Page 86 of Dev

“You’re ready, baby. He wants to talk to you, and I know how much you’ve been missing him. I’ll be right there with you, you just gotta say the word if you wanna leave.”

“I love you, Mr. Kendrick,” she teases, sliding her hands around the back of my neck and almost giving me a heart attack when she leans back over the railings.

“Love ya, too, kiddo.” I grip hold of her a little tighter, cause there ain’t no way I’m ever gonna let my girl go.

Iwake up to the sweetest sound in the world… Her laughter.

I had a late night; Dev needed help getting rid of a body. When I turn to look at my alarm and see that it’s gone eleven am, I drag myself outta bed. Pulling on some sweats, I go to find out what Alicia is finding so funny. The radio’s playing classic nineties as I head down the corridor toward the spare room where all the noise is coming from, and I chuckle to myself as I hear her killing the track by singing loudly over the top of it.

It feels real good hearing her sound like she ain’t got a care in the world. She’s been putting on a brave face every day since we lost Saul, but this morning, she doesn’t sound like she’s putting on a thing.

“Can’t a guy get some sleep around here?” I turn the corner and pause when I see what's got her sounding so happy.

“Sorry, brother, did we wake ya?” Greaser asks, placing the paint roller back in the tray and turning down the speaker. He’s got a cock sure grin on his face that I wanna erase with my fist, and yet Alicia seems oblivious to it.

“Sorry, Vike, I forgot how late you got back last night.” Alicia chews on her lip, looking real pretty with all her wild curly hair tied on top of her head with a bandana. The pair of cut-off denims she’s wearing is open at the front to allow space for hergrowing belly, and she’s got an old band t-shirt resting on top of it, knotted at the front. It’s real hard not to stare when she’s looking this fuckin’ hot.

“Greaser wanted to get started on painting her room.” She balances her paintbrush on the top of the paint tin and wipes her hands on the back of her shorts.

“I told ya I’d get started on it next week.” My voice comes out harsher than I intend it to. “You shouldn’t be doin’ all that stretching, and the fumes ain’t good for the baby,” I remind her, scowling at Greaser for allowing her to put herself at risk.

“Don’t worry, I’m under strict instructions. I’m just doing the edges because someone’s got a heavy hand.” She looks at him and giggles like they have some kinda private fuckin’ joke.

It gets right under my skin.

“Yeah, well, you shouldn’t be doing any of it. Go sit down.” I move into the room and pick up the paintbrush. I can’t help notice that her eyes linger on my bare chest a little too long before she rolls her eyes and steps outta my way.

I get to work, edging around the ceiling while Greaser rolls the light pink paint over the walls, and when he spins around at the same time as I bend to top up my brush, I know he meant for his elbow to hit me in the face.

“Sorry, pal.” He smiles at me sarcastically, and when I glance at the door and see that Alicia’s still lingering, I grit a smile through my teeth at him.

“No bother, I’m sure it was an accident.” I take a deep, calming breath and get back to work.

“You guys have no idea what this means to me,” Alica speaks up a few minutes later. “ I don’t know what I’d do without you both.” She laughs, then bursts into tears.

“Are you okay?” I put down the brush so I can go to her, but Greaser beats me to it. Wrapping one hand around her hip and placing the other hand against her pretty, popped-out tummy.

“She’s fine, these hormones have been kicking her ass the past few weeks. Ain’t they, darlin’?” he answers for her, sounding like he knows fuckin’ better than me. But I’m hardly surprised given the amount of time they’ve spent together lately. Greaser is always calling by unannounced, bringing her shit she don’t need, and hanging around like a shit that won’t fuckin’ flush.

“I’m just grateful to you both.” She laughs at herself and strokes her tummy. “My little girl is very lucky to have such amazing uncles to watch out for her.”

“She sure is.” Greaser taps her bump proudly, and I turn my back and get back to work before I lose my shit and make these walls a different colour.

“Thanks for all your help today, I know Greaser isn’t your favorite person, but the room looks great.” Alicia joins me on the couch and hands me a beer like it’s a peace offering. Greaser left half an hour ago after she went for a shower, and I’ve been sitting here trying to talk myself outta heading into the bathroom and fuckin’ her up against the tiles. Ever since she kissed me, I’ve been wanting her to do it again so I could handle it differently.

“I wasn’t gonna let him have all the fun.” I play it off as nothing. When in reality, I wish he’d drop off the face of the Earth again. Alicia and her baby don’t need him; they got me.

“It’s nice that he wants to be part of all this. I was starting to worry she wouldn’t have many relatives.” Alicia looks down at her stomach, stroking it affectionately.

“Are you kidding? She’s gonna have a whole club full of relatives.” I laugh at her. I don’t mention the fact that she’s also got her parents. I know what a sore subject it is.

“You know what I mean. Greaser’s her real uncle, and his mom may be a little overbearing, but she’s really excited about her granddaughter coming.” She smiles. “It’s important that I let them be a part of this; it’s what Griller would have wanted.”

“Griller would have wanted to be a part of it himself,” I point out, looking back at my club brother in a different light than how I thought I would. I always thought that Greaser and Griller were the rotten apples among us, but I got Griller all wrong. He died protecting Alicia and Peyton. From what I hear, he was crazy in love with her, and I can’t blame the man for that.

“He would have been a great dad. I’m gonna do my best to make sure she knows all about him, and her Uncle Saul, of course.” She nods sadly, and when her lips lift back up into a smile, I know it’ll be because her little girl’s moving around inside her.

“Can I?” I hold out my hand to feel her for myself. I’m always jealous of the way Greaser touches Alicia so freely. Anyone would think the baby she’s having is his from the amount of time he spends with his hands on her.

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