Reese

“Maybe if you watched your own mouth a little, they would follow suit.” Lollie’s teasing voice calls out from behind me.

I ignore the comical way the boys’ mouths all drop open and turn to hug her.

“Glad you made it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. How are you settling in with everything?”

I blow out a breath. “I won’t lie, it’s been a crazy few months.”

“I bet. I’m glad you went the route you did. The gym is a part of you as much as it is a part of them.” She nods at the kids.

The guys and I had talked about leaving the gym to focus on the Colosseum, but we knew that wasn’t the right move.

“I agree, and turning this place into an exclusive resort helps. We’re only open for fight weekends. We have two five-star chefs and have converted all the upper floors into hotel rooms. They sell out as quickly as the fight tickets do. We’re getting people flying in from all over the world to either stay here as spectators or to compete.”

“And as they should. You treat your staff well, your security is tight, the prize money for the winner is insane, and being the philanthropist you are, you give back to the community. I have to say, Reese, I’m so fucking proud of you.”

“Hear, hear,” Sugar agrees, coming up behind Lollie with Dulce beside her, her hand on her belly, the giant rock on her finger catching the light and nearly blinding me in the process.

“Nicest toilet I’ve ever peed in,” Dulce adds, making me laugh as large hands slide over my hips.

I look up at Graves and smile as he kisses me.

“Can I get you ladies a drink?” he offers.

“I’ll take a Cosmo, handsome.” Lollie flirts.

“Anything virgin for me.” Dulce sulks, making Graves chuckle.

“Scotch on the rocks, thanks,” Sugar orders.

“Here, I’ll help you,” Lollie offers, shoving her bag at Dulce.

Instead of complaining, Dulce rummages through it until she finds what she’s looking for—a small bag of pretzels.

She looks up when she feels me watching her. “What?”

“You’re at a five-star restaurant and you go for pretzels?”

“The baby needs them, okay? It’s so bad that I have everyone carrying them around for me in case I have an emergency pretzel moment. These cravings are fucking brutal.”

“Don’t say fucking,” Carlos yells, running past us, dodging me before I can grab him.

Sugar bursts out laughing, which has us all joining in.

“Oh, before I forget, I got some photos of Simba today. He’s seems to be settling in really well at the cat sanctuary. They’re not sure he’ll ever be able to return to the wild, but they are working on it and at least he isn’t alone anymore. We’re gonna fly out and see him when it’s a little quieter here.”

“I’m glad he’s settling but Simba, really? That’s the best you could come up with?”

“I want to fly out and see your big pussy too.” Dulce pouts, making me snort.

“Not sure your guys will be okay with that. Where are the guys tonight anyway?”

“Cane and Hunter are downstairs with Blink and Vega, talking about setting up a fighting club for some of the older kids back home. Griffin is on daddy duty with Dove, but he’s wiped anyway. He only came home yesterday, but he sends his love, and Dimitri is right behind you.”

I spin around, and sure enough, there stands Dimitri in all his dark and deadly glory, watching Dulce with a look that has me wanting to fan myself.

“You don’t honestly think he was going to let me out of his sight, do you?” Dulce laughs.