Page 1 of Ready or Not

Chapter One

Holt

Five Minutes Earlier

Iassure the assholes at the gate that Garza has clearance, and there’s no reason to storm the house to combat their wounded pride.

The garage door slams open.

“Get back to work. If one man can put the two of you on your asses, then it’s time to step up your training.” I hang up, shaking my head.

It’s been a long time since I’ve done more than talk to Garza on the phone. He and Mercy used to be close—just like Bishop is my best friend—but Cooper Garza took a job working with Ranger’s team.

And then another.

I’d be shocked if he sticks around for long.

My phone lights up with Merrick’s name as I hear Bishop welcoming Garza. I nearly ignore it, but something tells me to pick up the call.

“Listen, all hell is about to break loose,” Merrick says so fast, I barely make out the words. “I told Ranger, but I thought he was going to back me up when we came to talk to you guys. Instead, he sent Garza in there with no fucking warning of what he was walking into.”

“Man, what the fuck are you talking about?” I growl.

“Cooper Garza was in DC last year,” Merrick says, like I don’t already know that. “He was scoping out The Kitty Cat Lounge for a possible hit on Ranger’s sister.” My jaw falls at hearing the name of the shitty club Vale worked at. “Garza has no idea she’s the woman Bishop has been into for years. There’s also no fucking way he knows about the baby. Do not let Bishop beat him to death, especially not in front of the woman carrying his kid.”

“Oh, fuck,” I hiss, hanging up and striding into the area between the kitchen and the living room.

Vale is always pale, but her face is so terrified, my stomach churns. She’s about to bolt.

“Vale?” Garza chokes out.

She blinks at him, cradling the side of her stomach. Her eyes quickly fly to the doorway I’m blocking. I know what comes next. She’s going to run, and she has every right to be confused. I’m still fucking baffled how the universe thought this was a humorous twist of fate.

She sways my direction.

I raise my palms, trying to appear like less of a threat. “You’re looking a little skittish. You fall the wrong way, trying to haul ass out of here, and you could hurt both you and the baby. Don’t run right now, or I’m going to have to stop you.”

“Stop me?” she says incredulously. “Fuck you. I don’t know what this is, but I’m leaving.”

I give her a look to indicate that’s not happening.

She’s our fucking wife.

Not to mention, she’s bonded to Bishop.

I get why she’s panicking.

It doesn’t look great, but she’ll see. All she needs to do is calm down enough to ask Bishop a few questions. The bond is a pretty accurate lie detector, based on what I’ve heard. She just has to let the panic pass, so she can think rationally.

“You’re fucking pregnant?” Garza growls. “Why is she here? How is she here? How pregnant are you?”

“Gorgeous?” Bishop murmurs, inching in Vale’s direction. “You’re saying Garza was your one-night stand?”

Vale’s entire body shrugs, but that, combined with the look on her face…

I’m not exactly shocked when the shit hits the fan, just like Merrick warned.

Bishop turns, giving exactly zero warning that he’s about to try to remove Garza’s head from his shoulders in one vicious punch.

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