Changing Lanes (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation 4)

“Only for the people I love, amore mio.”

I finished the dishes and hung

the dishtowel on the stove. “Ready?” I asked Royal.

Royal laughed and looked down at her clothes. “Uh, give me two minutes. I don’t think I can go into public looking like this.” She jumped off her stool and ran out of the kitchen.

I grabbed the wash rag and gave the counters another wipe.

“How are you, Bristol?” Marco asked.

I shrugged. “I’m okay. Worried about King.”

Marco nodded. “Apollo told me how we found out about King.”

I cringed and turned my back to Marco. “Oh, really?”

“Be careful, Bristol,” he said gently.

I closed my eyes and sighed. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I did not want to talk about Pie with Marco. There were more important things to talk about right now.

Marco laughed. “You’re a grown woman who can more than make her own choices. I just want you to be careful.”

“Didn’t you grow up with Pie?” I asked. It seemed odd that he was telling me to be careful with someone who was basically his family.

Marco shrugged. “Not exactly. By the time all of the babies started to come, I was basically grown. I was more of a babysitter to them than a cousin. They were all pretty wild. There are about a hundred stories I could tell you that involve at least two or three of my cousins.”

“I think I’ve heard some of them before.” I dropped the washcloth in the sink. “They were pretty colorful and funny.” And most of them involved Zig and Zag.

“So you can understand why I want you to be careful with Pie.” Marco shook his head. “This was not the type of conversation I thought I would have with you.” He chuckled and folded his arms over his chest.

“Because I’m not one of your cousin’s types?” I asked.

Marco tipped his head to the side. “Uh, no. That didn’t cross my mind at all. I was just referring to how I never imagined you thinking one of my tattooed, dumbass cousins would be your type. I pictured maybe you hooking up with Murphy.” Marco shrugged. “Smart, and he’s more than capable to keep you safe.”

Now it was my turn to tip my head to the side. “Murphy?” I laughed. “Are you serious? You guys are like my brothers. There is no way I could ever think of Murphy in…that way.” I visibly shivered. “And, newsflash, while being smart and able to keep me safe, women tend to have more on their list of things they like in a man.”

Murphy walked into the kitchen and rested his hands on his hips. “Think of me in what way?”

“Nope!” I called. There was no way I could ever think of Murphy as someone who I would want to share my bed with. As with Marco, I could tell you Murphy was a handsome man, but he was just not the one for me. Murphy was meant for someone else that was not me.

“I think I missed something,” Murphy laughed.

“Marco thought you and I were going to hook up,” I blurted. I scrunched up my nose and shook my head. “As if.”

“Well, I don’t think so, but I have to say the fact that you are so offended by the idea of you and me together hurts just a little bit.” Murphy rubbed his chest. “Damn dagger to my heart, Bri.”

I grabbed the washcloth and tossed it at Murphy. “I’m sure you can find someone to help you heal the wound.”

“I’m ready!” Royal called.

“Hey,” Marco replied. “Where is my boy?”

Royal breezed into the kitchen and laughed. “Apollo has him. They were checking the security cameras. Do you want me to take him with me?”

Marco scoffed. “That would be a no, amore mio. Leave my boy with me.”

Again, another example that Marco really was one of the good ones.