise at her admission.
“The ghosts tap?” I ask carefully, and she nods, blowing out a breath.
Asher shakes his head, rubbing at the bruises lining his ribs with a wince. “You’re a little ninja when you sleep, Little One,” he says, giving her a genuine smile as she stares up at him with a grin.
“You hungry?” he asks her until she nods.
“I want ice cream!” This time she directs those big, mismatched eyes in my direction, batting her eyelashes.
“No ice cream,” I mutter. “That’s not breakfast.”
“How about some pancakes? I think I saw some ingredients in there.” Lyric immediately perks up, nodding with excitement. “Okay. Pancakes it is. Um, anyone else?” Asher asks, clearing his throat as he looks around the room, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Make a stack, but serve me coffee first,” River grumbles, stumbling into the room, squinting her eyes. “When did the sun get so damn bright?” With a sigh, she sits down next to Rad and me, closing her eyes with a groan. “Fuck morning,” she grumbles again, slumping into the couch.
“My sentiments exactly, Pretty Girl. Fuck today. Let’s just go back to bed.” Leaning in, he brushes his lips against her cheek. “So, I can lick you all over. Again.” He grins when my brows raise into my hairline.
“Coffee first, licking later,” she mumbles, blindly taking a coffee cup from Asher, smirking at her words. “You’re my savior, Asher. Today, at least.” His entire face lights up, displaying how fucking pleased he is with himself.
My heart pounds at her words. Him? Her fucking savior? He’s the reason we left. It’s all his goddamn fault. Everything is. Has she already forgotten in the midst of the chaos? Fuck. I glare at him, telling him with my eyes to back the fuck up. He has no claims over her right now. If he wants her, he’ll have to beg for her. Just like I’m going to do. At some point, when I figure out how.
“Daddy,” Lyric murmurs, looking up at me with a frown. “Your face is tight.”
Right. I can’t be hostile—the pact. We’re in this together and getting along for the girls, especially for Lyric. She can’t see the four guys she calls daddy arguing or hating each other. So, I suck up my pride and relax my facial expressions, letting all my rage go.
“I’m fine,” I say soothingly, rubbing a hand down her back.
“I call dibs on coffee tomorrow,” Rad declares, eyeing everyone around the room. “Then we can let the licking commence.” He cracks a grin until my fist meets his gut.
“Little ears,” I growl, nodding toward Lyric, who frowns as I put my hands over her ears.
“Dude!” he wheezes, clutching his stomach with a frown.
“Are they little?” Lyric asks earnestly, pouting a lip.
“He means your daddy is saying grown-up things around you, Ly. And he doesn’t want Daddy Rad to say anything bad.” River sips her coffee, humming under her breath. “Your ears are perfect for your noggin.”
“Oh,” Lyric says, removing her hand. “Okay.”
“Sorry, Little Pretty Girl. I’ve got to get better at not saying naughty things,” he says, touching the end of her nose with a grin. “Will you forgive me?”
She taps her chin like she’s thinking about it, letting a little grin slip through. “Maybe. I like ice cream,” she says, shrugging.
River snorts. “She also drives a hard bargain. Good luck.”
“Well played,” I murmur in her ear as she giggles, looking at me with the hope I’ll give in and give her the ice cream she’s been craving.
River shifts in her seat, heaving a breath. “Despite where we are, I’d like to resume with band practices and my procedures.”
“I want to watch daddies play!” Lyric shouts with wide eyes. “Can I?”
My heart swells. “Of course.” I grin when she excitedly claps her hands.
“Oh good! You’re all dressed!” We all jerk toward the front door as it’s thrown open, and the alarm blares through the house.
Seemingly on instinct, Callum rushes to his feet in a flash, squaring up in front of Jordy, who is grinning like an idiot in the face of danger. I’ve seen what Callum can do with his fists. He’s a goddamn deadly weapon these days.
