Page 83 of Static

I chuckled. "I'm pretty sure no one thinks you act that way. We all just want to help and don't know how to. But," I told her, giving her a wicked smile. "I know how to do my part."

She narrowed her eyes on me. "How?"

Juggling her in my arms, I flipped her until she was draped over one of my shoulders. "I'm going to make sure not to treat you like a little glass bird." I rolled my shoulder, bouncing her on it.

"Static!"

I strode out the door with her ass next to my face and her fists pounding my back. "This is much better," I said, tone completely serious. "No more sweet rides in my arms for you."

Her laughter floated through the air, and I saw all the women and men looking our way. Their smiles were as wide as my own. Then I noticed something that didn't bode well at all. Turning, I strode over to where Toxic was sitting on a motorcycle, revving the engine. "Looks like you got it running."

"Put me down!"

I set Gwen on her feet, my hand on her hip until she was steady and stared as Toxic revved the engine again on the bike he'd been fixing up in his spare time. It was an older, smaller bike, but it looked almost new now and was purring like a kitten. Toxic grinned, never a good sign. All the kids, and some of the guys, were circled around. Toxic got off the bike and lifted Taylor onto it. The little girl gave a happy squeal and revved the engine.

"Yeah," Toxic answered. "Just in time.

I frowned. "What does that mean? In time for what?"

Warrant had his arms folded over his chest and was glaring at Toxic. "How much?"

The price Toxic said made even my brows shoot up.

"That's fucking extortion," Warrant growled at him.

"And you're fucking desperate," Toxic replied with a shrug and a grin.

"Come on, that's the price you're going to give to an old friend?" Warrant added.

"That's a good point," Toxic said after thinking about it for a minute. Then he upped the price by another few hundred bucks.

Warrant's jaw dropped. "You're a dick," he replied, but couldn't stop the laughter.

"What are you doing exactly?" Gwen asked, her eyes flicking from the men to Taylor, who looked happy—and smug—as a clam sitting on the bike.

"Warrant lost a game of high stakes Candy Land," Butcher grumbled. "He's paying up."

"High stakes-" Gwen started to ask.

"Candy Land?" I finished. I looked around at the men's faces. "What does that even mean?"

Butcher just shrugged. "Can't blame us when you assholes leave us all here bored."

I honestly wasn't sure if the 'us' was the men, or the children, or somehow a combination of both.

Taylor squealed and clapped her hands together. "Can I ride my bike now?"

"What?" We all looked over our shoulders as Priest walked up. "Did she just say her bike?"

"I haven't agreed to buy it yet," Warrant muttered. He glared at Priest. "I'm pretty sure your daughter is a cheater."

Taylor stuck her tongue out at him.

Priest chuckled. "I can't believe you haven't figured that out before now." He looked over at Butcher and Toxic.

"You can't just give a motorcycle to a seven-year-old," Gwen added.

"You can when she wins it," Butcher told her. His tone was matter of fact, and he watched Warrant as he spoke. The other man looked a little too hopeful once everyone started questioning Taylor getting this bike. "Fair and square."

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