Inked Babies (Inked Brotherhood 6)

I guffaw. “Don’t you wish, asshole.”

“Dipshit.”

“Asshat.”

“Dickwad.”

“Dicksack.” I flick at his hair again, and he catches my wrist, twisting my hand.

“Cut it out, baby bro. Why are you so hyper today, huh?” His dark eyes narrow at me. “Spill.”

“Fuck off.”

“Just relax. Okay?”

“Yeah.” I can’t help the grin breaking out on my face. “Yeah, okay.”

“You give up?” He releases my wrist and pins me with his gaze. “Okay, this is serious. Did something happen?”

Fuck, I can’t hold it back. Audrey never said it was a secret, so… “Auds is pregnant again.”

“You…” His eyes widen. “What the fuck did you just say?”

Rafe chuckles from the front, tapping his hands on the wheel. “Motherfucker. That was fast. I guess congratulations are in order.”

Dylan gives me a thumbs-up from the passenger seat.

Then Tyler grabs me in a bear hold and squeezes the shit out of me. “Hell, little bro. Congrats. That’s great.”

Dunno why his words bring a lump to my throat. I struggle to swallow around it. “Ty…”

“It’s great, Ash.” He elbows me hard enough to almost break a rib and says earnestly, “I have your back. Whatever you need. Don’t forget that. It will be okay.”

Hadn’t known I’d needed that reassurance, but the moment he offers it, something unclenches in my chest, and I turn toward the window to hide my face.

“Thanks,” I choke out, and I’m damn glad he doesn’t ask if I’m okay.

Because I am. I will be. In a fucking minute.

Well, fuck. You’d think I’m the one with the mood swings.

He only pats my arm, saying nothing. He’s proven to me time and again that he’s not going anywhere, that he will give me all the time I need to accept he’s back to stay and be part of my life once more.

***

I might have fallen asleep, too, for a while, because when I blink again, we’re driving through a town, down an avenu

e with the glint of a river and a bridge ahead.

I rub at my eyes, a snatch of a dream teasing me.

Auds. Our babies. A sunlit afternoon by a lake. Laughter.

Then I catch a glimpse of Zane’s pale, drawn face and sober up. He’s staring out the window, his hands fisted in his lap, his short Mohawk drooping over his face. I’m not sure he’s seeing the town streaking by. His eyes are wide, unblinking.

It’s as if he’s seeing something inside his own head, and it sure as hell doesn’t seem pleasant.

“Z-man.” Tyler nudges him, and Zane flinches. “You with us? Which way now?”