Page 36 of Viper

King turns to look at me and says, “If you want Viper to leave you alone, just tell him straight up and he will. Still, he’ll treat you right.” He goes to move away then stops and looks at me curiously. “Are you a wild kind of woman? Or one of those shy, quiet types?”

“I told him when we first met that I was looking for a man to call Daddy, so what do you think?” I reply with a slow grin.

“Hot!” Sage exclaims. “And he definitely gives Daddy vibes.”

King chuckles. “Yeah, you’re his type alright. And you said you met Shadow?” I nod. He snorts. “He’s probably shitting his pants knowing you’re in here.” He goes over to kiss his mother’s cheek and then walks out of the room without another word.

“Why do I get the feeling the men around here are scared of you?” I ask drily to both Rose and Sage.

The women share a shit-eating grin. “They seem to think that when we get together trouble follows,” Sage answers, gratefully accepting the plate Rose hands her. “And I guess it has in the past, but we haven’t been back to jail in months, so I think they can stop worrying so much.”

“Eden works for the court, so if we do, we have an insider to help us this time,” Rose tells Sage with a wink my way.

Sage laughs sharply. “Oh shit, no wonder Shadow’s shitting himself. He’s probably going to go home and create a spreadsheet to figure out a way to up the bail fund buy in.”

“He did say something about tripling it if I stick around,” I say with a grin. Who knew I would be having this kind of conversation late at night in the middle of the week after almost getting caught listening to a judge getting bribed. But damn this is kind of fun.

“Which brings us back to Viper,” Rose adds. “And girl, you bet your ass you’re not leaving until we get the story of you calling Viper Daddy. Hell, I never knew that could be so hot.” She fans her face dramatically. Sage nods her head enthusiastically.

I chuckle and tell her how Viper and I first met, and when I finish, Rose and Sage are once again fanning themselves. “Damn, I’m going to have to try that line out on King,” Sage says.

Rose snickers. “I don’t think it would be the same for Bullet. I could call him Grandpa I guess, but he’d probably walk out and I’m not about to lose a good dicking over that. And it’s not like he’s a grandpa yet,” she adds with a pointed look at Sage.

Sage rolls her eyes. “Then focus on Torque or Stone for that because you won’t be getting any from us right now. Besides, you have Macy to hold you over.”

“True,” Rose says. “But it would be nice to have a few more grandbabies running around here. And from the way you and King go at it, I wouldn’t be surprised if you give me one before the year is out. And why the hell were you rolling around in the dirt and grass out there when you have a perfectly good bed upstairs?”

“Because we were at Stone and Syn’s for a bit, and then on the way back, well, I got this scene from a book I’ve been reading in my head, and well…” She shrugs nonchalantly but then grins.

I chuckle. “I read those books and I get it,” I admit.

Rose gets an interesting look in her eyes. “I’ll have to take a look,” she says. “And I’ll drop the babies thing for now, but eventually someone better be giving me some more grandchildren to spoil.” Then she turns her gaze back to me and asks bluntly, “So why don’t you want a relationship? Not that it’s any of my business, so you can tell me to butt out, but I’m curious.”

“I was in a relationship not long ago, and I realized I don’t need a man to make me happy. So I’m doing the single route for now.”

“Amen, sister,” Sage says after swallowing another mouthful of food. “I love my man, but on most days, I want to brain him upside the head and leave his body in a ten foot hole for the worms to eat.”

I glance at Rose, seeing as Sage is talking about her son, but Rose is nodding her head in agreement. “I feel that way about Bullet multiple times a day.” Then she looks at me. “And if you and Viper get together, then I’m sure you’ll be feeling it too. And on those days, we like to get together with the rest of the ladies of our group, and get it all out.”

“Sounds like a fun time. But Viper and I aren’t happening.” Sage and Rose share a look that speaks volumes of how they don’t believe me, but I ignore it. Viper is great, but I’m staying single and that’s that.

Before either of them can ask me any more questions, the door to the kitchen opens and in walks Viper, Bullet, and King. I don’t see Shadow, so he must have left. Viper heads for me immediately, standing close behind me. “Ladies,” he drawls smoothly. “I haven’t heard any guns go off, or sirens in the distance, so I assume you’re behaving yourselves.”

Rose and Sage both snort in derision, and I bite back a grin. “What the hell kind of trouble are we going to get up to this late at night?” Sage demands. “Are you worried we’re going to corrupt Eden here?”

“You can’t corrupt me,” I assure them. “I’m well and thoroughly corrupted thanks to my best friend.”

“There, see, nothing to worry about,” Rose says primly when Bullet scoffs behind us. Rose shoots him a glare. I like that she doesn’t take any shit, and from the limited time I’ve spent with her, I’ve gathered she runs the show around here.

“We can head back to your place as soon as you’re ready,” Viper tells me, putting a hand on the back of my neck and giving it a light squeeze. I suppress a shiver, and try not to think about the fact that this man held my neck as he fucked me into the mattress during our night together. Still, when I tell him I’m ready to go and go to move from my chair, I see the knowing glint in his eyes and I’m instantly hit with the sensation of just how in trouble I really am.

I put my plate in the dishwasher, even though Rose insists I don’t have to, but I’m not about to leave her to clean up a mess after me. Then I say to her and Sage, “It was really nice to meet you both. And if you are ever in court, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.” I shoot them a wink when the men groan.

Rose and Sage grin wickedly. “You bet we will,” Sage agrees. “Oh, and before you go, what’s your number? I’m always in the market for some more corrupted friends.”

I normally don’t give out my number to just anyone, but I like Sage, so I give it to her, and Rose, who also puts it into her phone. Rose steps forward and pulls me into a hug, and says, “Don’t be a stranger, Eden. We can meet for lunch or dinner sometime.” Then she lowers her voice so only I can hear and adds, “And if you change your mind on giving Viper a chance, make him work for it. It never hurts to keep a man on his toes.”

I just give a short nod, smile, and pull away. When I turn back to Viper, he’s smiling at me. Then a thought occurs to me. “What about Archer?” I ask him curiously. “I don’t want him in danger by you leaving him in your truck to take me back to my place.” The thought of someone seeing Archer vulnerable that way fills me with panic and anger at the same time. Anger at whoever it is after them, as well as Viper for even thinking of doing that.

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