Page 51 of Tav

Tilting my head sideways, I whisper to Tav, “What’s happening?”

He leans down, his warm breath ticking the shell of my ear and causing my sex to clench. “Pops said he could desensitize Rider to periods and women’s problems. It’s not going too badly. He’s only thrown up four times.”

“It’s mesmerizing,” I whisper back as the images change again and again. I don’t know if this is a weird playlist of period videos Pops has found or if it’s something that Pops made up himself for this very purpose. Whatever it is, it’s very informative. And effective. Rider seems to have calmed right down and is even bobbing his head along to the music.

“What in the fuck are you all doing?” Marx’s voice booms out in the middle of a catchy tune about bleeding monthly, complete with dancing tampons. Gus stands behind him with Ana looking like she’s going to burst into laughter at any moment with another dark-haired man who looks vaguely familiar. He also looks like you wouldn’t trust him as far as you could throw him.

“Helping Rider with his little problem,” Pops answers completely seriously. “Hey Roman,”

“Pops, good to see you’ve been keeping busy even with the murder ban,” the Roman guy answers.

Marx rummages in his pocket looking for something and coming up short. Gus reaches into his own pocket, then holds out a pack of antacids to Marx who nods once, then takes what’s offered.

“Tidy this shit up and meet us back in the common room, we have things to discuss.” With that, he leaves, Gus and the other man leaving behind them.

“Well, son, you did good.” Pops saying, slapping a hand on Rider’s shoulder. “Oh, might wanna clean up before our guests get here. You stink.” With that, he leaves the building.

Judge cuts the cable ties, and the brothers start handing over cash.

“What in the…?”

“They took bets on how many times Rider would barf,” Tav says, chuckling as he leads me out of the shed.

“I tell ya, I love this place,” Flack says as he smells the wad of cash in his hand.

I chuckle to myself, shaking my head, because I wholeheartedly agree with him.

Chapter 15

Tav

We all trickle into the common room, finding seats or places to lean. Chewy sits on Rhodie’s knee, leaning her head close to listen as he whispers to her. Ana is standing leaning against Gus, his large hand on her belly. Debs is on the couch with her head resting on Pops’ shoulder, and Pixie is on my lap. It’s a nice feeling watching my family grow into an even bigger, rowdier family. I glance at Jules across the room, leaning on the bar, and I cannot wait to see who tames him. He deserves happiness and all the love in the world, even if he doesn’t think so.

“We haven’t met yet. I’m Roman Bartashev. Head of the Bartashev Bratva.”

“And my best friend!” Ana pipes up with a huge smile on her face.

“Yes, and Ana’s bestie,” Roman says, rolling his eyes as he offers a hand to Pixie.

She squints up at him for a beat before holding her hand out. “Blanche.”

“Oh, I know who you are. I was in the warehouse the day you dispatched your cousin. I admired your work,”

“Oh, thank you. I think?” She gives me a look, her eyes huge as if to ask, “What the fuck?” I try not to chuckle. She’ll soon learn that in this lifestyle we may mix with mafia and men who could take you out as soon as look at you, but we all do it for a good reason. Well, most of the time.

The door opens and Jimmy leads in three big ass versions, and one taller curvier version of my Ol Lady. Pixie rushes toward them and they all hug, talking a mile a minute.

“Holy shit the genes are strong in that family,” Rider mumbles, watching with wide eyes.

“Is that how families are meant to behave when they see each other?” Chewy asks, her head tilted to the side.

“Sometimes, baby. Depends on how close you are. I hugged Marx when I got home from deployment,” Rhodie mumbles, dropping a kiss on Chewy’s head. She frowns a moment before nodding. Probably storing that chestnut away for a later date. Jules catches my eye and gives me a little smirk. We all know that’s how she’ll greet us next time one of us has a trip away.

“Oh, um DRMC, these are my siblings. From oldest to youngest, Vic,” she points to the widest of them all. Her brothers are around the same height as me and my brothers, but hers are heavier set. “Dom, and Chris. And this is our little sister Lovely and her baby, Bee,” Lovely looks like she’s ready to shit her pants at any moment now. She’s curled into herself, her arms wrapped around her baby tightly. Her eyes dart up to look around the room, widening a little when she sees how many of us there are.

“It’s OK, sweetheart, you and your baby will be safe here,” Marx says softly, stepping closer to the group, but softening his stance so as not to scare her.

Her dark eyes, so much like Pixie’s stare at Marx, darting over his face before a shy smile plays on her lips. She turns her eyes from Marx to the rest of the room. Taking a deep breath, then letting it out, her head comes up and her shoulders square.

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