Page 25 of Honor Me (Men of Inked 6)
Izzy’s lips pinched together when she crossed her arms in front of her chest and held the glass of wine near her lips. “He’s entirely too serious about this whole situation.”
“Rebel,” I muttered under my breath.
Izzy squeezed her eyes shut. “What’s your point?”
“The man did kidnap you and then—” I couldn’t finish the statement. I didn’t want to either. We all knew what happened to him. After they found him with Izzy, no one ever saw him again.
“I’d never let that happen again. Nothing is going to happen to any of us.” Izzy glanced around the room at each of us, her gaze bouncing from person to person.
“Sure. You’re right.” Angel nodded, giving Izzy a fake smile.
“You know, I’m the only one here who hasn’t been attacked by some crazy ass coming after our men,” I shook my head and grimaced. “Correction.” I swallowed at the memory. “I was never attacked by a crazy girl or for revenge. Derek was just a douche who didn’t realize that no meant no and then there was the guy at the Neon Cowboy.” My voice trailed off and I shivered.
Izzy tomahawk-chopped a carrot and seemed to enjoy it. “Fuckin’ prick should’ve lost his pecker.”
“Angel, Mia, and Izzy are the ones who have already gone through shit for their guys,” Max stated before she started to peel the carrots for the slaw.
“So that means we’re good. Once a lifetime is enough. It’s someone else’s turn this time.” Izzy took a sip of her wine with shaky hands before she picked up the knife again.
I placed my hand over hers. “Just relax a minute. We don’t need any fingers inside the macaroni salad, Iz.”
She nodded and cupped the wine in both hands. “I just can’t believe we’re going through this shit again. I thought everything was over with.”
“I’m sure Thomas, James, and the rest of the guys will get it sorted soon. No one likes living like this,” Angel added when she took a seat next to Max at the table. “They work night and day at trying to track them down. Everyone wants it over, especially Thomas, James, and Sam.”
“Do they have a plan?” Mia asked before dumping the pasta into the mayonnaise mixture she had finished stirring.
Angel pushed her red hair behind her shoulders and grinned. “They do. They don’t share anything with me, but I still hear their conversations.”
Max placed the peeler on the table and smiled at Angel. “You mean you eavesdrop.”
Angel shrugged. “Same thing.”
Everyone laughed.
“So what’s their plan?” Mia asked.
“I don’t think we’ll have another issue with them again.”
I swallowed, almost choking, because I knew what that meant. “That’s illegal.”
Izzy smacked my arm. “You’re such a goody-two-shoes. Do you think the people after them would stop to think if something is illegal, or would they just kill anyone without even a thought?”
“I know.” My hand stroked my throat as I tried to smooth down whatever had gotten lodged. “I just don’t like the sound of it.”
“It’s them or us, Suzy. I rather it be any one of us who comes out alive.”
“Who needs help in here?” James asked when he walked into the kitchen. Every set of eyes turned toward him.
“We’re good,” Izzy said and waved the knife in his direction.
“Hey, sugar,” Joe said, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
I tipped my head back and rested it on his chest. “Hey, baby. You guys done?”
“Yeah.” His hold tightened and he nuzzled his face into my neck. “We thought we’d help so everyone can get the kids and give my parents some time to rest.”
“Oh, please,” Max said and pulled the jar of mayo in front of her. “They’re happy with the babies there. Your ma is in her glory.”
The front door opened and closed before Thomas, Mike, and Anthony appeared in the kitchen. “Who needs help?” Anthony asked and shoved his phone in his back pocket. “Kids are good. I just texted Ma.”
“See?” Max smiled and jutted her chin out.
“What still needs to be done?” Thomas asked after he gave Angel a kiss.
“What did you guys decide?” Mia asked Mike after she wiped her mayo-covered hands on her apron.
“Nothing to worry your pretty little head about, babe.” Mike touched her cheek and cradled her face in his hands.
She punched him straight in the gut, but he didn’t even flinch. “Don’t treat me like I’m a little girl.” He kissed her lips, but she didn’t close her eyes or kiss him back.
Mike just shook his head and sighed. “We talked about how to handle security at the party tomorrow. That’s all, Mia. Everyone will be in one spot, and so we need to keep everybody safe.”
“We could move the party inside,” I offered because I hadn’t thought about how vulnerable it would make us to even have the party.
“No. We’re having the party. We have it covered.” Joe turned me in his arms. “No one wants us to change our lives because someone might be after one of us.”
I stared up into his beautiful baby blues. “But there’s no better reason, babe. Plus, we already changed our lives. I do have Frisco following me around all the time. Remember?”
“I do.” His fingers rested under my chin before he leaned forward. “I don’t like another man around you all the time. It’s my job to protect you.”
“I can protect myself.” I grinned.
“Not funny, Suzy.”
I pouted and rolled my eyes. “Well, why did you teach me to shoot if you don’t want me to use it?”
“It’s for when I can’t be here, princess.”
“Frisco,” I added and stood on my tiptoes, pretending I was going to kiss his lips. “He’s with me when you’re not.”
“Don’t get used to him being here. Soon this will be over, and he’ll be gone.”
“I kind of like having him around all day,” I teased, which earned me a pinch on the ass. I yelped, reaching back to smooth the spot. “You’re the only man I want here all the time.”
“You two are making me ill,” Izzy said from across the room, throwing a piece of celery that hit me in the cheek.
I glared at her, picking the celery piece from my hair and throwing it back at her. “Says the girl who wears a leash.”
“Fuck,” Joe muttered and rubbed his face.
“You’re just jealous.” Izzy stuck her tongue out at me and laughed.
“I kind of am.”
“You’re all dirty whores,” Max added and wiped her hands on a towel. “Coleslaw is done.”
“Macaroni salad too.” Mia rolled out the tinfoil and placed it over the bowl before setting it in the fridge. “I think everything is done, actually.”
I couldn’t help but stare at them all. My family. Years ago, before I met Joe, I’d felt so lonely. I had a sister and parents, but I’d never been as close to them as I was to the people in this room. I never would’ve imagined I could have this in my life.
“Come on, baby. You can blow me on the way to get the kid,” Mike said, untying Mia’s apron before tossing it on the counter.
She peered up at him. “Why don’t you eat me and I’ll drive?”
He rubbed his chin and thought about it for a second. “Impossible.”
Mia’s eyes flicked upward. “Clearly, God is a man.”
Mike leaned forward and invaded her personal space. “I’ll make it worth your while when we get home.” Mike’s eyebrow rose.
Mia crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I want two.”
“Two? Isn’t that a bit greedy?”
Mia tapped her foot and glared at him.
“All right. All right. Two it is.”
“Good,” she said and pulled him by the shirt. “Let’s go, big boy. You’re going to have a busy night.”
“Two what?” Angel asked after the front door closed without even a good-bye.
I shrugge
d. “Whatever it is, I think I want two too.”
“Everyone out,” Joe said, waving his hands.
“Now?” Anthony asked and looked around the room.
“My woman wants two, and I plan to give them to her.”
“Two what?” I asked and turned to face him.
