Page 107 of Kneeling to Candy

Simone scoffs. “Like hell I’m naming my son Punk.”

“Why not? Punk’s a fine name—it’s got character.”

“Maybe bad character,” Simone mutters.

“Hey!” Punk pouts. “Fine. Just don’t use any uppity names, like Charles or some shit. Promise me, Chase, you won’t let her give your kid a preppy name.”

Chase is squatting in front of Simone, drawing a heart on her nonexistent baby belly, and already completely enamored with his family. “Whatever name we decide, it will be perfect for him or her.” He looks up at Simone with a wicked smile, his lip ring glinting in the light. “Or maybe one of both?”

Simone blanches, her brow breaking out into a sweat. She points a finger at Chase in warning. “Do not even think it. Whatever spellcasting you used to get me knocked up this fast is limited to one baby. ONE, Chase.”

“But you’re so much like your sister,” Chase points out, his voice full of hope. “There’s no fighting the Holland genetics.”

“Just don’t compare her to a broodmare again,” Candy reminds Chase nonchalantly.

I snort, damn near choking. “A what?”

“You weren’t there,” Ziggy answers for her. “It didn’t go over well, if you’re wondering.”

“No shit.” I can’t imagine it would. Chase certainly likes to press all his wife’s buttons.

“Hey, asshat,” Gauge says, grabbing Chase’s attention. “If you think she’s a handful now, best watch out. Those hormones go turbo during pregnancy. Insult her like that again and she may follow through on her threats.”

Rising to his feet, Chase swings his arm haphazardly around his wife’s shoulder. “Good to know. I’ll hide all the cutlery.”

Simone harrumphs, cocking her hip. “Excuse me? I’m right here! Stop talking like I’ll snap.”

Atlas has to cover his laugh with his giant hand, shaking his head at his brother-in-law. “It’s already starting. You’re toast, dude.”

The crew cackles, ribbing Chase. But in all seriousness, we couldn’t be happier for him. He’s going to be one hell of a dad. And with Simone as his or her mom, the kid may have a chance of not turning as feral as Chase.

“So, like, is the kid going to be living at headquarters?” Candy asks, trying not to appear obvious.

I already know what my woman is thinking. Babies are loud. Let’s hope the soundproof walls will be enough to drown out the noise. Otherwise, I may need to ask Jo to build us a home sooner rather than later. Candy and I enjoy our peace too much to give up.

“Definitely not,” Simone responds, thumbing Chase. “I deserve a house on the grounds of marrying this Neanderthal.”

“Jo is already working on the blueprints,” Chase adds, giving his wife a tight squeeze. “We’re breaking ground in the spring across from Prez and Jo’s house, and we’ll move in before the baby, or babies arrive.”

Simone side-eyes her husband. “Baby. As in one.”

Chase shrugs, smirking proudly. “Or two.”

“Well, shucks,” Candy feigns disappointment. “We’ll miss you not living in the big house.”

“Absolutely,” I say, nodding in agreement. We’ll miss them, yet we’re happy to not lose any sleep over crying babies. “At least you’ll be next door—close to the family.”

Before the new parents see us snickering, we pull back to let the others move in to congratulate them. We give each other a discreet fist bump, pleased as punch headquarters will remain a childfree zone.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

BUTCH

With the baby announcement out of the way, the team gets backs to business. Our remaining two days will be spent fine tuning the smaller details of the operation, like are we wearing bullet-proof vests under our suits or where the rest of our team will be stationed outside the auction house. Everyone weighs in on the discussion, helping to cover all our bases—even my pink-haired goddess.

Not that Candy lacks confidence, but she’s grown more comfortable during the week. Between nailing down self-defense training, asking questions for clarification when discussing the mission, and offering suggestions to make our job run smoother, she radiates determination, whereas earlier she was more of an observer, internalizing everything. Having her actively taking part by supplying our team with insider knowledge has been incredibly beneficial, giving us an edge in completing a successful ambush.

You would never guess by the way she’s interacting with the team, this is her first mission. Her melancholy sighs with her stoic poise show she’s remaining level-headed while taking all of this to heart. She needs no reminders of what’s at stake. None of us do.

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