Page 40 of Wrath’s Nightingale

“What did you buy?”

“I’ll show it to you when we get back to the cabin. We did a lot of clothes shopping and, of course, shopping for the kids. Your sister helped me pick out a few things for you. I realize I have so much to learn.”

“We have our whole lives to learn about each other, baby. Other people may do that upfront, but we’re doing it differently and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m an open book and will answer all questions.”

Chapter 25

Wrath

“Do you want kids?” my wife asks.

Lucy arrives table side with our dinner at the same moment. She quickly places our meals in front of us and leaves silently.

“I do, baby. How about you?”

“Yes. I’d love a big family. I’d like to adopt and have children if I can.”

“Is there a reason you couldn’t?”

She shakes her head. “Not that I know of, but there are always things that can happen. We won’t know for sure until I get pregnant.”

“As far as I’m concerned, we can start tonight.”

She laughs. “I’m on the pill. Even if I threw them away tonight, chances are it’s going to take a month to get fully out of my system. Plus, if I’m going to start a new job. I’d like to wait a year. Although the pill is not a hundred percent, so if we get pregnant before then, I’m okay with that.”

“A year is doable. What kind of house do you want?”

“I’d love a log cabin. What do you think of my parents’ cabin?”

“I love your parents’ cabin. When we get back to New Orleans, I’ll show you Gambit and Stormy’s. Our company built it. My team, actually.”

“Do you and your brothers each have a team?”

“We do. Dad started it early on as a fun competition. He’d give us similar jobs and a team of men. Then he’d come in andinspect each one. He’s the toughest inspector I’ve come across. Dad had us “compete” like that for five years before he retired and sold the company. The club bought part of it, and they’ve helped us grow the company.”

“Does the club have other businesses?”

“We have several around town. Voodoo Armadillo, The Baron’s Best, Swamp Witch Herb, Blue Bayou Customs, La Poule Rouge, Heaven’s Door, Inkspiration, Jackson & Sons Construction, Pele’s Palace, Grunt Work Fitness and our latest project a housing development for our families that want to live close by, King’s Estates. Plus, Artemis’ Retreat.”

I could see the shock on her face, but I press on.

“Each patched member of the King’s gets a share of the profits.”

“Is that why you have a black Amex?”

I chuckle. “That and the black ops missions that we sometimes go on.”

“Black ops?”

“Decker, Saber, and I enrolled in the Marines while we were seniors in high school. We went in at seventeen and finished at twenty-five. After that we prospected for the Kings.”

“Your parents let you enroll at seventeen?”

“They did. We’d gotten into some trouble with a local gang. Pops thought it was a good idea to get us some discipline.”

“How did your parents meet?”

“Dad’s appendix burst when he was nineteen. Mom was a volunteer candy striper. It was love at first sight. He asked her out after he came out of surgery, and they’ve been together ever since.”

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