“All of you are pigs,” I muttered. “Stop taking bets on me.”
“Look,” Sonny said with a cheeky smile. “I’d gladly let you shoot me if it means getting spoon-fed and bathed by your fine ass.”
“I second that,” Cole added with a wink. “Make it a flesh wound, okay?”
“Pussy,” Sonny said with laughter in his tone. “Fucking flesh wound? Take it like a man, Marshall.”
The rest of the guys echoed their agreement.
“No one is shooting anyone.” I shook my head and laughed. “Don’t go getting yourselves shot hoping I’ll be your nurse.”
“Sonny’s jealous about the lingerie you wear for me when you’re changing my bandages,” Marcello said with an evil smirk.
“That was one time. I was trying to cheer you up because you were such a grouch.”
He smiled. “It worked. There wasn’t a single part of my body that wasn’t happy to see you.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re so bad, Marcello.”
He licked his lips. “Nah, not as bad as our queen.”
“Do they know about that night?”
The night I begged you to make me come…
Marcello nodded. “We don’t have secrets.”
I covered my face with my hand and sighed. “Is nothing sacred in this town?”
“Nope.” Sonny slid his arm behind my back and pulled me closer to him. “You better get used to us in your business. We know everything about you.”
“So I guess my grandfather’s announcement wasn’t all that shocking to you guys.”
“No, not really,” Sonny admitted.
“We saw it coming,” Drake said. “Luca’s fucked this up for years. It was only a matter of time before Arlo or Carl enforced the Charter.”
I glanced at Marcello. “What about you?”
Marcello shrugged his broad shoulders against the chair. “Not really. I think it shocked Luca the most. He’s always thought it was his right to lead the Knights. I don’t think he’s ever considered the possibility of losing control.”
“What did my grandfather mean when he said I have to choose who stays and goes?” I said to no one in particular.
An eery silence fell over the group.
“One of you better open your mouth,” I snapped. “If you want me to be your queen, start talking. I don’t care about the rules.”
“You choose us at Legare,” Marcello told me.
I angled my body to look at him. “Like in the dream I had?”
“That happened, Alex. I know you can’t trust your memories, but it wasn’t a dream.”
“I only remember choosing you.”
The patio door slid open, and Kali’s voice filled the air. “Hey, boys… and queen bee.”
“Here comes trouble,” Sonny said with a smile trained on Kali.
She beamed like a ray of light, with her long, blonde locks and pretty features. My new friend sauntered over to my side of the table with a bikini beneath her pale blue dress that complimented her skin.
Kali bent down to hug me. “How have you been, girl? I bet this group of degenerates has been keeping you busy. They’re a handful, am I right?”
“Who are you calling a degenerate?” Sonny asked as she dipped her head down to kiss his cheek.
“All of you,.” She ran her hand through his perfectly styled hair. “But you especially, Sonny Mac.”
He groaned as he fixed his hair back into its usual perfect place. “When are we having lunch on my yacht?”
“Ask Alex. That’s up to her.”
“You’ll have to ask my captors,” I said with my gaze on Marcello.
Marcello shook his head. “Whenever you want. As long as you don’t piss me off.”
“Little old me?” I covered my heart with my hand. “I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to annoy my warden.”
“Alex,” Marcello grunted. “We’re long past that.”
“I know. I just like getting under your skin.”
“We’re going sailing next weekend,” Sonny confirmed. “That’s happening whether Marcello is still in that chair.”
“I’m only in this chair because of our queen.”
“Excuses,” Damian said with a sinister grin. “Maybe you’re just a pussy.”
“Marcello’s playing his hand,” Finn said with his eyes on me. “I’d sit in that chair if Alex would sit on my lap and feed me.”
“What is with you guys?” I said to the group, my eyes moving between them. “Do you need to get laid?”
They roared with laughter.
“It’s all you, girl.” Sonny flashed a cocky smile. “You’ve ruined us for other women.”
I laughed. “I highly doubt that.”
Sonny moved his hand from my back to the bench. “We only want our queen.”
“Sonny,” I warned. “If you put your hand on my thigh again, I’m going to break your fingers.”
A few of the guys laughed as Sonny frowned.
Sonny rolled his shoulders. “What can I say? Luca is one lucky bastard.”
Drake cleared his throat. “You mean Marcello?”
Bastian snickered. “Luca’s got this marriage locked down. Marcello will be lucky if he gets a pity fuck from our queen.”
My mouth dropped in horror.
Before anyone could speak, Kali said, “That wasn’t nice, Bash. Say you’re sorry.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he protested. “Don’t go all psycho on me.”