Page 52 of Gluttony (Seven Deadly Sins #4)

Once up at the penthouse, we pack a few things and have a quick preliminary dinner.

It’s like dinner but not fully since the real thing will be in two hours when we get to The Nest upstate.

It’s what I’ve named Orion’s family home.

Vulture…bird…nest. Seemed fitting at the time.

Mostly because The Murder Home only fits for crows.

Being that it’s my birthday and the last year before the big three-oh, they packed a few extra bags with birthday stuff inside, including dinner and cake.

One gift is big enough that Hadley put it in his truck and I’m not allowed to go near it.

I’m pretty sure it’s not a dead body because that would be…

weird for lack of a better term. Actually, stupid works.

It would be stupid for him to drive two hours with a dead body in his truck.

“Okay, so is it decorative or practical?” Orion and Hayes are riding with me in the limo while Hadley follows behind. Sometimes, I try to turn in my seat so I can blow him kisses out the back, even though he can’t see me because of the tinted windows, I’d like to think he can feel me.

“Neither.” I frown at Hayes’s response, a smirk planted on his sexy-as-fuck five o’clock shadow growing in. A year and half ago, I never would have thought he could be playful, and there are times my Grumpy Baby Daddy is anything but amused, yet here he is, fucking with me.

“How is that possible?” My pout doesn’t fool anyone but I feel better doing it. I would cross my arms over my chest but my boobs are a serious hindrance.

“I wish there was a way to find out…” Hayes taps his forefinger over his lips, looking up at the ceiling of the car as though thinking about this mysterious option. “Oh, right. There is a way. Patience.”

“You’re an ass.” Hayes is no help so I turn my charm on Orion, giving him a sweet smile and batting eyelashes.

“Nope, I like my balls where they are, thank you very much.”

“You’re no fun.” By this time, I’m digesting my pre-dinner and the rocking of the limo is like a sleeping pill.

When I wake up, we’re pulling into the house, and to my horror, I’ve drooled on Orion’s shoulder. This baby is ruining my game.

“Come, Sleeping Beauty, time for dinner.”

I’m not ashamed to say I perk right up.

“Do I get more cum-cakes?” I’ve grown fond of Hadley’s special recipe. Sure, it’s disgusting in theory, but the fact that he wants me to have his DNA inside me at all times is oddly sweet.

“Not while you’re pregnant. We have no idea if it’s harmful for the baby.” I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, because me giving the three of you blowjobs and swallowing every drop is any better? Make it make sense.”

“Sweetheart, it’s Hadley we’re talking about. There isn’t any sense to be had.” Right.

“I heard the words cum and cupcakes, is our girl gagging for it?”

“Ew, Hadley.” I say this but also I’m smiling at the thought of gagging on his cock. Alas, I’m too hungry for actual food to think about sex. For now.

As we enter The Nest, Hayes stays outside and Hadley goes around opening the windows to air the place out for ten minutes while I put the food away in the kitchen.

This last year, we’ve renovated a few parts of the house to make it more our style, our tastes and our convenience.

The kitchen is top of the line with a huge double-door fridge and a freezer in the now-huge pantry I had the guys add to the side. It’s great for storage.

“First birthday gift has to be now, can’t wait any longer.” Hayes is at the door, only his head peeking in.

“Fuck’s sake. Okay.” Orion and Hadley come get me from the kitchen, mid standing on my tip toes trying to put away extra shit we had at the penthouse that would be best here. Orion guides me while Hadley covers my eyes.

“Come on, Sweetheart, let’s waddle out of here.” Fucker.

“Say that again and I will cut you and your balls off.” He chuckles but it dies on his lips when I add, “I’ve got two other sets if I want more kids.” Hormones are no joke.

“Damn,” Orion whispers beside me, which only makes me grin like a lunatic. I swear, I feel more and more like Hadley as the days go by.

“Brutal, Little Rabbit, but I approve.”

We stop walking and Hadley turns me toward the door. It’s clicked shut just as I hear another noise that I don’t recognize.

“Please, for the love of babies being born soon, tell me you did not bring in a target. Do you know how hard it is to get rid of tortured body odor?” I’m fucking with them. I have no idea about dead body smells since last year it was all outside.

“Funny, Little Rabbit, but this is a whole different kind of gift. Plus, this one’s from Hayes.”

Orion takes his hand away and once my eyes adjust to the light, I see it. And it’s running straight at me with its too-huge-for-its-body paws and golden fur.

“Oh my God!!” I wish I could say that I crouched down with phenomenal grace but that would be a lie. It took me some crazy yoga shit to meet my new Golden Retriever puppy, all shaking with happiness and tail wagging with excitement. “I’ve never had a dog before in my life!”

My first thought is that this is the best day of my life. Then I remember that the best day of my life was when I finally had all three men inside me. Except that within the next three weeks or so, it’s also going to be the best day of my life.

“You realize that”—the puppy starts licking my face and mouth and nose and neck before I can even finish that phrase—“we’re essentially having two babies at the same time now.”

“Pfft, pretty sure we can handle two kids between the four of us. No sweat.”

Yeah, famous last words.

The guys bring in the crate and do all the things dog people do with their new puppies. I’m too hungry to pay attention but I’ll get cliff notes later.

“My gift is outside. Let’s go before it freezes to death.” I stop chewing and look up with narrowed eyes at my beloved sociopath.

“I beg your pardon?” Why…oh why did I end up with a serial killer and two enablers as boyfriends?

Hadley’s not a fan of me calling them my boyfriends.

He thinks it’s too weak a title to describe us but going around saying I live with my three soul mates is a bit much.

We discussed marriage but until it’s legal for me to take on three husbands, I’m not marrying one and not the others.

Legally, I’m bound to them and they’re bound to me even though my possessions aren’t even a fraction of theirs.

The money Mickey and I had made all went to charity because I couldn’t stomach taking it.

The condo, I found out weeks after Mickey died that Hayes had been the buyer all along.

It was my belated birthday gift from him, which I put up as a rental.

I don’t need it but I like having something that belongs to me.

“Don’t be mad.” Hayes brings a glass of wine to his lips and I don’t miss the smirk he tries to hide.

I swallow the rest of the lasagna I was chewing then sigh. Hadley’s life took a huge turn when he was a teen and killing bad guys satiates this need in him. Now, I’d like to be able to say that I learned this from Hadley’s sessions with his therapist but I’d be lying.

First off, how useful can therapy be if the patient doesn’t use his real name?

And because the goal is to keep him out of fucking jail, he told us he’s using a metaphor for snakes.

For an hour, once a week, Hadley tries to talk about his need and fixation for hunting snakes.

I’m not present in his sessions but I’m betting he’s manipulating his therapist like his own private fiddle.

But, he’s doing it. Oh, and yeah, the sessions are online. So, he’s barely doing it but still…

“Is it a bad bad person?” Filling up my glass with fresh water, I drink while Orion nods his answer. “Okay, then. Let’s go hunting.”

“We’re going for a walk, Diamond. We’re not chasing anyone. Hadley is presenting his gift with a red bow this year.” How thoughtful. Insert sarcasm here.

Orion’s phone pings and I see Hadley’s message pop up.

Hads : Ready.

It takes us fifteen minutes to get to Hadley, the cool night air of March not at all unpleasant for my digestion.

When we arrive, I realize Orion wasn’t kidding. Tied to a tree is a heavy set man wearing only his boxers and a red bow wrapped around his entire body. I kind of feel bad for him, the humiliation of it all is awkward.

“Happy Birthday, Little Rabbit.” And in a ta-da move, Hadley removes the man’s blindfold and holds his arms out like I’m supposed to clap at the magic trick. “The hunt was fun, I have to say.”

“What has he done to deserve this?” From where I stand, he looks harmless. Tall, pot belly, thinning hair, blue eyes and thin lips.

“Well, let’s see. He got his sister hooked on meth then killed her.

” The man shakes his head, protesting, but I can’t understand him because he’s got a ball gag tied around his head.

I must admit, the drooling is a bit disgusting.

“Fine, right. The overdose was accidental. But pushing your little sister to test your drugs on the regular is still a shitty thing to do, isn’t it? ”

The man is now crying, nodding at Hadley’s words as though he’s hoping for some kind of forgiveness.

He won’t get it. If the man’s here, on our property for my birthday, it means he won’t live to see another day.

More than that, if he’s here then his sins are bigger than forcing drugs on his sister.

“But, that’s not why he’s here.” Bingo.

“Hads, it’s fucking cold here and Bowie’s tired. Can we get the point, please?” Hadley narrows his eyes at Orion for ruining his big moment so I smile and blow him a kiss.

“I love you, Hadley.” That makes him grin right back at me, and when I pull my jacket tighter across my chest, he blurts out his reasons for this man’s presence.

“Not only did he hurt his sister but he’s a bully. Your …bully.” I blink, trying to make sense of it all when it hits me.

“Seth?” I take a step back, feeling like the nine-year-old me getting slapped around by this asshole. “Emma’s dead?” I don’t know why I care but she was always so sweet when her brother wasn’t around.

The man doesn’t answer but Hadley cries out a ding ding ding into the night, his forefinger tapping the tip of his nose. I can’t believe he found him. Still, it was forever ago, why would he hunt him down? I haven’t thought about Seth in years.

“Hadley, this is too much. He bullied me, sure, but it’s not like I have scars from it.” Fuck, now I feel guilty.

“Oh, Little Rabbit, but that’s not all. I’ve been a busy vulture this year and all my research brought me to this guy. I want you to look into his eyes and tell me you don’t recognize him.” I roll my eyes at Hadley…afuckingain.

“I just told you that I know who he is, I’m just saying, the punishment is not proportionate to the crime.” Jesus Christ, I need to find him a better therapist.

Hadley walks up to me and, just like last year, cups my jaw with both hands. “Think harder. Look harder.”

With a heavy, tired sigh, I nod. “Okay.” Then he kisses the breath out of me, leaving me dizzy with a silly grin on my face.

I look hard, stare, but nothing comes to me. Hadley groans then goes back to the man and unties the ball gag.

“Speak.”

“Bowie, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—” Hadley backhands him with a growl.

“You don’t fucking speak her name.”

I’m frozen in my spot, my body pulled to over a year ago when I was left bloody in the cold snow.

Motherfucker.

“There we go,” Hadley coos, pride coating each word.

“That was you? You attacked me, but…why?” This makes no sense. I thought Mickey got one of his stupid friends to…

“Get this…Mickey never lost contact with this scum. Paid him a hefty sum to put you in the hospital. Then this guy used his money to build a meth lab. Fucking pathetic.” My guilt from minutes ago vanishes and Hadley sees the change in me. “There’s my Little Rabbit.”

“I’m tired, let’s get this over with.” With my chin up and Orion and Hayes at my side, I watch as Hadley takes out ‘Arry the switchblade and slices Seth’s throat from one ear to the other, opening his carotid arteries nice and wide.

The puppy runs up to me, pawing for me to pick him up, but Orion is quick to do it for me. We haven’t named him yet and when Orion places him in my arms, the word Solace pops into my head and sticks.

As we walk back to the house, a heavy weight is lifted off as the circle of my past life feels complete and discarded.

Now, begins the new.

The better.

The forever.