Page 67 of The Devil’s Escape (The Devil’s Soldiers #7)

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

HULK

I see why they call him Taz.

I expect that we’re going to walk up to see the kids, but Avery stops me when we walk out of my room.

I’m feeling a lot more relaxed after so much time with Avery, that’s for damn sure.

The world doesn’t feel so heavy right now, but I know it’s going to come back, so I want to spend a little more time with her and get to know the kids better.

They’re important to her, so they’re important to me.

I just have to hope that they can accept me and that we can have a good relationship.

Still, that’s a bigger worry for another day.

Instead, I follow Avery down the hall toward the stairs. “Apparently, everyone is hanging out in the common area now,” Avery explains, holding my hand tightly. “They blacked out the windows so no one can see out or in and locked the door.”

That eases some worry. I don’t want Sawyer or Isla seeing any of the bodies lying around. Who knows how long it will take for the Feds to get that all cleaned up, so I guess we’ll have to get comfy in here for a while.

When we reach the top of the stairs, I stop her and pull her back, and give her a quick kiss. “Thank you,” I murmur when I pull her away.

She smiles at me. “I’m always here when you need me,” she murmurs back. Then she winks. “Though I think I should be thanking you for all those orgasms. I haven’t been this relaxed in a long time.”

I chuckle. “Angel, I’ll give you as many as you can stand every time.” We descend the steps, and I see the room is full of all three club members, along with Thea, Rose, the kids, and the Prospects. All of them are eating, but of course, Isla’s the first to notice us.

The wicked grin she gives us already has me bracing for what she’s going to say.

Of course, she doesn’t disappoint. Isla stands up and starts a slow clap.

“I thought we were going to have to send someone up to do a welfare check, with how long you were gone. I was even prepared for an ER visit and having to do some stick drawing again. You know, to be helpful.”

Everyone starts laughing, but I see Savage exchange a look with Rogue, and the two of them get a pinched look on their faces. Savage must feel my stare, because he holds my stare, and once everyone goes quiet, he asks, “Is that one yours?” with a nod at Isla.

“She is,” I return evenly. I don’t need a situation like we did with the Misfits. I hear Avery’s quiet intake of breath, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Isla’s eyes widen.

“Brother, you in the market for two more just like her?” Savage asks me drily. He jerks a thumb at Rogue, who glares at him. “He has twin girls the same age as her, and they’re just as bad. Maybe I’ll send them all to you, and they can be your problem.”

“Fuck off,” Rogue growls at him, clearly annoyed that his President would offer up his children.

“Brother, they walked in on you and your Old Lady, walked back out, and made you a freaking sign to walk out to. What did it say? Oh, yeah, it said, ‘She’s faking it. Try harder next time.’ You about blew a gasket, and Scarlett spent the entire night laughing.”

“I love them,” Isla gushes, clapping her hands.

“If they come here, can I go there? Please?” Sawyer begs with a groan. “I can’t take three of them.”

“We haven’t even added Macy to the mix,” Rose snickers. “Oh, yes, please, I want to have all these lovely girls under one roof.”

“Like hell,” Bullet growls. “Shadow doesn’t have enough bail money for all the Coven and their crazy friends.”

“Bail money?” Taz asks, perking up. “Wait, wait, wait. You have a bail fund for the women? And you call them the Coven?” He giggles like a schoolgirl. “What do I need to do to join this club? I bet I could come up with some great ways to use that money.” He grins wickedly.

I watch as Rose gives him a thoughtful look. “Oh, I think we could come up with something for you, handsome,” she flirts.

Taz preens and looks at a glowering Bullet. “Don’t worry, brother, I won’t allow her to fall for me. I know how perfect I am, but there has to be some of me left to give all the lovely ladies out there.”

“Yeah, a freaking aneurysm having to deal with all your bullshit and mood swings,” Karissa calls out from the other side of the room. There’s a lot of snickers and laughter at that from their club.

Taz pouts. “I’m in touch with my emotions, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Then he grins wickedly. “And I’m not the one who climbed into bed looking for dick when you were drunk.”

“Screw off,” Karissa huffs. “How many times do I need to remind you that I was drunk and thought I was getting in my own bed. You being naked was your problem. Who the hell sleeps naked in enemy territory? Were you hoping some drunk blonde would come stumbling into your bed and you wanted to be ready?”

“Oh, that wasn’t you?” Taz tosses back, laughing when Karissa tosses an empty drink cup at him and manages to dodge it easily.

“I swear we don’t let him out often,” Simba drawls with a shake of his head.

“That’s because that one’s twins like to rank us for replacements when his Old Lady finally gets smart and kicks him to the curb,” Taz laughs, jerking his thumb at Rogue, who narrows at him in warning.

Then, just because the man has a death wish, he adds, “Isn’t that right, Uncle Ro-Ro?

Wasn’t it Viking Daddy and Daddy Bear who were top runners at last count?

” He nods his head at Vulture and Ursa, who both unsuccessfully try to hide their smirks.

“You might be going home with one less member,” Rogue warns darkly, looking at Simba. Simba rolls his eyes, clearly used to the threat.

“I like him,” Isla announces as she goes to stand next to Taz before turning back to Avery and me, who are just watching this entire show in awe. “Can I keep him? We can trade Sawyer.”

“Dude, I’m not even going to argue with that,” Sawyer scoffs. “I think I’d enjoy his club more than being around you and your crazy shit.”

“I’ll sell him to you for free,” Glitch calls out. “But you have to take his giant room full of sex toys with him. The man has a problem.”

Avery chokes, and I only blink. Taz grins and winks at me. “Trust me, none of the ladies ever complain. As they say, they’re addition, not competition, am I right?”

I don’t answer him, unsure of what to say.

Trying to follow this man is definitely not a simple task.

The more I deal with him, the more I realize his name suits him.

I look at Isla, who curls her nose, but her eyes are full of laughter.

Yeah, I don’t think I want him influencing her.

I glance at Avery and see the same thought on her face, though she’s also looking amused.

“Like hell am I letting him around my little girl,” Shadow growls. “Macy would be in juvie before she turns eight.”

“Brother, giving me some credit,” Taz gasps, dramatically putting his hand over his chest and looking offended.

“She’d be ten at the earliest. We’ll work on it, though, so we might be able to push it to thirteen.

I can only do so much when they hit their teens.

They get all hormonal and moody, so you’re on your own there. ”

Shadow doesn’t look the least bit impressed.

I just shake my head and look at Rose. “Food still in the kitchen?”

She nods and gets to her feet. “Here, let me help you.” Avery and I follow her into the kitchen, and I partly want to go back and drag Isla with me, but she’ll be safe with everyone out there. Though, from the sounds of things, I need to worry about the shit people put in her head.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or run the other way,” Avery remarks as we move to the island to fill our plates with the spread in front of us. Rose went all out this time. Wings, burgers, hotdogs, salads, salsa, chips, and fries. Thank God, because I’m starving.

“This is the first time I’ve met the Devil’s Predators, but they’re funny,” Rose states, grinning. “And considering the day we’ve all had, I think we need this. The normalcy.” Her smile falters. “I just wish everyone could enjoy it.”

We’re silent for a moment, the air thick with grief and tension.

I don’t want to touch that yet. Just for a little longer, I want to focus on the lighter parts.

There will be plenty of time to mourn and dissect things later.

“I’m surprised you’re up and moving with how pissed off your Old Man is,” I remark with a wicked smile.

Rose’s melancholy is instantly gone, and she laughs before giving me a sly smile. “Oh, I’m counting on having an interesting night.” She winks at Avery. “Rather, we both will, from the looks of things.”

Avery grins back at her, unembarrassed, and winks at me.

I smirk but say nothing. Instead, we head back out into the common room, only to find Taz in a chair, hands bound behind his back, and his mouth taped shut.

Behind him stand Karissa and Glitch, neither of whom looks out of breath, before they turn to Vulture and Ursa, and wave a hand.

I stare in shock as they lift Taz, still in the chair, and carry him over to a corner, turn him toward the wall, and then walk away. What the fuck?

“Sometimes when he’s being a pain, we give him a time out,” Karissa explains when we all stare at her.

Even Isla looks like she’s in shock. “We tied the knot around his wrist enough that it’ll take him about fifteen minutes to get out of it, so we have that long.

” Then she turns and walks over to sit in her man’s lap, who’s laughing his ass off.

“Alright, I’m starting to see why we don’t call you into shit often,” Bullet remarks with a huff as he looks at Savage. “Your club is far weirder than ours.”

“Trust me, this was not my fucking idea,” Savage grumbles. He glares at Karissa. “That one there is the one you can thank for bringing all this shit into our lives. Now I have to deal with all of them on a regular basis since our two brothers took two of them as Old Ladies.”

“Which is so freaking cool by the way,” Isla butts in excitedly. “Girls can kick ass too. I don’t get the point of this whole boys club bullshit.”

“Isla, just let it go,” Avery admonishes her tiredly. Isla looks like she wants to protest, but Glitch and Karissa both wink at her as if to tell her that they wholeheartedly agree.

“See?” Savage sighs, as if this entire thing has proven his point.

I glance over at Avery, who’s quietly eating and taking it all in. “Regretting saying you’re willing to be mine now?” I whisper to her.

She instantly shakes her head. “Never.” Then she smirks and adds, “But I’m starting to wonder about the people you hang out with. I thought you were weird before, but this is next level.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, even for us, this is weird. I have a feeling Bullet is counting down the minutes before they leave so that they don’t corrupt Rose or Thea, or worse, Isla.”

“Trust me, there isn’t much you can do to corrupt her,” Avery scoffs. “Taz is funny at least. He’s just what this place needs.”

“Aww, I knew someone here loved me,” Taz preens loudly behind us, making me slowly turn and Avery jump.

Neither of us heard him. I narrow my eyes at him, watching as he pulls the last of the rope from around his wrists.

“I’ve been practicing to beat my record,” Taz announces proudly, before looking at Avery.

“And don’t worry, we can let him down easy.

We’ll travel around the world and live life, nothing to hold us back. ”

Jealousy burns in my gut, and I glare at him, not that he seems to care. It only makes his grin widen even more. Fucker.

“Something tells me that you offer that to all the girls, and I like to be special,” Avery returns drily.

“You know who we should fix him up with?” Rose offers with a wicked grin. “Peyton.”

Viper scoffs. “She’d eat him up and spit him out.”

“Oooh, kinky,” Taz cries excitedly. “I do love me a little bit of fun and danger.”

“I think we should sic Raven on him,” Sniper snickers.

“Sloan would lose his shit.” Rose laughs. “But that would be hilarious.”

“His head is going to explode with how inflated it’s getting,” Glitch warns suddenly.

“Then I think it’s time we had Church,” Bullet states simply, getting to his feet. The room instantly sobers. “That includes all Prospects. Thea, you’re good being on guard for Avery, the kids, and the Dragons Old Ladies?”

“Nope,” Glitch and Karissa both say firmly, making Bullet look at them with a cool stare.

Both point to their cuts. “We’re patched in members of the Devil’s Predators, and that’s who we are here, not as Old Ladies.

When we’re at home, on Dragons’ territory, that’s the only place that we wear those cuts and claim that title,” Karissa states firmly.

I glance at the Devil’s Predators, who have steely looks of their own, and the Dragons look resigned. Clearly, this has been an issue in the past. We’ve never had this situation before, though, so I don’t know how Bullet will handle it.

Bullet eyes them and then nods. “Apologies.” He looks back at Thea. “So you’re good to watch Avery, Rose, and the kids?”

Thea nods. “No problem.”

Huh. Well, that was easy. Even Karissa and Glitch look a little surprised that they don’t have to put up too much of a fight.

The Devil’s Predators visibly relax and head into the Church room without another glance.

Even Taz looks sober, which, honestly, is a strange sight considering he’s been like a giant wrecking ball the entire time he’s been here.

I get to my feet and then lean down to kiss Avery. “I’ll see you soon,” I murmur.

She nods, her eyes worried, but she still smiles at me. “Don’t kill Taz. He’s harmless and is just trying to get under your skin. You’re stuck with me.”

“As if I’d let you run away,” I tease lightly, kissing her again. “I’d have to hunt you down.”

She gives a delicate shiver. “Don’t tempt me to test that,” she whispers seductively, running a finger down my chest. “There is a whole set of books that’s all about that. Add in a mask and I’ll definitely be giving it a try.”

I arch a brow at that. A mask, huh? I’m not sure what kind of books she reads, but if it’s something she’s into, I’m game.

“I’ll give you whatever you want,” I promise her.

I put my lips by her ear and whisper, “And I’ll catch you, angel.

Just think of all the orgasms I’ll give you when I do, so I can remind you of just why you belong with me.

” She shivers, and I grin as I pull away.

When I straighten and go to turn, I see Isla standing there watching me. She arches a brow. “I don’t want to know,” she says, holding up her hand.

I laugh and head for Church. Yeah, life is definitely looking better.