Page 23 of Falcon

Livi snickers. “Any chance Falcon sealed the deal already?”

“Hopefully we will have some time together before that happens.” I reach for a cookie and add, “I did forget to take my pill with the turmoil of events. You know, when someone almost put a bullet in my head. I will have to wait until my next period comes along, or you could pick me up a pregnancy test in a few days.”

“Returning the favor you mean?” She smirks.

“Shut up,” I grumble and get to my feet. “Come on, get your butt off the couch and shove the bad shit away.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I notice the prospect is still behind the bar and ask, “Timmy, did you get all the things from my list?”

The prospect grins. “Sure did, ma’am. Everything is in the kitchen.”

I give Timmy a thumbs-up.

“Please tell me you’re going to make me food.” Livi jolts up and shoves her stash into one big bag.

Smiling, I tell her, “Yes. My special spaghetti.”

We make our way into the kitchen.

Livi rubs her belly. “I’m so freaking stoked we’re living together now.”

I roll my eyes. “Which doesn’t mean I’m going to make you food every damn time.”

She glares at me. “Don’t I know it. You’ve been here for days and only now are you gonna make my favorite food. Which by the way is healthy and good for the baby.”

I point at a chair. “Sit and entertain me while I chop veggies and make food for all of you idiots.”

“It’s really nice of you to feed the brothers as well,” Livi remarks.

Without looking at her I say, “I grew up in an MC, remember? Whenever shit hit the fan, the old ladies would make sure to keep their hands busy and the brothers’ bellies full.”

“I could have had a whole different childhood,” Livi murmurs.

Leaving the knife on the counter, I turn to face her. “No one can change the past, and it’s shitty to know what could have been due to assholes fucking up. I’m just glad you still have a chance to get to know the family you missed out on.”

Livi and I have been friends for years, and I know how devastated she’d been when her mother and grandparents died, leaving her all alone. It doesn’t matter that those grandparents weren’t hers by blood; she was raised to believe they were. Her mother never knew those weren’t her parents and never got to know the real family. Pretty screwed up shit.

She places a hand over her belly as she glances down. “Me too. The thought of this little one having a truckload of people surrounding her is overwhelming. You know how hard it was to process once the news hit me, but I’m really happy moving forward. Especially with us finding out we’re cousins as well.”

I grin while grabbing the knife. “Yeah, and if I do get knocked up? Our kids would be related anyway, but with our guys being brothers…our kids would be double linked.”

“Strange how things all fall together like that, don’t you think?” Livi muses.

Taking a bottle of water out of the fridge, I place it in front of her. “Yes. And I kinda like the way life throws havoc at your feet. Why? Because it also leads you to the people who will stand and fight with you. It’s a balance for the sake of sanity.”

“Well, we’re all a little insane.” Livi chuckles. “It’s a nice thought to have balance, but it doesn’t feel like there is.”

I keep chopping the ingredients. “It’s because bad shit always drags on and happy moments feel fleeting.”

“You’re wiser than you look,” Livi grumbles. “Hey, how was Aunt Lynn?”

Turning on the stove, I grab the ground beef. “I’m kinda thinking that’s why Archer is here.”

Livi releases a full-on belly laugh. “You might be right. She has a way of taking control over anything and everyone.”

“She’ll never change, and to be honest? No one would want it any other way.” I stir and add some spices. “Aunt Lynn might be retired and living in Ryckerdan…technology allows her to be everywhere at the same time.”

Livi sighs. “It’s nice to have people one phone call away. The undercover work I did was very risky and when push came to shove? My colleagues didn’t have my back, it was family who was there for me.”

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