“Me either. He’s got a lot of responsibility though. It’d take a hell of a woman to come second to not just the club, but all the men under him.”
“Truth. You think Tinley has it?” I want to see Stone happy. He’s a good leader, and women tend to have a grounding effect, which is always a good thing for the President.
“Maybe. Whatever her story is, she’s taken to club life easily and gained his trust. Speaking of family, D’Rose is pregnant.”
“Holy shit! Congratulations, brother!?
?
“Thanks, we’re keeping it to ourselves for now because it’s still early.”
“I get it. Is she excited?”
“Yeah, but nervous as hell.”
“Well, she is the one who has to deliver the thing. I think she’s allowed to be,” I reply.
He snickers. “Neither of us has the best track record with two-parent homes.”
“You two are so good together you make me nauseous. You have nothing to worry about.”
“You think so?”
It’s strange being the one to reassure my brother. He always seemed to have all the answers growing up, whether I wanted them at the time or not.
“I know so, dude. You always steered me in the right direction, or at least tried to, and you never gave up on me.”
“And I never will.”
His words make me smile. “I’ve been thinking about him.”
“Dad?”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
“Why?”
“How wrong he was, and how blindly I followed him. How do you explain that to people and expect them to not judge you by it?”
“Who’s business would it be?” Echo asks.
I struggle with the decision to mention Xia.
“Wait, what’s going on, Charm?”
“I met someone.”
He laughs. “Only you, Prince Charming.”
“It’s not like that. She’s not a quick tumble in the hay. Xia is everything I don’t deserve.”
“Xia? Wait, isn’t that your boss’s daughter who’s training you?”
“Yeah—”
“Jesus, you never do anything easy, do you?” he scoffs.
“I didn’t plan this. She came out of nowhere, dude. Like … a damn spectral.”