Page 1 of Wild Card

PROLOGUE

TALON

“Shots! Shots!”

A group chants around two men tossing back the amber liquid.

“Fucking amateurs, you think these idiots ever actually won a softball game before tonight?” Ace and Harley walk up.

“Talon hit the winning home run; they should buy him shots. He’s the hero of the day.” Harley winks at me.

“It was a fucking loose pitch. He got lucky,” Ace complains.

“Aww, you jealous? You know that hit was legit. Knocked that shit right out of the park, probably into the next zip code.” I project my arms wide.

One thing is for sure. Out of the four of us, Ace has a fierce competitive streak. He’d take a bullet in a milli-second, but when it comes to being outshined, he’s a piss-poor loser.

“Don’t be hard on yourself. Your hit in the fourth inning was solid.”

Ford and Major chuckle while Ace’s eyes heat.

“Please don’t antagonize him. He was finally getting over his grouchiness.” Harley’s grin is laced with amusement.

“Sure thing, Jay. Let’s get the grump a consolation beer for being the second-best player tonight.”

She pops me in the arm. “The four of you were equally outstanding.”

I flinch, pretending to wince. “Why the violence? What will the baby think?”

Ace looks at his wife adoringly. “Good job, baby.”

“You rookies going to sit down before I have a riot on my hands for holding your section?” Tom, the owner, yells from the far end of the bar.

“Let’s get you some food.” Ace guides Harley to our reserved section.

“Jewls and Rowan are fifteen minutes out,” Major announces, reading his phone. “The boys are asleep.”

“Being the center of attention is exhausting.”

“Now who’s jealous? You scared they stole your spotlight?” He flashes a picture of his twins in Jewls’ arms wearing identical Metro Nashville Police Department outfits.

“Not jealous, no better guys to lose the spotlight to. Can’t deny they have game.”

Major’s lips curl and he dips his chin. “Damn right.”

“And Jewls seems to have an audience, too.”

His lips shift to a sneer. “She and I will talk about that tonight. The woman can’t help herself.”

I enjoy his irritation as much as Ace. They make it too easy. “Try not to knock her up again.”

“Not my plan, but once you get the fever you’ll understand.”

“God, help us,” I say to the ceiling.

“You’ll get it one day, too. The last to fall.”

“Pretty sure you dumb fuckers got the best of the lot.” I glance back to find Ace hovering over Jay with his hand on her stomach.

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