Page 89 of Toxic

I raised an eyebrow at Priest, who simply nodded. An entire conversation for us. I turned to Isla and winked. She all but launched out of her chair, giggling like a schoolgirl. “No cuts, only bruises,” I told her. She needed this more than I did. She’d been looking particularly antsy the last few days. I was pretty sure it had something to do with the women dragging her around to plan girlie wedding things.

“Party pooper!” she yelled as she stalked toward the other woman.

Everyone did their best to hold back their laughter at the shock on Brandy’s face, right before Isla swept her legs out fromunder her and took her to the ground. She hadn’t been expecting that. We stood and watched as Isla let loose a little.

There was a moment of awkward silence followed by cries of, “You can’t!” and “This isn’t fair!” But by that point no one was paying attention. Isla was dragging the bitch off the property, by one ankle with the woman clawing at the lawn, and we’d quite loudly resumed the festivities.

No one was willing to interfere. Not for the female who’d done her damndest to hurt Priest’s kids. Our kids. Fuck her. She deserved whatever Isla was going to do to her. And this way, Priest wouldn’t get into trouble with Wendy’s family. Not as much as he would if he was the one dragging her off the property.

By the time the woman was in her car, tires squealing as she pulled away, Priest was beginning to relax. “Shouldn’t have let her come. I just thought the girls might like the opportunity to see their aunt. She’s never shown an interest since Wendy’s death.”

“You tried,” Lock told him, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

We went back to the party and it silenced everyone when Taylor looked up at Jenny and said, “She asked how we felt having a new mommy.”

Jenny swallowed hard and searched for something to say.

Taylor frowned. “I never liked her,” she admitted.

“She’s always been mean,” Gabby added. The other two girls remained quiet. Cassie was too young to have really remembered her aunt, and Caitlyn had never met her.

Taylor wrapped her arms around Jenny’s waist. “I don’t even know what she meant. You’ve been our mommy for years. You’re not new.”

That did it. Every woman at the party was sniffling back tears and the men were all grinning.

“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Priest told his girls. “She hasn’t been around to meet Jenny. So she must have been confused. Jenny belongs to us now.”

“Yup!” Cassie said and hugged Caitlyn, who was still clinging to Jenny’s leg.

“We’re not letting her go,” Gabby added.

“You’re stuck with us,” Taylor pointed out. That made everyone laugh.

Gabby and Taylor gave their dad knowing looks. They were old enough, and smart enough, to know he was giving Brandy an out for being a bitch. But they didn’t say anything for the sake of the younger girls.

“Who’s ready for cake?” Jenny asked, forcing brightness in her voice as she gave Priest the most loving, though teary, look I’d ever seen before.

Isla came walking up a few minutes later. She didn’t say anything, just gave a fist bump and nod to each of the girls. They knew who theirrealaunts were, and who had their backs. It wasn’t the cunt who’d just been kicked out of their lives permanently. It was the women who were surrounding them now.

It took another hour, and three slices of cake—all for me, Billie had her own—before I managed to get her alone.

She looked around as she stepped into my room inside the clubhouse. “Huh.”

“What?” I asked.

“The guys made me think this would be some kind of sex dungeon.”

I groaned at that and shook my head. “They’re just a bunch of dicks. And they’re just trying to get me back for years of interfering in their own relationships.”

“I’m just a little disappointed.” Billie laughed and went over to sit on the bed. My dick hardened just seeing her in that prettylittle dress and her cowboy boots. Her hair was loose and flowing over her shoulders.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” I told her.

She smiled at me. “And you’re handsome.” She cocked her head, studying me, then continued. “I like your dad.”

“Thanks. He’s a good one.”

“I already knew I liked the rest of your family.”

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