Page 37 of Veiled Vengeance (The Devils of New York #3)
SPENCER, TWO YEARS LATER
“ I f I had known this would feel like a million kittens scratching me all at once, I wouldn’t have wanted to get one.”
Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz.
“You’re doing fine, Mama. Just relax.”
Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz.
Lifting my head, I glare at Asher and give his hand an extra squeeze. “Why didn’t you tell me it’d be this irritating?”
Asher doesn’t even flinch at the pain I’m trying to inflict. Instead, he rolls his eyes at my constant whining. “I did tell you. We talked about it a lot . . . in detail .”
“I’m almost done. Don’t worry.” Rio attempts to placate me but ultimately fails.
Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz.
Soon after our cross-country road trip from Texas, I told the guys that I wanted a tattoo.
They were all supportive but very adamant that they’d kill whoever laid hands on me, even if it was for something as simple as a tattoo.
They only amended their threat to say that Joey didn’t count.
I may have made some threats myself, which led to Rio deciding to learn how to tattoo.
Rio spent most of his free time over the last year and a half as an apprentice for a local tattoo artist. A week ago, he finally came to me and said he was ready to give me my first tattoo.
I gave him complete creative control. My only stipulation was that the tattoo be something that would remind me of all of them, which is how I found myself lying on my stomach, topless, while Rio tattoos my spine.
I tried to argue that I would be cold and uncomfortable. Rio’s solution was that he and Asher take off their shirts to make it fair. He completely misunderstood me. So now I’m cold, uncomfortable, and horny.
Not a fun combination.
“Okay, Mama. All done.” Rio shuts off his machine and sits back.
“Finally,” I complain. Sitting up, I forget that my boobs are completely free. Asher gives me his “come hither” look, and my stomach flutters. I’ll never get used to that look.
Scrambling to get off the table, I flash Rio as well, and he gives me a whistle of appreciation. “No need to thank me so generously,” he teases.
“Oh, shut up,” I retort. Covering my breasts with my arm, I scurry over to the mirror in our entryway. Tears well up in my eyes as I examine the masterpiece Rio has etched on my skin. “It’s beautiful, but I don’t understand how this is supposed to be about you.”
Rio’s reflection joins mine in the mirror. “It’s not about us. It’s about you.”
My lips twist into a perplexed frown. “I don’t understand.”
“You don’t need to be reminded of us. We’re already right here.” Leaning down, Rio kisses my hand where it rests over my heart. “Sometimes we forget who we are and what we are capable of, so I wanted you to have a permanent reminder of that.
Rio steps to the side and very lightly trails his fingers over the design.
“Roses for love, beauty, and passion—to remind you that you are the most beautiful woman we’ve ever loved.
Lavender for calm—to remind you not to give in to fear.
Daisies for new beginnings—to remind you that you can always start over and keep going.
Irises for courage—to remind you that you are brave. ”
Asher joins us and wipes away the tears trickling down my face.
“What about the script?” My lip wobbles.
His finger traces each letter, sending a shiver down my spine. “ Yo soy fuerte . I am strong. Yo soy hermosa . I am beautiful. Yo soy una diabla . I am a devil.”
Blinking away more tears, I sniffle in the most unattractive way. “Damn you, Navarro Flores.” A small chuckle escapes me. “It’s absolutely perfect. Thank you.”
The front door bangs open and I squeal, diving into the living room to hide my half naked body from whoever just barged in.
“Angel!”
“Zane?” I poke my head around the corner. “What are you doing? You gave me a heart attack.”
Zane is panting like he just ran here all the way from the precinct. “She called.”
“Sharon?”
“Yes! She called. She said she has twin girls who need long-term placement and that they’ll be here in an hour.”
Oh my God. It’s happening.
After seeing Zane with Margaret and how Rio and Asher were gentle with Noah and August, we talked about becoming foster parents. The process to be approved was long and difficult.
Seriously. How was I supposed to explain to the social worker that I’m in a relationship with all three of them and two of them are together too?
Surprisingly, it went over well. With Zane being NYPD, Asher being FBI, and Rio being a former prosecutor, the social worker said we are more than capable of keeping children safe.
Zane was more than excited to become a foster dad.
Asher was timid, but it has grown on him.
And Rio is always down for any and every adventure.
Sharon did multiple walk-throughs of our home, which Zane and Asher were very intense about baby proofing.
We even did some renovations. We knocked down a wall between two of the bedrooms to make one large room for all four of us to share and the other two rooms are for whatever children the state of New York needs us to care for.
I thought sharing a room would be stifling, but I’ve actually enjoyed it.
But what sealed the deal for me was when Rio brought the huge mattress from my old apartment. I love the huge cuddle sessions.
And now we finally get to put those extra rooms to use.
My eyes go wide as I realize I’m still holding my boobs. “Shit! We need to get dressed!”
We all scramble to clean up, put shirts on, and get the rooms ready as Zane tells us about the conversation he had with Sharon. She said the four-year-old twins were found in a crack house hiding in a bedroom closet while their mother was high out of her mind.
An hour later, on the dot, the doorbell rings, and nerves take over my body.
Asher grabs my hands and blocks my view of the front door. “Hey, it’s okay. We’re ready for this.”
“What if I’m a bad mom? What if I hurt them, and I don’t mean to?” I stare at his chest, but I’m not actually seeing what’s in front of me. Instead, I’m envisioning every possible scenario in which I fuck up.
Asher tilts my chin so I’m looking up into his eyes. “I think every parent worries about that—it means you care. The best thing we can do for these girls is make sure they feel loved and safe. We can do this.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
Zane opens the door eagerly with Rio right behind him. “Hi, Sharon!” He crouches down so he’s level with two little girls. One has two long braids, and the other has two high pigtails. They hold each other’s hand firmly as if they’re afraid they’ll be separated. “And this must be Ana and Sofia.”
“I’m Sofia,” the one with pigtails answers. “Mrs. Sharon said you’re FBI. Is that true? What does FBI mean?”
“Oh, I’m not FBI—he is.” Zane points to Asher. “I’m a New York detective.”
Sofia frowns and tilts her head to the side. “What’s a dee-tet-uh-tive?”
Zane makes a welcoming gesture. “Do you want to come inside, and I’ll tell you all about it?”
Sofia squints her sweet brown eyes at Zane, then examines the rest of us. “Does Ana get to come too?”
“Yes, of course.”
Sofia lets out a sigh of relief and nods. “Okay, we’ll stay then.”
“I’ll let you all get settled in. Call me if you have any questions.” Sharon sets the girls’ bags inside the door and waves goodbye.
“Do you want to see your room?” Rio asks Sofia.
“Can Ana stay in there with me?”
Rio scoffs dramatically in jest. “Well, duh. The room has bunk beds.”
For the first time, Ana shows emotion with a large smile and nods enthusiastically. We lead them upstairs and get them situated.
While showing them the room, I sit on the floor and pull out the dolls, blocks, and other toys they get to play with.
Ana walks straight to me and plops down on my lap.
My chest fills with warmth as this innocent soul gives her trust to me.
She puts a doll in my hand and grabs one for herself, then talks for her doll, pretending they’re about to go play at a park.
I look up to find Asher, Rio, and Zane staring at me with various expressions of excitement and adoration.
Asher sits down next to us and grabs a doll for himself while Sofia pulls Rio and Zane onto the floor to play with the blocks.
This is the life I chose for myself. This is the life I get to keep choosing every day.