Page 40 of Embracing the Consequences

He rolled his eyes. “Hi, little sister.”

Stone and Dagger chuckled next to him.

Kara turned to them and smiled widely. “Hi Jason, Nico.” She slid off Johnny’s lap and rounded the table behind Marcos and greeted his friends. Stone and Dagger both stood up and gave her hugs.

“What the shit?” Marcos grumbled. “They get hugs, but I get some half-assed handshake while you sucked his face?”

Kara laughed heartily. “Yeah, brother. I’m still annoyed with you.”

Marcos rolled his eyes but stood up and turned to Kara as she let go of Stone. She smiled as she leaned in and hugged him tightly. “Hi, Marquitos.” She sighed.

“Hola, lilManita,” Marcos murmured before he leaned back and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

Johnny watched while also taking in the men surrounding them. The members of the two clubs were also taking in the scene between the VP and his sister, a tender moment between family that Marcos wasn’t afraid to be part of in front of everyone.

Johnny’s respect for Marcos only grew as he gave his sister a soft smile and as Kara slid back onto Johnny’s knee.

“Let me get you a drink,” Dagger said, moving to stand back up.

“No, I’m OK.” Kara smiled as Kevin slid over an unopened bottle of water.

“Nah,” Dagger said. “We’re all drinking your Macallan. We should get you one.”

Kara shook her head. “I can’t.” She shrugged.

Johnny smirked as he watched Stone freeze, his eyes flying to Kara’s. Marcos smiled softly as he watched the two of them bicker.

Dagger was a little slower on the uptake. “Nonsense. You can have a drink with us before we get to business.”

Kara smiled wider. “I can’t drink, Nic,” she said soundly.

More eyes turned their way, taking in the scene.

Dagger was half out of his chair when he finally turned back to Kara, as if finally registering what she was trying to tell him. “What do you mean, youcan’tdrink?” he growled, staring at Kara.

Kara’s smile grew brighter. “Like I said, Nico,” she leaned back against Johnny’s chest, and he wrapped his arms around her and rested one hand on her belly, “I can’t drink alcohol anymore.”

“Holy shit.” Dagger gasped, falling back into his chair. “Are you pregnant?”

Kara giggled seeing the utter disbelief and amazement on her friend’s face and nodded.

“Holy shit!” Dagger repeated, this time louder. He officially had gained the attention of every single person in the backyard. “I’m gonna be an uncle?” he asked, a shit-eating grin spread over his face.

“Yeah.” Kara laughed.

“FUCK YEAH,” he yelled and sprang to his feet. He pulled Kara off Johnny’s lap and into his arms. He wrapped her in a hugand lifted her, spinning around, laughing, and shouting, “I’M GONNA BE AN UNCLE!”

Loud cheering and clapping started as congratulations were shouted all around.

“Dude, fuck off!” Marcos shouted at his buddy, a wide smile on his face. “I’m the uncle; you’re just the monkey.”

Dagger shot Marcos the bird behind Kara’s back as he held her tightly. Clearly, he thought of Kara as a little sister as well.

Johnny had a broad grin on his face that he shared with Kevin and Derrick and nodded. Johnny felt a lot more confident in his personal decision to partner with Marcos and the Psychos. His club still had to vote on it, but if there was one thing he knew about his club, it was that they put family first. They would embrace Kara’s pregnancy and vote for the alliance because Johnny’s kid would bind the clubs together.

When Dagger finally put Kara back on her feet, there were tears in both their eyes. Dagger quickly blinked his away, but Kara let a couple fall and made a show of wiping them away.

“Congratulations again, sister,” Marcos said softly. He stood up and pulled her into a tight hug.

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