Page 80 of Frenemies

I flattened my palm on my belly. That man gave me something some people only dreamed about having. My eyes fell on Ava. She’d never have this, and yet she was so happy for me. Shouldn’t I be happy for myself?

“Come on.” I threw my arm over her shoulder. “Let’s get ready for school.”

“But the test?” Her gaze shifted back to the counter.

“I don’t need to see the results.”

Everything was exactly as it should be.

Naomi was currently taking a pregnancy test. The last place I wanted to be was in a room with a bunch of other assholes, but she wouldn’t let me sit in the bathroom with her because it was unladylike to pee in front of someone.

Ladylike went out the window when she chowed down on my sandwich like she was starving.

It was okay if Ava went in, though. I might’ve slapped her if I wasn’t afraid of becoming the next cookie van. Fucking girls. God forbid a guy see them take a piss. Ah well, I suppose it was good I was forced to do this shit. The guys needed to know what Jax had been up to, and I needed to be rid of him.

I banged the gavel down and declared, “Church is in session.”

The idea of having a baby made me want to smile and yell up at the sky so everyone would know, but it terrified me too. Jax was still out there, and all I could think about was what happened to Maddox.

I couldn’t let this baby be born in a world where my brother was still breathing. We had to bring this war to an end now.

The voices murmuring throughout the room quickly died down as everyone took their seats. We had to promote a few people to help handle our new numbers. Beast chose Halifax and Frenzy, who’d been with us for years, while I appointed Snake and Roach. They’d more than proved their loyalty, though Snake and I were going to have a word later.

Kickstand slumped back in his chair and looked directly at me. “Why are we here?”

“I know we usually hold church on Fridays, but. . .”

“What the fuck are you doing?”

All eyes swung over to Mannix, who was scowling at Tanner as he fought to push him out of the chair.

“Come on, man, move over,” Tanner whined and slipped his ass on the small wooden seat next to Mannix.

“Fuck off,” Mannix grumbled and gave him a shove. “If I want someone to sit on my lap, I’ll call in one of the sweet butts.”

That would be something to see. I can’t remember the last time Mannix partook in the club’s party favors.

Tanner plucked himself off the floor and squeezed back on the edge of the chair. “Is that all I have to do to get you laid?”

“If your ass touches me one more time. . .”

Tanner cut him off with a loud kiss on the cheek. “I love you, too.”

“Fuck off. This is my chair!”

“I picked it out first.”

Fuck me. They were worse than children.

“Enough,” I bellowed.

That’s when Mannix managed to push Tanner off, causing him to flop down ass first on the floor. I was tempted to tell him to stay there, but then he’d do some other annoying crap like poke Mannix in the leg.

I waited for him to grumpily walk over to one of the unoccupied seats and flop down.

“Greedy bastard,” Tanner locked his glare on Mannix and raised a threatening finger. “I’m taking that chair with me when I leave.”

“Go right ahead, but I’m gonna jerk off in it first.”