Page 24 of Queen Crow

Lips stares him down with absolute blood-soaked murder when he steps over to her, and the priest is smart enough to not touch her, his hand hovering inches away from her head as he says all of the ancient and pretty words to swear us into this very holy duty.

I take the touching a little easier than everyone else, and when it’s Odie’s turn, Illi’s hand rests over the cleaver strapped to his thigh and I hear the three idiots in the front row begin to wager if the priest is going to faint or not under the pressure in the room.

The faster we get this wrapped up, the better.

When it comes time for the baby to have the water poured over his head, Odie very gently unwraps the blankets and hands them to me. I smile at the perfect Dolce and Gabbana christening gown I’d had couriered to their warehouse apartment just for this occasion. I’m a little surprised that Illi is fine with his son being dressed in so much white silk and lace, but I’d done my research and knew that for our very chic and refined Frenchwoman Odette, this is the perfect outfit for this moment.

When the ceremony is over with, we all move into one of the separate rooms at the back of the church for refreshments. When Odie had called me for catering suggestions, I made the very adept call to cook for them rather than trusting someone else with the menu. Illi had immediately agreed with the choice, mostly because of the poisoning risks at outsourcing.

With all of us here, it would be too good a chance for one of ourmanycollective enemies to attempt to take us out at once.

I’d baked the three-tiered christening cake as well, decorating it with dark blue brushstrokes and gold accents. It had taken me a dozen practice runs, and then three attempts the previous day, before I was happy with the masterpiece, and we are going to be eating cake out of the freezer for months before we run out.

The blindingly bright grin on Odie’s face makes everything worth it as she cuts the cake and hands some to her husband, every pore of him oozing the type of male satisfaction that comes from a safe and joyful family.

I stand by and watch it all unfold, finding a little peace now that our hard work is getting us closer to clearing some of the bullshit from our overflowing planner.

Aodhan sticks with me for the speeches, only moving away when Odie approaches me with a grin and profuse gratitude for my help with today.

As though this isn’t my forte and my utter joy to help her.

“Thank you again, this has been the perfect day and you’ve done so much for him already. It is a great honor to us both to have you and le Loup as his godmothers,” Odie says in very rapid and happy French.

I grin back at her. “He looks absolutely perfect; it’s an heirloom piece for the Illium family.”

She blushes and grins, pressing her nose into his little blond curls and breathing in that delicious baby scent of his.“We are very blessed to have you. I will never lose my gratitude for you all.”

“And I for you and Illi. You kept Lips safe and alive for us before we even knew we were missing her.”

Oh God, I can’t dissolve into tears here in the back rooms of this church surrounded by the most dangerous yet trustworthy criminal figures of the Bay.

Odie smiles at me with understanding, squeezing my hand before moving over to the group of bikers in the corner that are muttering and gossiping about turf wars and blood feuds. They accept her and the baby happily, barely changing the topics, but toning down the language just a little out of respect.

None of them look at her for longer than is strictly necessary, their hands carefully tucked away so there’s no chance of even accidentally brushing her.

I glance over to find Illi and Ash talking a few feet away, their eyes on Odie as they pour out drinks from a hip flask of Ash’s. I catch his eye and then roll mine at him as he salutes me with it.

Blasphemous shithead.

Lips sidles up to me, shockingly silent in her heels, and murmurs to me, “How serious is being a godmother, on a scale? Like… other than the shit I was already completely willing to do?”

I giggle at her. “You’re supposed to be a spiritual guide for him, get him onto the right path to ensure the safety of his soul.”

Morrison slinks in behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist as she blinks at me and then shrugs. “I was always planning on teaching him how to stab first, ask questions later. Hissoulis in great hands.”

We both laugh at her and Odie glances over, making excuses to the bikers to bring the baby back over to us.

When she holds the little bundle of cute out to Lips, I watch as she steels herself, reaching out to grab little Johnny as though she’s handling a bomb with a hair-trigger. Morrison coos at the baby and her, murmuring little words of encouragement at how she’s holding him, and it’s clear he’s been coaching her.

He’s probably aiming to knock her up sometime soon.

“Don’t get too comfortable, kid. I don’t wanna see any Wolf pups for a lotta years,” Illi grumbles as he walks over, pressing Odie into his chest gently and kissing her soundly on the lips. Watching them together used to make my heart ache because his love for her is one for the ages, and even though I’m happy for them both, it always made me feel completely and devastatingly alone.

My eyes drift across the room to where Aodhan and Harley are talking, their heads bent closely as they conspire together. I’m sure whatever it is they’re talking about is going to be a headache for me and Lips to sort out, but it makes me happy to see them together.

To know the O’Cronins didn’t ruin their relationship, no matter how hard they tried to.

“Stop mooning over him,” Ash mutters, as sour as ever, and I shoot him a look.