After Burn (Lost Kings MC 10)

“Don’t,” Z says.

Wrath glances at me. “Yeah, ’cause Hope’s gonna keep that one to herself. It’s not like I’m gonna turn her in for breaching client confidentiality.”

Z snickers. “Look at you with the big words today.”

“Fuck you. What about you? You’ve stuck your dick in every bitch down at CB.”

“That’s not true, asshole.”

Wrath stares Z down and Z shakes his head. “I fucked her friend Peach. Never touched Inga.” He glances at me. “Didn’t seem right.”

“Your observance of bro code warms my heart.” I sneer.

Z doesn’t laugh at my sarcasm.

Hell, no one’s laughing.

“Couple times. Sorry, Prez,” Dex admits.

Sparky taps his fingers on the table, then raises his hand. “I did. Sorry, boss.”

“It’s fine.” Like I give two fucks.

Teller squirms in his seat. “I don’t think I did, but I was pretty wasted that one night she was up here.”

Sparky snickers. “You didn’t do her in any way that would necessitate a paternity test, Teller.”

“Thanks for the visual, Sparky,” Dex says.

He shrugs. “Tryin’ to be helpful.”

All of us turn to look at Murphy. “How the fuck did you get left out?” Wrath asks.

“Well, one I never touched her. And two, I don’t think she remembers me that well. I didn’t spend a lot of time at CB when she worked there.”

“Maybe she doesn’t fuck gingers,” Ravage says.

Murphy flips him off. “Bricks got left out too.”

“Yeah, I’m okay with that,” Bricks assures us. “Never touched her.”

“Maybe she doesn’t do Mexicans,” Ravage jokes.

“I’m Puerto Rican, you fucking moron.”

Rav raises his hand. “Not even gonna try to lie. I totally stormed her pink fortress.”

After we finish laughing, he continues, “Kid better not be mine. I’ll be fuckin’ pissed as fuck if I missed out on the first couple years of my kid’s life.”

All of us stop and stare at him. Not exactly something we expect to come out of Rav’s big mouth.

“Fuckin’ A,” Z mutters. “That’s fuckin’ bullshit. She better hope whoever the dad is doesn’t fuckin’ kill her when he finds out.”

Now that’s something we expect out of Z and no one so much as lifts an eyebrow.

“Can we fight this?” Wrath asks.

“Hope says yes. But it’ll be easier to just take the fucking test and be done with it.”

“Wow. Brave woman, right there,” Dex says with a lot of admiration in his voice.

“She must believe you, Prez,” Ravage says.

I’m not really interested in my brothers dissecting my marriage for me.

Z glances across the table at Wrath. “Maybe have Hope talk to Trinity for you?”

Wrath doesn’t bitch Z out. Instead, he nods at me. “Yeah. Whatever.”

Teller raises his hand. “Uh, anyone want to help me explain this to Charlotte?”

“Doesn’t she do family law? I think she knows how the process works,” Z snarks.

“That’s not helpful, asshat.”

“Anyone else in the organization she coulda been with? If the kid really is one of ours, we take care of our own,” I say, shifting my gaze around the table to stare at each one of my brothers. “I honestly don’t give two fucks. She was never my ol’ lady, so don’t be shy. You’re not gonna hurt my feelings.”

“Nah, we were prospects,” Birch says, elbowing Hoot in the side. “Wrath barely let us in the clubhouse, let alone in the Champagne Room.”

“You’re welcome,” Wrath says.

I snort and shake my head. “What a clusterfuck. I can’t believe this shit.”

“Fuck her, she’s doing this to be a spiteful bitch. Kid could belong to anyone from here to fuckin’ California.”

“Simmer down,” I growl at Wrath, then turn to the rest of the club. “I’ll have Hope set the testing up. She wants it done at a court-approved testing facility. Don’t give her any bullshit. When she gives you your appointment time, you get your fucking ass there and do what she says. Are we clear?”

“Wait a minute.” Dex holds up a hand. “You’re making Hope represent us on this, Rock?”

I glare at him until he sits back. “I’m not making her do anything. I’d honestly rather not have her involved at all. But Inga sent the papers to Hope—”

Stash snaps his fingers twice. “Now, that’s a cunt move right there.”

I finish without acknowledging Stash’s interruption. “She knows damn well Glassman represents Crystal Ball, but yeah, she did it to be spiteful. Hope insists on handling the case and not backing down.” I swallow hard, thinking of Hope’s fierce determination to stand by me no matter what.

“Damn, brother,” Dex breathes out.

“She wants to face this fuckery head-on, so Inga doesn’t keep coming at us.”

Someone whistles a swift, high-pitched sound of approval. “That’s some woman, Prez.”

Underneath my fury, guilt also stirs inside me. “Let’s get this done and out of the way. I feel responsible here—”

“Actually, it’s my fault,” Wrath interrupts, quieter than I’d expect considering how pissed he is. “I’m the one who allowed her to come up here.” He flicks his gaze at Z and Dex. “Encouraged it, really.”

“Aw, see, and now you love Hope, almost as much as your own ol’ lady,” Sparky says with a ridiculous grin on his face. He may spend every waking moment high on his own product, but even he’s aware Wrath only invited Inga up here hoping it would scare Hope away.

Wrath just snorts. “Whatever. We’ll beat this and move on.” The corner of his mouth turns up. “We know if it’s a boy? Maybe he and Alexa—”

“Don’t you finish that sentence,” Murphy says.

Teller cocks his head. “What the fuck’s wrong with you? What if it’s my kid, you asshole?”

Sparky clears his throat. “Seriously, bro, you can’t knock a chick up—”

“All right,” I snap. “Enough with the biology lessons. Let’s move on.”

Before I end the meeting, I give everyone a hard look. “I have a favor to ask. Except for this bullshit with Inga.” Fuck, I even hate saying her fucking name. “Hope’s closing out her cases and stepping back from practicing.”

“She okay?” Dex asks.

“Yeah, she just wants to concentrate on the baby. I’m going to ask the club to look after her if I’m not here.”

“You know we will,” Sparky says, almost sounding like I hurt his tender feelings.

“Thank you. All right now. Hope will be around if you have any questions for her about the case. Be honest with her. She’s seen and heard all of you doing something disgusting at one time or another. Nothing surprises her anymore.”

“Real quick,” Z says, holding up his hand.

“Sway has those dates scheduled, and he really wants us there to make sure the set is secure.”

Wrath glares across the table at Z.

“Not you,” Z says. “Sway doesn’t want to scare the poor girl.”

“I volunteer as tribute!” Ravage says, jumping out of his chair.

“He also doesn’t want someone who’s gonna hit on her.”

A slow smirk spreads over Murphy’s face. “Well, then Wrath should definitely do it, he hates porn stars.”

“I don’t hate… never mind. Yes, I do.”

Z turns his please-be-reasonable eyes my way. “He really wants you on this. At least the first time.”

“Fuck, how many times is she gonna be doing this?”

I really need to reevaluate my life. There’s way too many porn stars in it.

“Don’t know. She travels a lot, though. If Sway can’t go with her, he asked if that’s something—”

“No.”

“He knows you won’t,” Z finishes.

I glance at Teller and Murphy, who suddenly find the floor fascinating. “What’s with you two? Couple years ago you woulda been jumping at this.”

Z raises his hand. “I told Sway I’d do it.”

“Oh, come on!” Stash bitches. “Why does Z always get the hot chicks?”

“Because I’m better looking than you,” Z says without turning Stash’s way.

“Anything else?” I ask, looking around the table.