Page 68 of Devil's Queen

Both Ameline and Pike’s eyes go wide as I hear footsteps coming from the hallway behind us. I turn to find Rem standing behind us all. Her black satin nightgown is long gone, and in its place, she has on a hoodie with a pair of sleep shorts that show off her long, lean legs.

“Does she know what?”

Rem takes all of two seconds to process the scene in front of us. I wait in silence for it to sink in.

“Mama!” She gasps. “You didn’t?”

“And if I did?” Ameline fires back.

The two trade barbs back and forth, ignoring Pike and my existence in the same room as them. Pike nods to the front porch, a cue that maybe it was best we got out of the line of fire. I push from my seat and follow him outside.

“Didn’t know you still had it in you, old man.” I chuckle with a slap to his shoulder when we settle into the rocking chairs on the porch.

“I’m old, son. Not defective.”

“Was it worth it?” I ask with a nod to the argument inside.

“Is she worth it?” he fires right back.

“Yeah, she’s worth the fight.”

Ameline gets louder inside the house. No doubt both of Rem’s club sisters and the kids will be up soon with that ruckus. Pike leans forward, slapping both of his knees. “Welp, that’s my cue to get outta here.”

“You’re just going to leave when you’re a part of the reason they’re fighting in there.”

“Sure am,” he declares as he stands. “I know when to bow out of a fight, and it’s fixing to be a category five in there the way they’re going. I’ll come back later when cooler heads prevail and talk to Remington. If I go in there now, I’ll be fixing to lose my damn head.” Pike reaches into his pocket and pulls out the keys I’d given him last night. “‘Sides, Blanche said she’d whip me up some of her famous shrimp and grits for taking care of you and Birdie.”

“You’re not…” I ask.

“Oh no. No, sir. One woman is enough for me.”

I start to ask him just how long this has been going on between him and Ameline, but he saunters off the porch with a wave. As he’s pulling out of the driveway, Rem shoves through the side door with an exasperated but muted scream.

“I’d ask how it’s going in there, but pretty sure the entire neighborhood knows.”

“Don’t you start too,” she demands. “Can you believe her? Of all the people, she picked my dad’s best friend. My dad would be rolling in his grave if he knew.” She continues her tirade, each sentence running together until I can barely understand her. I catch a few words, and I try not to laugh loud enough that she catches me and turns her sights on me.

“Rem.” She doesn’t respond. “Rem,” I try again. She’s lost in her own fucking world of anger and spite for her mother’s decision. “Remington!”

She spins, her attention finally on me. “What!” she roars, spinning toward me.

“Far be it for me to throw stones at glass houses, but you need to take a breath, baby, and consider it from her side of things. It’s been a long time since your dad died. She’s been putting all her efforts into you and Beaux since. Doesn’t she deserve a little happiness?”

“Of course she does, but Pike?”

“We don’t always pick who we fall for, Rem. You know that as well as I do.”

I can see the wheels spinning in her head, trying to find some way to argue against me, but she never gets the chance. Cheyenne comes from inside the house, a grave look on her face.

“What is it?”

“It’s the shop. The security system is going off. Maya tried to access the cameras, but the feeds have been cut.”

“Fuck. Wolff’s making his first public move. I’ll get some of the guys over there.” I go to pull out my cell phone from my pocket, but Rem grabs my hand to stop me.

“No. It’s my shop. I’m going.”

“Neither of you are going until we know it’s clear. Let us do our job, Rem.” Cheyenne turns to me. “Can you spare a couple of your guys? Ones you can trust. We don’t want to go into this with enemies already with us.”

---