Page 155 of 12 Months of Mayhem

I turn to address the room at large. “Alright, let’s wrap this up. Tex and Coffey, escort our guests back to their vehicle. Make sure they leave town without any pit stops.”

Two of my most trusted brothers step forward, their guns trained on Ricardo and Mateo. As they start to lead the Diaz brothers toward the stairs, I call out, “Oh, and Ricardo? Don’t forget our deal. You leave New Orleans for good, or the next time we meet, it won’t be for polite conversation.”

Ricardo’s eyes lock with mine one last time. “This isn’t over, Reed.”

I smile coldly. “For your sake, I hope it is.”

I let out a long breath, feeling the tension drain from my body. The room erupts into cheers and back-slapping, but I hold up a hand, silencing them.

“It’s not over yet,” I warn. “We need to make sure they actually leave town. Stay on their tail until they cross the state lines.”

As my brothers and sisters begin to file out, following my orders with practiced efficiency, I pull out my phone. My thumb hovers over Rem’s name for a moment before I hit call. She picks up on the first ring.

“Rex?” Her voice is taut with panic. “Is it done?”

“It’s done,” I confirm. “The Diaz brothers took the bait. They’re leaving New Orleans as we speak.”

I hear her let out a shaky breath. “Thank God. And Meredith?”

“She’s been dealt with,” I say, my tone hardening. “She won’t be a problem anymore.”

There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “You didn’t...”

“No,” I assure her quickly. God, I wish I had the strength to take care of her permanently, but I can’t kill Birdie’s mother, no matter how much I want to do it. I’m not that much of a monster. “But she’s been given a very clear message about what will happen if she ever shows her face in this city again.”

“Good,” Rem says, and I can hear the relief in her voice.

“I’ll be at the hospital as soon as I can, baby.”

“Hurry back to me.”

Chapter Eleven

Remy

The gentle hum of our SUV is a welcome change from the incessant beeping of hospital monitors. I lean my head against the cool glass of the passenger window, watching the familiar streets of New Orleans blur by. The air conditioning chills my skin, a stark contrast to the humid heat that slaps against my face every time we stop at a light.

“Mama, you doing okay?” Beaux’s pipes up from the backseat, laced with concern that no eight-year-old should have to carry.

“I’m fine, baby. Just tired,” I force a smile, hoping it reaches my eyes. The concern in his bright blue gaze makes my heart ache.

“When we get home, can we have a movie night?” Birdie chimes in, her blonde curls bouncing as she practically vibrates with excitement. “Please, please, please?”

Rex chuckles, his deep laugh rumbling through the car. “Easy there, princess. Let’s get Rem settled first, alright?”

I catch his eye, warmth spreading through my chest at the tenderness in his expression. It still amazes me sometimes how this hulking man, with hands that could crush skulls, can be so gentle with our little family.

As we turn onto our street, my eyes widen at the sight before us. The normally quiet road is lined with a parade of chrome and steel. Harleys gleam in the late afternoon sun, their polished surfaces reflecting the warm glow of the fading day. Interspersed between the bikes are cars of all makes and models, some I recognize, others I don’t.

“Rex, what’s going on?”

He doesn’t answer immediately, but I catch the ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. The silence stretches between us, punctuated only by Birdie’s excited gasps and Beaux’s whispered ‘whoa’ from the backseat.

As we pull into our driveway, I notice familiar faces milling about our front yard. Members of the Voodoo City Queens, my girls, are chatting with some of the Zulu Kings. The sight of the two clubs mingling peacefully still takes some getting used to, even after all we’ve been through.

My mama stands on the porch, her face lit up with a smile that could outshine the sun.

“Rex,” I repeat, turning to face him as he kills the engine. “Seriously...what’s all this?”

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