Enzo (Jinx Tattoos 1)

Enzo laughed. “Hope so, brother. We’ve been dancing around what’s there for too long already.”

“You better lock it down before it’s too late,” Snake suggested. The mirth left his eyes, and his voice turned serious. “All the pussy in the world doesn’t mean anything when you’ve let the one get away.”

The pain in his voice and eyes was so real, Enzo felt like he could damn near touch it. He didn’t feel close enough with the man to ask him more, but he knew he didn’t want to be in his position. “Do you need anything from me? I’m willing to pay.”

Snake held out his hand. “No, man, you always been a friend to the Wild Bunch. Mind you, I’ll have to run it by the President. But I don’t see a problem.”

“Thank you. I need to get back to my girls and let Ave know we have a change of plans.”

“All right, brother, I’ll be in contact.”

He rose from the barstool, hoping he’d made the right decision, and that Aibhlinn would see his point of view.

A MHUIRNÍN (UH WUR-neen): “darling”

Aibhlinn

The whimpering bundle on her chest pulled her from a deep sleep. She blinked and found herself peering down into curious grey eyes.

“Hello, a mhuirnin,” she said with a smile. A girl could get used to this. The baby cooed in response and she eased off the couch, holding the baby securely to her chest. Too bad we don’t have a swing or a bumbo chair. She added the items to an imaginary list, and her heart dropped. She wasn’t theirs to provide for. “I wish we could keep you, little one,” she murmured, brushing her lips across Aoife’s forehead. She laid the squirming bundle onto the changing table and unsnapped her footed pajamas. It was hard to believe this was the wet, miserable infant they’d found in the wooded area. In another time and another place, she could’ve been ours. The thought pleased her far more than it should. They’d solved nothing between them, but she couldn’t blame the interruption on him. For once, he hadn’t stalled out or ran. Yet, I still have no clue where we stand.

She focused on changing the baby and putting her in a fresh outfit. The little pink jogging suit with a white stripe down the leg made her smile. “Okay, kiddo, I hate to strap you in the chair again. But I need to go to the potty, and I don’t trust you not to try to roll away.”

The baby continued to stare on.

It was silly, but she almost thought the little girl understood her in some way, so she continued to chatter on. They formed a bond as she got ready for the day and made her bottle. She was sitting on the couch, feeding her a bottle when the door opened. “Hey, you’re back. Is everything okay?” she asked, taking in his somber expression.

“I did something I’m not sure you’re going to agree with. But I need you to promise me even if you don’t, you’ll trust me to do what’s right.”

Scooting to the edge of the couch, she took a shaky breath then let it out slowly. “I’m listening.”

“Nu-uh. Promise first, Aibhlinn. I know how you can be about things.”

She closed her eyes and mentally counted to ten. There were times when they were on opposite ends of the belief spectrum. He came from a place of survival, and she would never fully understand. Despite the dangers present in her youth, she had two parents who loved and cared for her. Once you removed that foundation, it was the law of the jungle where every person was for themselves, and survival of the fittest was the lay of the land. She understood it, but it killed her. “Okay,” she whispered.

“I went to see Snake.”

The image of the tattooed co-leader of the Wild Ones popped into her head. “Why?”

“I wanted him to look into Aoife, see if there were any missing person reports or kidnapping situations. He’s working on it now.”

“Makes sense. Why did you think I’d be upset?”

“Because I also asked him to get the paperwork started.”

She frowned. “I’m not following you. Paperwork for what?”

“To claim her as my own.”

“What?” She rose from the couch.

Aoife tensed and began to whimper.

Forcing her body to relax, she took a deep breath again, but it whooshed out rapidly this time. “But she’s not—”

“No one else needs to know that. We’ll draw up papers, have her rights signed to me, and that will be that.”

“No.” She shook her head. “This is incredibly illegal and selfish.”