Page 20 of No Mercy

“Who is this waking me up so early in the morning?” I grumbled in my fake angry voice.

Sam giggled. “It’s me!” He crawled beneath the covers and snuggled up against me. “Who else would it be?” he asked innocently, and I instantly thought of Rock.

“No one but a little, sneaky munchkin,” I laughed.

“Are you gonna make us French toast and bacon for breakfast?”

Sam loved my French toast, so I made it at least once during the weekends. He was also a little bacon thief, so I’d learned early on not to cook up the whole package at once. “Are you sure you want French toast and bacon this morning? I could make something else instead,” I teased.

His little face grew serious. “No, it has to be French toast and bacon, okay?” I nodded, giving him a hug. “I bet daddy will like it, too!” he added with excitement.

I was about to respond when I heard a noise coming from the living room area, followed by voices.

“Who’s that?” Sam asked with round little eyes. He was already moving to get off the bed to go and investigate.

Frowning, I pulled my blanket aside, and followed him. I stepped into the living room and came to a halt upon seeing Rock and two of his big, burly brothers standing together in my tiny kitchen. The next thing I noticed was the stack of moving boxes sitting next to the TV. It didn’t take a genius to know what they were for. I glanced at Rock, who was standing in the kitchen with a cup of coffee at his mouth, trying to hide his smirk.

“Well, hello, little man,” one of the men said while ruffling Sam’s hair. “You’re a little version of your daddy, aren’t ya?” Sam’s grin went from ear to ear as he vigorously nodded his head in agreement.

Now I was the one smirking, but for a totally different reason than Rock. I knew he was eating this up.

“You must be Allie,” the other man said with a big grin.

“Yes, I’m the lucky one.” The two men laughed while Rock remained silent, sipping away at his coffee, his gaze indifferent. Was he still angry over being banished from my bed the night before? Well tough, that’s the way it was going to remain.

“I’m BK, and this is Big John.”

I didn’t recognize either one of them, deciding they must have joined Phantom Riders after I’d left. “Nice to meet you both.” It seemed the right thing to say, even though I didn’t like the reasons they were standing there in my living room.

“Have some coffee before we get started.” Rock poured three cups, setting two of them on the counter toward BK and Big John. They didn’t hesitate to snatch them up.

Rock held the third cup out in my direction. As much as I wanted to ignore this impossible man, coffee first thing in the morning was my weakness, and a must if I wanted to act halfway human. It was the fuel that got me started for the day. I took it with or without creamer, though he’d set the creamer out. I walked closer and reached for the cup.

“What about me, Dad?”

Rock grinned down at Sam. “Nice try, son, but I think you’re a little young for coffee.”

“Mom let’s me drink hers,” he was quick to say.

“Sip, Sam,” I corrected. “I let you take a sip once in a while.” His little mouth turned down into a pout that was meant to get him his way. I was used to his persuasive ways and grabbed one of the empty boxes. “Why don’t you start packing up your toys while I make breakfast.”

“Okay!” He grabbed the box and went running to his room. It was clear that he was excited to be moving to his dad’s place.

“Breakfast?”

I couldn’t help smiling at the enthusiastic tone coming from Big John, and his hopeful expression, which mirrored BK’s. “French toast and bacon, I’ll make enough for everyone.”

“Babe?”

That sexy baritone sent a shiver down my spine, and released an unwanted flutter in my belly. I met Rock’s eyes, noticing the humor swimming in them. His gaze quickly fell down my body and back up again, causing a reaction in me that I couldn’t control. God, I wanted to hate him for what he did so easily to me. Maybe he wouldn’t notice my nipples turning hard. “What?”

“You might want to put something on before you start breakfast.”

Holy crap! I’d forgotten I was only wearing a pair of very short boy shorts and a crop top that left the lower half of my torso bare. I was so used to walking around like that in the mornings that I hadn’t given any thought to my lack of attire. I cast an embarrassed glance at his brothers.

“We don’t mind how you’re dressed,” said BK with a happy smirk.

“Brother,” BK’s gaze shot to Rock. “Don’t make me beat your ass this early in the morning.” The look in his eyes said that he wasn’t kidding. BK shrugged, unconcerned, and turned his smile on me.

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