Page 44 of Ruthless Beasts

She reached over the counter and thumped me, then turned her attention to Ace. “I hope that you?—“

He stopped her mid-sentence. “Hold on, Mama May.” She instantly went gooey over the nickname he had taken to calling her. “None of us are biologically its father. It’s complicated.”

Her brows pulled together. “Uncomplicate it.”

If only it was that simple. But there were so many layers of complication that went on in our life. To give her the full story of how we got here, with Adam married to an already pregnant girl, who happened to be the grandkid of his enemy… well… it was just fucking complicated.

I didn’t have to try to uncomplicate it. Ace did it for me, leaving her no room for further questions. “Our girl came to us just the way she is, and who are we to question it?” I didn’t missher curious glance at the use of the word our. Then again, I too was giving him that glance. Ignoring both our looks, he changed the subject. “Merc got a dog.”

Her eyes lit up, excited about that piece of childhood I finally got to claim. She placed her palms firmly on the display case as she leaned over. “Where are the pictures?”

I took out my phone, not hesitating to show off my new pride and joy. But when I pulled up my photos, I realized not a single one was of Lady alone. Ace glanced at my screen, making a sound in his throat that I knew meant he was judging me, but what could I do about it now? It’s not often that Lady liked to be away from Bellamy.

“Well.” I cleared my throat. “The two ladies at the house are pretty inseparable. So this is Lady. The dog, I mean, her name is Lady.”

I held up the photo of the two girls in my life, hoping that May didn’t question it. I could never be so lucky. Her eyes flickered from the screen to my face and back again. “Is that her?”

“Define ‘her?’”

With a huff, May answered, “The girl. The one that needs the donuts.”

“Yep.” Ace popped the p, looking mighty proud of himself for speaking first. He enjoyed every second of my discomfort. “That’s Bellamy. Got your boy here wrapped around her little fingers.”

“That’s not true.” I’d deny it until the day I die before I admit to him, in front of May, that Bellamy could ask me to rob a bank at gunpoint, with no mask, in front of the police department, and I’d do it. I’d do anything she asked. Except she never asked for a damn thing. When May gave me the look, the one that said she wasn’t buying my bullshit lies, I continued to deny it. “It’s not, May.”

“If you say so. Your girls are beautiful. Does Lady want a donut too?”

“Of course. Lady eats literally anything she can get her mouth on.” I was glad for the change of subject. I didn’t want to acknowledge the feelings Ace’s statement brought up.

May took out the biggest box she sold, filling it to the brim with every type of donut she had. Then created some sort of specialty hot chocolate that had roasted marshmallows on the cup's rim, and peppermint sprinkles decorating the whipped cream, with strict instructions to not let anyone but Bellamy have it. She refused to let us pay. The old coot only seemed to have gotten more stubborn in her old age. She could refuse my cash all she wanted, but she couldn’t stop me from putting a stack of hundreds in her tip jar.

After another round of hugs, we said our goodbyes and were on the road back home just as shades of yellow and orange peeked into the sky.

I thought Bellamy would still be asleep when we got back, but I guess her time resting yesterday meant she’d be energized this morning, because the second we opened the door, Lady came bouncing toward us, happily jumping. Her sweet little voice echoed from the kitchen as she called the puppy. Lady didn’t listen of course and, in my mind, I could hear Adam growling,train her.

Are females ever really trainable?

I whistled to Lady, and she followed me as Ace and I headed toward the kitchen, where we knew we’d find Bellamy. Her back was turned to us when we entered, and though Lady frantically tried to warn her we were there, she didn’t turn once. Instead, she ordered Lady to settle down – the dog obeyed instantly – then continued cooking.

She was cooking breakfast. For us. My heart pounded as I watched her in the kitchen, talking to my dog like it was her only company. Beside me, Ace’s eyes were pinned to her too, his hand filled with her gourmet hot chocolate and his own cup of coffee.

“Little girls should be sleeping at this time of morning.” My voice made her jump and drop the spatula she held. She spun around so damn fast, holding her chest. “Did I scare you? I hadn’t meant to.”

“I- Shit.” Her eyes went wide as the curse fell from her lips. “Sorry, I hadn’t meant to curse.”

I smirked, and beside me, Ace did the same before speaking. “Honey, the sweetest words are sometimes the filthiest. We aren’t prudes.”

This time, it was her lips that tilted up. “I thought you were asleep, is all. I didn’t hear you wake.”

“Sleeping?” I laughed. “We haven’t even been to bed.” I stepped forward, laying the box on the counter. “Are you cooking breakfast?”

She looked around at the mess in the kitchen as I walked closer to her. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”

“We’re surprised,” Ace added.

“You’re making us breakfast,” I repeated, unable to comprehend what I was seeing. She never fed us, though I suspected she liked to cook. I stopped right in front of her before bending and placing both hands on the counter behind her, caging her in. “What are you making us, little girl?”

Her pulse pounded along her jaw and I fought every urge to bring my lips to the spot and suck it into my mouth, soothe the pulse with my tongue. “I- I- I’ve made sausage and eggs, bacon and French toast.”

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