CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Violet

The guys have all dispersed to church and I find myself seated on the couch in the common area of the clubhouse, surrounded by women, all looking at me expectantly. Skyler, Sadie, Jayde, and Avery all have the same raised brow and half smirk on their faces, and I feel the need to run and hide.

“So.” Skyler waves a manicured finger in my face. “Is there anything you want to tell us, Vi?”

“No. I’m pretty sure you already know everything there is to know.”

“Everything?” Skyler’s question ends on a bit of a high note.

“I mean, yeah. Declan and I are together and here we are.” I throw my hands out, not sure what else I’m supposed to say. I know what I’m not going to say, and that’s anything pertaining to Mili or why I was gone for so long.

“She’s hiding something,” Sadie accuses.

Oh shit. What do they know?

They can’t know where I was, but of course they know I was gone. I need to come up with a story quick. I could tell them I went to see a sick aunt or maybe my friend had a baby.

“Mhm.” Avery and Sadie share a look. “You’re holding out on us.”

What are some things I would do but wouldn’t be appropriate to take my son along with me? I wouldn’t want him around someone who was sick. A funeral. A baby shower. Come on, Violet. Think.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” I’m pretty sure I do know what they mean, but maybe acting aloof will buy me enough time to come up with a solid alibi.

Jayde’s head tips back, and she lets out an exaggerated groan. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. They want you to tell them how Declan is in bed. They’re nosy like that.”

“Hey. Don’t act like you don’t want all the dirt. Just because you don’t brag about the man who has you calling out his name in your bed late at night, doesn’t mean others don’t want to kiss and tell,” Sadie teases.

The sound of glass shattering has us all turning around. Blake pops up from behind the bar with a rag in his hand and a scowl on his face.

“My bad. Dropped a bottle. Nothing to worry about,” he says, his eyes firmly locked on Jayde. She returns his glare and raises a challenging brow. We all watch the exchange and I’m wondering if there isn’t something going on with those two.

“Whoa.” Skyler spins Jayde with a glare of her own. “You got a man and didn’t tell me? What the hell? Do the guys know about him?”

“Fuck no.” Jayde laughs, but it holds no humor. “You know what my daddy would do. Hell, Jake, Hawk, my Papa. Hell fucking no. Who I sleep with is my business and mine alone.”

A cabinet slams behind the bar and if Sadie’s shit-eating grin is any indication, I’d say Blake isn’t too happy about our current conversation.

“You good over there, Blake? Need a hand with something?” Sadie taunts. She’s loving this. Whatever this is. Jayde’s eye narrow and she slaps Sadie’s arm.

“Quit. I don’t need him digging into my personal life and running off to tell everyone so they can ruin it for me,” Jayde whispers low enough Blake shouldn’t be able to hear her. “With my luck, Daddy would make Blake my escort and have him follow me everywhere, scaring off any potential dates I could possibly have. Just stop.”

“So, you’re not screaming anyone’s name in your bed late at night, then?” I ask quietly, trying to follow the conversation.

“If I was, I still wouldn’t tell. But no. Not currently,” Jayde snaps, giving Sadie the death glare if I’ve ever seen one. Skyler is smirking at both of them.

“Oh, you are a pot stirring little shit.” Skyler’s comment is directed at Sadie. She shrugs and smiles, clearly not giving one single fuck about it.

“Now.” Skyler turns back to me. “Spill.”

“I-I, um …”

“You have had sex with Declan, right?” Skyler’s eyes are narrowed, but her expression is one of confusion. “He just claimed you in front of everyone. So, I’m assuming that means you two did the deed and he claimed you properly, right?”

Oh, thank God.

My shoulders relax as I let out a long, deep breath. “I—yeah. We, uh, we’ve made love. If that’s what you mean.”

“Made love?” Sadie snickers. “No way. Declan is a beast of a man. There’s no way he’s the soft and sweet type in bed. Spill it.”

“I’ve got this,” Avery says. “Hey, Blake. Can you make us a round of Taming of the Shrew? It’s a special concoction we give all the old ladies. Like an initiation of sorts.” There’s a mischievous glint in her eyes and a smile I’m not sure I should trust.

“We’ve had them before. Remember our first girl’s night out together?” Skyler adds. “You like it.”

“I remember liking the sweet slush like cocktail. I also remember having way too many.” I have a horrible feeling they’re setting me up for something I’m going to regret later.

“Ah, come on. It’s just us girls having a good time. Besides, when the guys come out of church, they’ll all be grumpy and you’ll want something to help lighten the mood.” Skyler wiggles her eyebrows, and her smile widens.

Blake comes over carrying a tray with five glasses. “The one with the blue straw is yours, Sky. There’s no alcohol in it.” He lays the tray on the coffee table, throwing one more curious look at Jayde before he walks away. We all pick up our glasses.

“Welcome to the club, Violet,” Skyler says. Jayde and Avery shout, and Sadie wraps her lips around her fingers and whistles. We’re so loud I almost expect the guys to come out and tell us to be quiet. But they don’t.

We clink our glasses and take a drink. I mean to sip the cocktail, but the sweetness surprises me and I end up downing half the drink in one go.

“Ahh.” Placing the glass on the table, I grab my head. The girls are all laughing.

“Yeah, that brain freeze is a bitch. We should’ve warned you, but it’s more fun to watch what happens when it hits.” Sadie laughs.

“Bitch,” I whisper. Not meaning to say it out loud. They don’t seem to mind. They laugh even louder. I drink the rest of my drink and before I know it, I’m feeling a little more relaxed.

We fall into comfortable conversation. Skyler talks about the baby and her last doctor’s appointment. “We tried to find out what we’re having, but the baby is as stubborn as its father and turned over, giving us a great shot of its ass.”

Avery talks about plans for her and Jake’s wedding. “We were going to aim for this December, but with it being so close and now with whatever this shit is,” she waves her hand toward the room where the guys are meeting. “I’m looking at color schemes and venues for the summer instead.” She sighs, sounding somewhat defeated. “It’ll happen. And I’ll have more time to plan my perfect wedding.”

“Girl, I have finals in December and then I’ll be looking for a job, too.” Jayde groans. “I wouldn’t be much help if you did it in December. But I graduate this summer, and then I’m all yours. Plus, Sadie’s been so busy with her new company starting up, it’s probably better all-around if you push the date out.”

“What company are you starting?” I ask Sadie. It’s the first I’ve heard of it.

“I sold a program I designed to help families with special needs kids. It helps adults keep track of them in caser they wander off.” She shrugs, clearly not comfortable with the attention being on her.

Another tray of drinks is handed out. I didn’t even see Blake bring them over. We lift them up, clink our glasses, and drink. Deciding to pace myself, I set my glass down on the table.

“All right. You’ve had your drink. We’ve officially welcomed you. Now …” Avery starts.

“Spill!” they all shout in unison, eliciting another fit of giggles.

“I don’t know what you want me to spill.” I try to play ignorant.

“I call bullshit,” Skyler declares. “You know what we want. Your impersonation of a tomato gives you away.” They all laugh. “Come on. Tell us. Is Declan the beast that we all think he is in bed?”

“I don’t know how to answer that. I didn’t have much to compare him to,” I tell them honestly.

“But weren’t you married for a while?” Jayde asks, and I’m not sure how much I should tell them.

“I was. But my husband was not a very attentive lover. I guess that’s the best way to say it.” I busy my hands with the hem of my shirt, biting my lip as I consider what I can share. “He was abusive and all about himself.”

“You mean he didn’t care if you got off?” Sadie snaps. “Get in. Get off. Get out?” She raises her brow, and I nod. “Asshole,” she mutters before downing the rest of her drink.

“I’m sure you won’t have to worry about any of that with Declan,” Skyler says. She knows a little bit about my past. We were both running from our past and under the protection of Vincenzo and his men. We shared bits and pieces about our struggles with each other, but never the whole story.

A smile spreads across my face, and a warmth I can’t explain fills my chest as I tell her the truth now. “No. I don’t have to worry about any of those things where Declan is concerned. He’s protective and caring and he is very giving in bed.” I dip my chin, trying to hide the way my cheeks blush as they all squeal their words of encouragement at once.

“Hell yes!”

“I fucking knew it!”

“Good for you, Vi!”

I can’t hide my smile or the way my eyes fill with tears. Though, this time it’s tears of happiness. They’re happy for me and for the first time in a long time, I’m happy for me too.

“He’s a good man. And I love him.” I shrug. “He says he loves me too, and he wants me and Carter to be his family as soon as we get a handle on some things.”

I don’t get to finish because the men come flooding into the room, grumbling and seemingly angry.

“Told you they’d be grumpy,” Skyler whispers, nudging my shoulder.

“Blake, get me a whiskey. Make it a double,” Gabe demands. Mack asks for the same and takes a seat at the bar next to Gabe. Jake and Ethan cross the room and come to stand with their women. Avery and Skyler greet them both with kisses, snuggling into them as if they know what their men need. Caleb heads for the kitchen.

Declan stands staring at me from a few feet away. He doesn’t say anything, just curls his finger, summoning me to him. My feet move of their own accord. Once I’m within reach, he grips the back of my neck and slams his lips to mine. The kiss is quick, and full of heat.

“That’s better,” he says as he releases my now swollen lips. “You looked like you needed a reminder.”

“Of what?” I ask, still slightly dazed.

“That you’re mine and this is real.” He smiles down at me, planting a soft peck to my forehead. His arm still locked around my shoulder, he turns us and leads me back to the couch.

Hawk and Sadie are arguing about something while Jake, Ethan, and their women watch.

“You get used to them,” Declan whispers.

“Oh, I find them to be very entertaining,” I tell him. “One of these days she’s going to knock him on his ass and he’s not going to know what hit him. When that happens, Sadie’s screwed.” Declan’s shoulders shake with laughter.

“Yep. The pot is up to five hundred now for when it will happen,” he says in my ear.

Shocked, I ask, “You guys bet on when they’ll get together?”

“No,” he says, smiling. “We bet on how long it will be before Hawk quits fighting it and makes her his. But he’ll have to earn it. Sadie’s not going to make it easy.”

“No, she’s definitely not,” I agree.

The doors of the clubhouse open and in walks in Vincenzo, Matteo, and Santiago.

“Oh, shit.” I’m pulling out of Declan’s arms and running for Vincenzo, panic nearly stealing the breath from my lungs. “What’s wrong? Is Mili okay?” I barely manage to get the words out around the lump building in my throat.

“Easy, Violet. Breathe,” Vincenzo gently commands. Out of sheer habit, or maybe it’s the steely tone of his voice, I do as he says and take a few deep breaths. “Good girl,” He whispers. A large hand grips my elbow, pulling me back until my back smacks into a warm, muscular wall that’s—growling?

I tip my head up and find a very angry Declan. His eyes are locked on Vincenzo. “No.” One word. He says it so firmly and fiercely that I freeze. Declan drops his mouth to my ear and whispers, “Not angry with you, Dove. You have nothing to fear from me.” I glance back at him and see the truth staring back at me, but I’m still unsure why he’s angry then.

Declan tips his chin toward the three imposing Italian men and says, “Him.”

“Ah, come now, Mr. O’Malley. Violet and I are old friends.” The way Vincenzo says it, suggests we were more than friends and the repulsion I feel at the suggestion must show on my face because Santiago laughs quietly.

“I don’t think she likes what you’re insinuating there, Boss,” he says to Vincenzo.

“Hmm. I suppose you’re right, Santiago.” Vincenzo reaches out to touch me and Declan pulls me to stand behind him. Both Vincenzo’s hands come up in a placating manner, but his smile is lethal. “I’d never hurt, Violet. We have an agreement. I was simply going to help relieve her stress and answer her question.”

“Declan,” I whisper. “He’s telling the truth. He’d never hurt me. Please.” I beg. “I need to know about Mili.”

“He doesn’t have to touch you to talk to you,” Declan says firmly. “So, speak.”

“Careful,” Matteo warns. Vincenzo puts one hand up, silencing Matteo.

“It’s quite all right, Matteo. It appears Mr. O’Malley has finally laid his claim on Miss Dupree. Congratulations.” He looks past Declan to where I’m standing. “Doctor D’Angelo is resting and doing well.”

“She’s a feisty one,” Santiago says, his shit-eating grin similar to the one Sadie had not long ago. Vincenzo snaps his fingers, shutting him up.

I smile, relaxing a little, knowing Mili is giving Vincenzo a hard time. It means she’s feeling better for sure. “When can I see her?”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea just yet.” Vincenzo looks over at the bar where Gabe is standing with his arms crossed over his chest. “Come, Gabriel. Let us go into the sanctuary and speak, shall we?” Vincenzo walks around Declan, past me, and stops in front of Gabe, his hand gesturing to the room the men just came from. “You may lead the way.”

“You looking for a bullet in the fucking head?” Gabe asks, holding Vincenzo’s gaze. In a matter of seconds, guns are drawn all around the room. It’s like a crazy ass scene in an action movie.

Ethan has Skyler pulled behind him. Caleb has Jayde tucked behind him. Sadie is behind Hawk. Declan shoes me behind him. Blake has a shotgun drawn behind the bar. Jake has Avery behind him, crouched on the couch. Jameson is beside Jake. Santiago and Matteo have their guns drawn and pointed directly at Gabe.

I can’t fucking breathe.

After a few seconds of intense silence, Vincenzo laughs. He fucking laughs. Reaching up, he pats Gabe’s shoulder. “I knew I liked you for a reason. You have balls of steel, my friend. Now, can we get down to business? I have a woman at my home who needs attention, and some negotiations need to be made first.” Vincenzo releases Gabe’s shoulder, stepping back and gesturing for Gabe to make the next move.

Gabe signals for his men to put their guns away. Matteo and Santiago follow suit. And I finally gasp for air.

“Jesus, baby,” Declan says, catching me. “Breathe. Nothing’s going to happen to you. I’ve got you.”

Once my breathing returns to normal, the only thing I can say is, “You’re all fucking insane.”

Declan laughs, kissing my forehead. “Welcome to the family, baby.”