Page 64 of Broken

“King—”

“If this is how the night is going to go, I’m thinking I should leave now.”

Dragon lets out a grunt, shaking his head. “Get your ass inside. My woman has been cooking all day. She wants her family together and whether you believe it or not, she was kind of hoping Gabby would be with you.”

“Let’s go get the party started,” I mutter sarcastically. Dragon laughs, but even his laugh is pretty humorless.

We go up the deck and Kayden sees me at once, but it’s her son Little D who is running toward me. I’ve only met the kid twice, but for some reason, he always runs full speed at me. I scoop him up effortlessly. He’s a cute kid, looks more like his mom than his dad, but his eyes are the same color as his father’s. “Hey, little dude. Where are you going so fast?”

“He’s always going a hundred miles an hour. Chains keeps talking about having another, but I am not that brave just yet,” Kayden laughs, walking over to me while her son starts squirming.

“Pway with me!” he demands as I put him down.

“Go play with Tam-Tam, buddy. Mommy wants to visit with her big brother for a bit.”

“No! I want Keen!” he says, stomping his foot.

“D, what did I tell you?” Chains asks, his voice stern, despite the smile he’s fighting.

“Fine!” he grumbles and stomps off, muttering under his breath like only a grouchy-but-cute four-year-old can.

“God, that boy is going to kill me off,” Chains says, coming over to grab my hand in hello.

“Chains! Stop it. He’s just in a stage. He’ll grow out of it,” Kayden mutters, still pulled into my side, her arm hugging me to her loosely.

“Bullshit. He’s going to get worse. I knew naming him after your father was a bad idea. We’re fucked.”

“If you keep using that language where Taz can hear, and you will be,” Thea says, coming over to me and smiling. “Hey, King. Good to see you again.”

“Hey, Thea. Did you say Taz?”

“Club name for our boy. He might just be a baby, but he never stops. So, we’ve nicknamed him Tasmanian Devil. Taz for short,” Dom says, coming over to shake my hand. I nod. After everything Gabby has shared about Dom, I’m having a harder time warming up to the guy. I push it aside, though. The truth is, he was just as young as Gabby was. They both fucked up, and they were kids. He seems to at least have his shit together now, and he and Thea seem happy. As if echoing my thoughts, Dom goes straight to Thea, kisses her forehead, and then bends down and kisses the baby.

“Where’s Lyla and T?” I ask when I don’t see any sign of them.

“They dropped off Tam-Tam and then went to Dancer and Carrie’s with Grunt, Jazz, and Daisy. They should be back anytime. Grunt wanted T’s help unloading the cabinets they made for Carrie’s kitchen they’re redoing,” Nicole explains.

“Grunt’s damn good at that,” I admit, as Nicole walks over to me, pulling me in close.

“How are you, sweetheart?” she asks me softly, hugging me close. The damn woman makes it impossible for you to dislike her.

“I’m doing really good,” I tell her with a smile, as she pulls away, but keeps her hands on my sides.

“I can see that,” she says with a grin. “You look happy and … satisfied.”

I shake my head at her, my lips twitching. “That statement could be made,” I admit, making her laugh softly.

“Dragon?”

“Yo, Mama.”

She winks at me. “You better get those steaks going. My twice-baked potatoes are almost done. The stuffed mushrooms already are.”

“You got it. King? You want to help me man the grill?” he asks.

“That’s okay, old man. I think I’ll just watch you work.”

“Asshole,” he grumbles, making me laugh.

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