Tank
How long does it take for one woman to get ready? He’d been pacing around like an expectant father for twenty minutes.
He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and yelled, “Woman, what is taking you so long?”
“Don’t rush me, Tank. I want to look nice.”
“You’d look beautiful in a burlap sack. Now hurry the hell up.”
“Did you get the gift from on our bed?” she called after him.
Shit. He almost forgot. “Of course I didn’t.” He took the steps two at a time. The colorfully wrapped gift sat on the bed. He looked around. Cori had the bathroom door closed. He figured he might as well go sit down. He picked up the present and movement caught his eye.
Cori stood in the bathroom doorway in a white sundress. Her hair fell in waves over her shoulders. The dress ended just above her knees, showing off a great pair of tanned legs. He thought he might have to pick his jaw up off the floor before they could leave. She walked into the closet. She came back out with a pair of white strappy heeled shoes. He had no idea what they were actually called.
“No way. You need to change.” She looked at him like he had grown a second head and horns. He chuckled. “I’m serious. I’ll wait.”
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“I’ll have to kill someone if you go out like that.”
Realization flashed across her face. Her face softened. “Thank you, but I’m not changing. You won’t be killing anyone either. It’s Mia’s birthday.”
She was right, of course. He would just have to stay close by and give anyone who looked at Cori a death stare. He couldn’t believe sweet little Mia was a year old already. He remembered the day she was born like it was yesterday. She was so tiny; he was afraid to hold her. Sloane insisted. She had told him it was important that Mia know him from the start. She had said Mia needed to know there were good men that she could trust in her life.
He’d held that tiny angel in his arms that day. He’d promised her he would always watch out for her and protect her. She had been the one thing that mattered to him. Until now. Cori stopped in front of him.
She put her hand over his heart. “Is everything okay?”
He smiled. “How could it not? I get to spend the day with my two best girls.”
“You do understand that the only girl I will share you with is that sweet baby. Don’t you?”
“Do you really think I’m that stupid?” She opened her mouth to speak. Before she could, he took her lips in a searing kiss. When he pulled away, he winked. “Please don’t answer that.”
They arrived at Max’s house just minutes before Gutter Mouth. Everyone else was already there. Krysta was in the kitchen with Bella and Sloane. Krysta had gone back home a week after Cori returned to them. She said she couldn’t keep avoiding her life. He was glad she made it to the party. Paxton kissed Cori’s cheek.
“Have fun.” He swatted her ass before leaving her to find the guys.
They were in the living room with the kids. He was surprised they could sleep through all the noise. Max and Foster were discussing Bella’s pregnancy. Gutter Mouth and Mother were talking about going to the Harley store next weekend for some big annual sale. In a chair near the corner watching the children was a man Paxton hadn’t seen in over a year.
Benji stood up once he noticed him. “Holy shit, brother. How the fuck have you been?”
Benji ran his fingers through his long hair. His hair had always been on the short side, so it was weird to see it to his shoulders. He had a full beard too. He looked great, if not tired. Not the kind of tired that a weekend of sleep could cure. He looked like his soul was tired. Paxton had nothing but respect for the man.
“I’ve been busy.” He looked at the kids sleeping in the playpen. “Dude, I’ve missed so much. I hear you even settled down.” He snorted.
“Yeah, she’s great.” Paxton smiled just thinking of her. His gut twisted at the expression on Benji’s face. “You didn’t come here for a social visit, did you?”
“I wish it was only social. I’ve missed you guys and I’m glad I could make it, but I do have news too. I wanted to wait until you were all here.”
The conversation in the room stopped as if someone had pulled a plug. It was an eerie quiet. The sound of the girls’ laughter carried in from the kitchen. They all shared a look. Whatever Benji had to say, should they be included?
Max took the lead on the situation. “I think this should stay between us for now.”
Agreement echoed throughout the room. Benji nodded his understanding.
“Lupis Petrov died yesterday morning.”
Max covered his face with his hands. “Fuck,” he spat.
Paxton thought that would be a good thing, but obviously he had missed a memo somewhere.
Gutter Mouth was the first to chime in. “So? Ivan Petrov is nothing like his old man. As soon as he surfaces, we take him down and Sloane testifies it was him and Booker that killed Detlef.”
Max paced the room. “Sloane was right when she said Detlef had his fingers in a lot of pies. Too bad not all of them were legal. There’s no such thing as dissolving a partnership with people like that.”
Paxton looked to Benji. “So her testimony would be the end of it?”
Mother stood up from the couch. “It’s not that easy. Ivan has been in hiding for that reason. With his father dead, he has to show his face. He’s about to take over the family business. He’s not going to do that until he knows Sloane is neutralized.”
Benji looked at Max. “Taking out Detlef wasn’t a part of the old man’s plan. He needed him alive. So, Ivan cost his father a lot of coin. The type of coin a man like that would kill over.”
Gutter Mouth whistled. “Wow, even his own kid?”
Benji shrugged his shoulders. “I heard from a close informant, as long as Ivan stayed gone, there would be no problem with the old man. That’s why Sloane has been safe up until now.”
Shit had just gone from bad to worse. He knew it and every guy in the room knew it too. With Lupis dead, there was no one standing between Sloane and a bullet. Except them. The women’s laughter grew louder as they approached.
Max rubbed the stubble on his face. “Okay, we’ll come up with a plan later.”
Sloane eyed Max suspiciously. “What are you guys being all secretive about?”
He smiled slyly at her. “I’m trying to convince them to hold a surprise wedding since my love won’t make up her mind on a date yet.”
“Don’t you dare, Maxwell Fear,” she warned tenderly.
She embraced him and the conversation once again took on an easy feeling. Cori came to stand next to Paxton.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Just a feeling.”
“Look around you, Doc. I have my best friends and the woman I’m crazy about here with me. It can’t get much better than this.”
She smiled up at him. “You’re crazy about me?”
“Damn right I am.”
“You better be.” She winked.
Paxton wrapped his arms around her. He gazed around the room. Gutter Mouth and Krysta were butting heads again. Max and Slone were talking with Bella and Foster, while Mother and Benji peered down at the next generation still sleeping in the playpen. He knew they would have to do something about the Petrov situation, but for now, he couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this happy or carefree. He looked forward to each day now. He looked forward to spending them with the amazing woman currently in his arms.
The End.