Page 73 of Beautifully Reckless

“You’d better be thinking fast, boy. Don’t think you’re too old for me to give you a good hiding.”

Ohhhh. I like Ringo’s mum.

“You call her Angel?” Lani is hyper focused on that part for some reason.

“How about we all sit down, and I’ll explain the situation,” Ringo suggests. “Then you can decide if I still deserve a hiding, Ma.”

Biting back my smirk, I glance at his mother, such a petite yet fierce woman giving her grown sonthe look.

I shouldn’t find it funny, but watching him get scolded by his mum and bicker with his sisters makes him more real… more human.

It does something to my heart.

“Fine.” His mum nods. “Let’s all take a seat and hear how my boy plans to worm his way out of this one.”

This time, my giggle slips free, and even though Ringo shoots me another glare, there’s no fire in it.

His mum heads towards the plush couch, the sisters following behind, but not before Millie slices a finger across her throat at her brother, and Lani pokes out her tongue.

“You want me here for this?” JD asks, and Ringo shakes his head.

“Nah, head over to the barn and get it set up for us. Call Smitty too. See if there are any updates from the spotters on the streets.”

“Will do.” JD nods, and as he passes me, he shoots me a mischievous wink.

I have no idea what Ringo means about spotters. But the tension in his tone makes my stomach twist.

This mess and all of this chaos is because of me. I hate the thought of anyone suffering for me. It makes me want to crawl out of my own skin.

“I should spank you for being a brat, Angel.”

Ringo’s hushed, deep voice brushes against my ear as he passes, and I swear I stop breathing. But when he glances back and points to the couch where his mother and sisters are already seated, I gulp.

There’sno way anyone looking could miss it. The lump in my throat is the size of a tennis ball, only this time, it’s not caused from holding back tears. It’s something else entirely, and whatever it is sends a flush over my skin from the tip of my toes all the way up to the crown of my head.

Ringo waits patiently, his gaze never leaving me until I move, joining his family on the couch.

I feel completely out of place. Like maybe he should be having this conversation without me, where judgemental opinions can’t break through my walls.

“Abbey wasn’t lying. I did kidnap her,” he starts, holding up his hands before anyone can jump in. “But before you chew me out, I did it as a favour for a friend. Abbey needed help. She was in a bad situation. She needed to get out fast, and taken somewhere her family and the cops wouldn’t find her.”

Slowly, three sets of eyes, so similar to Ringo’s, slide my way.

“Holy shit. Your hair is actually blonde, isn’t it?” Lani’s gaze tracks over my pink strands. “You’re the girl from the news.”

“So she wasn’t lying about you taking her and locking her in your room?” Millie asks Ringo, and he shakes his head.

“And that’s not my brother’s?” Lani asks, pointing to my baby bump.

Instinctively, my hand cradles the swell of my stomach like a shield as I shake my head.

“No.”

“Whose is it?” Millie presses, but Ringo cuts in before I even part my lips to reply.

“That part is none of your business. Abbey has been through… a lot, and the people who hurt her are still out there. You will respect her privacy.”

“Of course we will.” His mum stands, moving to Ringo and giving his arm a squeeze before turning to me. “I’m sorry you’ve been through such a rough time, sweetheart. I hope your stay with us will be peaceful.”

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