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“I’m going to be an auntie!” Jez singsongs as she gathers Cece in her arms. “I’m so happy for you both.”
Heather strides toward us with Frenzy in tow. “Did I just hear Cece say she’s pregnant?”
“Quiet,” Cece whispers. “It’s a secret.”
Frenzy tips his head back and laughs. “Sorry, Ce, but that ship has sailed.”
Grim steps up next to the bar, looking, well, grim. He lifts his hands and Frenzy translates for him.
“What ship has sailed?”
Cece buries her face in her hands and moans. She drops her arms a second later, the corners of her mouth turn up, and her eyes are sparkling.
“I’m pregnant!” she shouts.
Cheers erupt in the room, and everyone takes turns congratulating and hugging her. Then Grim shakes his head and lifts his hands.
“Well, isn’t this just dandy? Cece’s knocked up, and Malice has claimed Apple. One by one, we’re falling.”
“Wait,” I say, honing in on me being claimed. “Did you just sa—”
“We need to celebrate,” Heather remarks, and I’m left with so many questions and no one to answer them. She’s quiet for a moment before her eyes light up. “Hey Asher, do we still have that karaoke machine?”
“It’s in the storage room behind the bar,” Nikki answers from the other end of the room.
“I’ll get it.” Bunny jumps off her stool and heads behind the bar. A minute later she reappears with the karaoke machine. “Asher, can you hook it up?”
“Sure, give me one second.” He follows Bunny to the TV and starts hooking it up.
“What should we sing first?” Jez asks, taking out her phone. “I can pull up anything.”
Cece throws her arms up and practically runs to the microphone. “Ice Ice Baby!”
A few shots later and some bad renditions of nineties hip-hop from all of us, Jez grabs the microphone from Cece and thrusts it in my direction. “Apple, sing something for us.”
I shake my head, but everyone starts clapping and cheering.
“Okay, okay.”
I take the microphone from Jez and think about what I want to sing. Before I can give her an idea, music pours from the speakers. Even though I’m feeling the alcohol, I recognizeMy Immortalby Evanescence immediately. Bringing the microphone to my mouth, I close my eyes and open my mouth.
“I’m so tired of being here…”
“Fuck, that was fun.”
I shake my head at Thorn as we ride the elevator to the main level of the clubhouse. Soul already went upstairs to grab a shower, and Rogue and Grim were dismissed, leaving me and our SAA to finish up with our latest sinners. Grim was livid when I ordered him to stand down so I could take his place, but when I proceeded to angrily explain that he’d do the same for his woman, he just grinned and left me to it.
Just be grateful you haven’t had to justify that comment yet.
“Fun, but over way too fast,” I reply.
Glancing down, I take in my bloody clothes and cringe. The sight doesn’t bother me one bit, but I can’t help but wonder if it’ll bother Apple.
“I always expect people to put up more of a fight,” Thorn says, absently wiping his hands on his jeans. “And then we pull in two street thugs, and I’m reminded that most people will fold like a cheap suit.” I laugh, but don’t get a chance to say anything further because he changes the subject. “So, you’re claiming Apple?”
Well, shit.
“No.” My denial sounds bogus, even to me.
