Page 67 of Fire Fight

“Tried to run me out of town,” I said flatly, eyes narrowed on Lane.

“You didwhat?” Birdie gasped, choosing that moment to re-enter the room.

“Oh, you’re in for it now,” Crew whispered as Birdie approached, stopping toe-to-toe with Lane and somehow managing to look down her nose at him despite the height difference.

God, I wanted to be her when I grew up.

“Lane Roderick Lawless,” Birdie said, punctuating each ofhis names with a finger to the chest. I doubted he felt it through his thick muscles, but it had to be embarrassing to be reprimanded by your mom like you were a child.

“Oh shit,” Finn hissed. “She full-named him.”

“Need us to get the shovels, Mama?” West asked. “I’ve had the perfect spot to bury him picked out for years.”

The guys snickered as Birdie, ignoring their commentary, demanded Lane explain himself.

“I asked her to leave,” he said at last, his eyes darting everywhere but at his mother.

“No,” I corrected. “You made it impossible for me to stay by blacklisting me at every hotel, motel, and short-term rental in the entire county.”

Birdie let out a disgusted sound and turned away from Lane, like she couldn’t stand to look at him. “I thought I raised you better than that.”

“I was trying to protect her!” Lane shouted.

“That’s not your call to make,” I shot back.

“So that’s how she ended up staying with you,” Birdie said to Crew.

“Yep,” he said proudly.

“Good boy. You get an extra piece of pie after dinner. You can have Lane’s.”

“What?” Lane sputtered. “C’mon, Mama. That’s cruel and unusual punishment.”

Birdie whirled on him and planted her hands on her hips. “A punishment befitting the crime, my boy. Now grab those beans and get your ass to the table.”

Lane hung his head and mumbled, “Yes, ma’am,” as he did what he was told, his brothers’ laughter following him out of the room.

I moved after them, but Crew caught my wrist and pulled me back. When I faced him, his eyes darted between mine, concerning shining in them. “You okay?”

“I’m great,” I answered, giving him an honest smile.

And I meant it. These people—they didn’t know me. As far as they were concerned, I was nothing more than an interloper. On the surface, it probably looked like I was taking advantage of Crew’s obvious kindness and that deep-seated sense of protectiveness he felt over everyone and everything around him.

Still, they welcomed me with open arms, easily folded me into the family like I belonged there.

I hated how much I loved it, how much I wanted this fantasy of a life at Crew’s side I was stupidly building in my head to become a reality.

After a few more trips, Birdie’s feast was laid out before us on the table, and the twins immediately grabbed their plates and began loading them up.

“Shouldn’t we wait for everyone else?” I whispered to Crew.

“Nah,” he said, handing me my plate before lifting his own. “They’ll serve themselves up when they get here.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than did another man come strolling through the door, rounding to the opposite bench from the seats Crew had selected for us.

There were only two brothers I had yet to meet, so I took a stab in the dark.

“Owen?”