Page 4 of Papa's Beloved

“This is none of your business.”

I close the distance between us, side-stepping him at the last minute. I bend down and press a quick kiss on Nay’s cheek. I’d claim her right here, but I’m not pissing her off.

“I brought your clothes. Don’t worry, Kelsi packed the bags. If we hurry, we can catch the end of Oshun and get a good place for Cleopatra.”

She grabs the bags and spins on her heels.

“I’ll be out in five.”

I wait until she disappears around the corner before addressing dip shit.

“Let me tell you something, Doctor Dipshit, that’s my woman you were hitting on. I heard her tell you she’s involved. It shouldn’t matter if we’re married yet, or not. She’s taken. Get the hint, because this is your only warning.”

“You can’t talk to me like that.”

“I just did.”

He puffs up before turning his attention to Doc.

“Are you going to say something or let this neanderthal speak to me like that?”

“I’m more upset you called my brother a neanderthal.”

“Brother, this man is your brother?”

“He sure is, and if I see you ask one more nurse out, I’m going to take you out back and beat you until you can’t walk. This is a place of work, not a meat market.”

Montgomery turned paler and scurried off with his tail tucked between his legs.

“I’m going to get Wizard to dig up something on that guy. He's been nothing but trouble since he started working here.”

“Lily could ask around to see what the nurses’ take is,” I say. “Since Nay is new, I don’t want her to ruffle any feathers.”

“Good call. Lily’s next round is tomorrow. I’m on too. I’ll talk to her tonight.”

Nay came back and all thoughts fled from my mind. She was a stunning picture in gold leather pants, a prince crop that ended below the curve of her breasts. Over the tee she wore a short leather jacket. And top it off, she has on sky high purple heels with gold straps that fasten around her ankle.

“Damn, baby. You look good enough to eat.”

“Later,” she says with a wink and a smile.

Chapter 4

Nay

The ride through the city on the back of Papa’s bike is cold, but exhilarating. One of the prospects is holding a spot for us to park and another two will help us get through the crowd so we can get closer to the floats.

Papa threads his fingers through mine and leads us through the crowd. It’s full of revelers. Some in costume or masks, others dressed in the colors of Mardi Gras: gold, green and purple. Many in regular clothes. Most with beads around their neck and many carrying their alcoholic beverage of choice.

People move out of his way. Think Reacher with broader shoulders, beautiful dark skin, and a look that saysI’ll kill you in the most painful ways without blinking. I love that look. It stops more trouble than it causes. Few men are stupid enough to mess with him.

The only reason he’s not the club’s enforcer is because he’s the VP. He and Smoke often work in tandem to take out the trash when needed. I may know a little more than the average significant other. I’ve assisted Doc a few times, patching our guys up and occasionally an enemy who needed to live a little longer.

While I’m not supposed to know about the pit or the gators, I do. I don’t fault them for any man they fed to the gators. Each one of those men was evil, and the world is a better place without them. Gray morals? Maybe, but then again, when you have to sell your body at such a young age, life hardens you. It changesyou and colors your world in ways only other people that have suffered the same can truly understand.

I catch movement out the corner of my eye and look up in time to see a fan flying toward me. Oshun’s favor. I wrap my fingers around it, only to find myself in a tug of war. Some guy grabbed part of it.

Large fingers close over my own. I feel the warmth of Papa’s body as he stands beside me.

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