Page 54 of Lamb

“Mallory was up with her during the day, so it was my turn for the night shift.” He rubbed a hand down his long face, his wild beard unkempt and out of control around his chin and jaw. “I’m getting the snip, I swear to God.”

Jax’s shrill gasp had us both whipping toward him.

The cowboy paled at Hunter’s words, hand clasped over his heart, the other over his mouth. “How could you even think of doing such a horrendous thing!” he wailed. “That’ssacrilege.”

Hunter scoffed, unfazed by his best friend’s reactions. Jax was known for his dramatics.

“You wait.” He jabbed a finger at the smaller, slimmer man. “Once you’ve had to spend the first six months on two hours of sleep—if you’re lucky—then try telling me you want more.”

To Hunter’s chagrin, Jax beamed, the light of his smile too bright in the early morning dusk. “Can’t wait.”

I rolled my eyes at the pair, ready to leave them behind as I walked toward the building. “Just sell it to the circus and be done with it,” I advised, ushering the two men as they stepped beside me.

“You’re a cruel bastard,” Hunter grunted.

“Then quit your bitching,” I retorted, unwilling to hear more about the baby infestation plaguing the club. It was like someonehad released a fertility bomb a few years ago, and now everyone had popped out enough small humans to create their own biker baby club.

“Would you seriously?” Jax skipped ahead as we approached the door, other brothers merging into our group.

“Would he what?” Pretty chimed, swinging open the door to let them through first as he converged with our small posse.

“Lamb said he’d sell his kid to the circus,” Jax repeated.

“That’s in character,” Pretty agreed, giving me a considering, but nonjudgmental look.

“In my character?” I paused, frowning at the younger club member. I could hear the distance voices muffled and moaning beyond the doorway into the clubroom.

Pretty shrugged. “Just sounds like something you’d do. Can’t imagine little Lamb’s running around and you changing their diapers and shit.”

It wasn’t something I’d expressly considered.

Not one to be left out, Jax added his two cents. “It’s not like you ever hang out with the kids. Mind you, I haven’t seen you hanging out lately, with kids or brothers, or hell, even women.” His eyes narrowed, doing a slow once-over from top to toe, as if there might be a clue hiding in plain sight on my person. “What have you been up to?”

“Nothing much.” I smirked, feeling a sense of challenge burn through my chest. I fixed my eyes on my younger brother, doing a slow once-over of him. Information brewed on my tongue, and I began to let it slip. “Actually, I’ve been spending time up in Redwood recently. There’s a place on 32ndAvenue that—”

“STOP!” Jax blurted out, lunging to grab me and silence my words.

I dodged, missing his grip, but not the glare that whirled with my head.

“How do you even know about that?” he hissed, ready to pounce again.

I looked at our little group and noticed a few other brothers had stopped, staring at our display with curiosity. I smiled. “Still curious about whatI’vebeen up to?”

He paused, his glower bitter as the undercurrent threat processed through his pretty head. “No,” Jax snarled before stalking off into church.

Hunter glanced between Jax’s retreating form and the smile still sitting sweetly on my lips a few times. A shiver passed over his body before he shook it off, following fast after his friend.

Pretty, however, wasn’t as wise; he stood staring at me, curiosity battling his better sense across his face.

“Do you want to know?” I raised a brow, my smile pulling a little wider.

Pretty glanced over to the empty doorway where Jax and Hunter had escaped and the other gathering brothers darting past. Fortunately for Pretty, his better sense won.

He shook his head. “No.”

“Good.” I clapped my hands, my victory secured and my smile dropping. “Now get in there. Church is about to start.”

The water rippled across the tub, my fingers dragging through the frowning expression reflecting up at me, distorting an image I didn’t recognize.

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