Page 109 of Wicked Truths

“I doubt it.” Marcus snorts a laugh. “I know I’m not the only one who dreads when it starts to come around time to tour again.”

“Really?” Oakley tilts her head to look at him. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“It’s mostly yours and Liam’s dream at this point,” Sullivan says around a bite of pasta.

Oakley sighs. “You guys should have said something. I’m kind of over constantly being on the road.”

“Me too,” Liam says.

“Look at Matted Whine and Ruin.” Marcus pulls Oakley’s head back down to his chest. “They’re doing the family thing and still performing.”

“We’ve already finished the last round of touring for this contract,” Oakley says. I can’t quite read the look on her face, but the bond says she’s contemplative. “We would be in the perfect place to negotiate, but honestly, there’s no telling if Kenton wants any part of the insanity that is our life. Especially last year, it’s a lot to deal with.”

“He’s young enough to adapt, and he’d have other kids coming from a similar situation to bond with,” Sullivan says helpfully.

“But we also aren’t married,” Liam says, wiggling his eyebrows at Oakley. “And to add on, if I won’t be working then we might need to get hitched to ensure I can stay in the country.”

That is a valid point.

“It is about time we do a pack commitment ceremony or a wedding,” I agree.

“I still don’t think I want to have any biological children,” Oakley says, catching my eyes. “We’ve met so many kids who need a solid foundation…” She shrugs. “I also have zero desire to ever be pregnant.”

“And that’s okay,” I assure her. I knew her stance long before we ever bonded. We talked about it years ago when we were just employer and employee.

“I don’t hate the idea of kids like I used to,” Marcus adds. “I mean look at Ravvi, he’s a cool little guy.”

I grin, nodding my agreement. Lyric and her pack brought him back after one of their trips, and hell, even I was a little jealous.

“We don’t have to make any decisions right now. Let’s talk to our lawyers and see if they can give us any insight into how long the process might take and the laws. That kind of thing.” Oakley gives me a bright smile. “But I think it’s a good idea.”

I grin, stomping over and pulling her out of Marcus’s arms before kissing the hell out of her.

Epilogue

Oakley

I’m sitting at one of the tables at Damian’s Way, flipping through the newspaper as I finish my breakfast early the next morning. The quiet won’t last for long once the kids make it in.

I snort, glancing over an article about Angel Rae. Things sure have taken a turn for the worst for her. Her ramshackle marriage to Johnny lasted a whopping thirteen months before he got arrested for DUI. He had a nice stash of drugs and other illegal paraphernalia, ensuring he actually got solid jail time. His former fame didn’t save him from what he deserves, and that makes me smile.

I don’t care if it’s spiteful.

Angel’s reality show was canceled at the same time and based on the few lines I read in the article; life hasn’t been kind to her. That makes me even happier. Not that we spend a lot of time worrying about her these days. She took the payout from Lyric and Jamen, but it’s nice to see she’s finally reaping what she sowed. Lyric was confident that if left to her own devices, Angel would implode. Marcus doesn’t talk about it often, but I think, for him, the freedom of no longer being faced with her bullshit ended up giving him the peace he was after.

Sometimes people are just awful. You gain nothing by keeping them in your life. There’s something to be said for not allowing them to taint your future happiness.

The paper falls to the table as the door the kids come in slams open. They are a tidal wave of energy every single morning. My gaze lands on Kenton, and I give him a smile. He waves but turns away.

I gasp, dropping my breakfast sandwich and the paper on the table before stomping across the room toward him.

“What in the world happened to you?” I ask, actually afraid to touch his bruised face.

“I fell,” he grunts, moving to walk past me.

“Please, tell me what happened,” I say, squatting down.

His dark eyes flutter. “The bigger kids on the bus wanted my snack. I should have just gave it to them.”

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