Page 110 of Wild Card
“Damn, they’re wilder than the dogs, huh?”
“Yeah, there’s a couple who’ll cozy up in the colder months. Won’t be long until Fireball makes himself at home.”
Fireball was easy to spot, a bright orange cat that was winding around Axel’s legs while he tried to move. He paused to give Fireball and a tabby a few pets, then placed the bag of cat food back inside a stack of tires where he kept it.
“All right, we can go now.”
We crossed the junkyard, picking up a few canine followers along the way, and headed over to the house with Loki, Oreo, and Taz on our heels.
Sugar had apparently taken herself somewhere for some peace and quiet.
Axel didn’t bother to knock. He opened the door and walked in like he lived there. I guess in a way, he did? He might stay out at the junkyard, but this was still his family home.
Gray and Emory were coming down the stairs in shorts and tank tops, hair still rumpled from sleep. They both stopped and stared.
“Mornin’,” I said as the silence drew out.
Emory smiled. “Good to see you, Deputy Harvey.”
I winced. “Call me Dalton when I’m not here in an official capacity.”
Gray gave me a once-over. “And what capacity are you here in,Dalton?”
Axel scowled. “You can stop with the inquisition. We’re just here for the shower.”
Holden emerged from the kitchen doorway, a mug of coffee in hand. “You can stay for breakfast. Nothing fancy, just some waffles.”
Axel shook his head. “He doesn’t have time for all that.”
I slipped my arm around his waist, giving him a squeeze. “Oh, I’m not in a hurry. Thanks, Holden. I’d love some waffles.”
Axel huffed a breath. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Maybe just a little.”
He crossed the living room, leaving me to follow along like a puppy. “Come on, let’s get you that shower before Gray and Emory get in there. They’ll fuck around and run it out of hot water.”
“Rude!” Gray called behind us.
“Also accurate,” Holden said with a small smile.
Bailey opened a door and poked his head into the hallway, looking disgruntled. “Why do you guys have to be soloud? I was trying to sleep.”
“It’s late enough,” Holden said. “Come get some breakfast.”
Axel pushed me into the bathroom. “There are towels in the bottom drawer.”
I turned. “Okay?—”
The door closed in my face.
I frowned, a little disappointed he wasn’t joining me, but it wasn’t like we hadn’t already fucked around once this morning. I was getting greedy.
I turned on the water and rinsed quickly, not wanting to keep everyone else from their morning routines when I was the unexpected interloper.
When I emerged, Axel was nursing a cup of coffee at the table. Holden worked the waffle iron while Bailey polished off the last few bites on his plate. Gray was stealing bacon from Emory’s plate, his already bare of anything but a pool of syrup.
“I can’t believe you stole my dog,” Axel said to Holden, trying to look put out, but his eyes gave him away, crinkling at the corners. Here with his brothers, he looked happy. Less guarded.
