Apollo grabbed his glass and stood. “Well, that settles it. One of us is going to have to go to Royal’s room and tell Bristol it’s time to get back to work.”
Murphy laughed. “Yeah, well, that sounds like Marco’s job because he’s the boss.”
“I am the boss, but that also means you guys are my minions who are meant to do all of my bidding and shit I don’t want to do.” I hadn’t spent years following Leo around and learning the ropes to have to deal with day-to-day bullshit.
“I have a suggestion,” Murphy called. “Why don’t we do like they do in the motorcycle clubs? We all say who we want to go handle the girls. The person with the most votes has to tell Bristol to get back to work.”
“Sounds good to me,” Apollo and Princeton said in unison.
Murphy cleared his throat. “All in favor of Marco going upstairs and getting Bristol back to work.”
Apollo, Princeton, and Murphy all raised their hands.
“What kind of bullshit is this?” I thundered. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
Apollo pointed from Princeton to Murphy and back to himself. “Uh, well, I think we just did.”
Princeton chuckled. “Leo always gets a kick out of the MCs. I bet he would be laughing his ass off right now.”
“Murphy,” I called. “You’re going up to talk to Bristol.”
Murphy shook his head. “Can’t go against the vote, boss.”
“She’ll listen to you, Marco,” Apollo reasoned. “She knows you are the boss.”
“Would you idiots stop calling me boss? I don’t fucking like it,” I growled. It seemed like the humor from the Devil’s Knights had rubbed off on my men.
The loud sound of laughter carried down the stairs.
“Maybe we won’t have to go upstairs. It sounds like the women are headed this way.” Princeton stepped into the hallway and looked in the direction of the stairs. “Good evening, ladies,” he called.
“Princeton,” Greer called. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Almost as good as me seeing the chef and knowing she’s off to cook us dinner,” Princeton replied.
I turned in my chair toward the door. Greer moved in front of Princeton and slugged him on the shoulder. “I see you’re still a smartass and don’t know how to cook for yourself,” she replied.
“Should we really have to cook for ourselves when I’m paying someone to do it for us?” I took a sip of my scotch.
“You really are a grump,” Greer frowned. “Here I thought maybe Royal had made it up.”
Someone scoffed behind Greer. I had to assume it was Royal.
“It’s not made up,” Royal called.
“I’ll just get in the kitchen and start dinner,” Bristol called. “How does veal cutlets sound?”
“Whatever you make is going to taste amazing,” Greer replied. “Though I won’t complain a second if you make your special garlic bread with it.”
“Coming right up,” Bristol called.
At least we had figured out what we were going to do for dinner. Though it was going to be a late dinner.
“I have a plate of crackers and cheese I can put out while dinner cooks,” Bristol called.
“And that is why you still have a job,” I called. “You think of everything, Bristol.” It was like she had known she was going to spend all afternoon hanging out with Greer and Royal.
“Thank you, Mr. Banachi,” she laughed.
“Come on, boys,” Greer called. “I know you’re all starving. Let’s have some wine with those cheese and crackers.”
Apollo moved to his wife and draped his arms over her shoulder. “Sounds like a good idea to me, babe.”
They moved down the hallway with Princeton and Murphy behind them.
Royal waddled behind with her hand on her stomach.
I jumped up from my chair and called her name.
“No,” she drawled.
I caught up with her and gently grabbed her arm. “I don’t want anything from you, Royal. I just want to make sure you are okay.”
She stopped, looked down at my arm, and then back up at me. “I’m not. Let me go.”
“I’m not letting you go when you tell me you’re not okay.”
“Then stop asking me if I’m okay. I’m not going to lie about it.” She tried to jerk her arm free from my hold but I didn’t let her go.
“I don’t know why you’re so mad at me, Royal.” Most of the time, I knew what was going on and didn’t need anything explained to me.
That wasn’t the case when it came to Royal. Yes, Grit was gone, and I was to blame, but it felt like we had managed to move past that yesterday.
“I’m not mad at you.”
That was bullshit. “Then why won’t you talk to me.”
“Because I have nothing to say,” she replied simply.
“I don’t believe you.” I bet Royal had a bunch to say to me. Hell, she probably had a bunch she would love to yell at me, too.
“Come have a drink with me before dinner.”
She rolled her eyes and looked down at her stomach. “I think I’ll pass.”
Idiot. “I can make yours a virgin.”
“Marco, I don’t want to have a drink. I want some cheese and crackers.”
Of course, she did. There was comfort in numbers, so she wanted to be in the kitchen with everyone else. I wasn’t going to force her to talk to me though. “Then let’s get some cheese in you.”
Royal tipped her head back. “Really?”
I let go of her arm and motioned down the hall. “I’m not some animal that is going to force you to do something that you don’t want, Royal. Have I yet?”
“I’m here, Marco.”
“I know.”
She rolled her eyes. “I mean I’m here, and I didn’t choose to be here.”
Well, that was the truth. But that was for her own good. “Name another thing besides that.”
She opened her mouth but closed it without a word.
“You’re here so you can stay safe, Royal. I know I made you come here, but since you’ve gotten here, you’ve been free to do whatever you want. If I had my way, I would have knocked down your door this morning and demanded you talk to me.”
“And you would have had my foot up your butt if you did that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure you would have tried.”
She huffed and stepped away from me. “If I’m free to do whatever I want, maybe I’ll just go back to my room. I’m sure Bristol would be more than happy to just leave a tray for dinner outside my door.”
I clamped down the words in my mouth. Like hell you’re going back to your room. “Whatever you want. I can let her know, if you want.” That was hard as fuck to say.
“I don’t believe you.” She stepped back toward the direction of her room but stopped when she heard Greer’s laughter.
I was pretty fucking pissed when Greer showed up, but her being here might actually help me. She had told me she only had the baby and Indiana left. Maybe she was adding Greer to that list of people she favored.
“There’s no point in making Bristol send up a tray when I’m already here.” She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m eating dinner down here.”
That had worked perfectly. It seemed that reverse psychology was going to be the way to get Royal to spend time with me. “After you.”
Royal wrinkled her nose and glared at me. “I thought you were wanting to have a drink before dinner.”
I nodded to the glass in my hand. “I already had two. I just thought you could use some refreshment.”
“Cranberry juice is about the only refreshment I can have until I pop this baby out.”
I smiled. “I remember you calling dibs on the couch in the media room when that happens. I’m sure Murphy and Princeton can drape some plastic on the floor.” I meant it as a joke, but of course, Royal didn’t take it that way.
“You will not ask them to do anything like that,” she hissed. �
��I’m not some cow who can have a baby wherever.”
“Oh, Royal,” I muttered. “Let’s go get some crackers and cheese.” I didn’t think I could dig myself out of the hole I had jokingly dug. She was out of her room. I wasn’t going to do anything to push her back into it.
“Well… I…” She dropped her arms to her sides. “Fine,” she huffed. She flounced toward the kitchen without a glance back.
I followed behind her and watched the sway of her hips with each step.
Should I be admiring Royal’s ass? Probably not since it seemed like she was back to hating me, but I was just a man. Royal was a beautiful woman, and I couldn’t deny it.
“There you guys are,” Greer called. “Bristol just put the cheese and crackers out.”
Royal moved over by Greer and wedged herself between her and the kitchen counter.
I grabbed one of the stools under the island and sat.
I was taking the small victory of Royal being out of her room and wasn’t going to press her anymore tonight.
She was going to get comfortable being here.
Then we were going to figure out what the hell we were going to be.
Even when Royal was pissed off at me, I still felt a pull to her. I knew she felt it, too. That was why she ran away from me last night. She was confused and figured the way to handle it was to stay away from me.
I would give her time.
For now.
*
Chapter Eight
Royal
I wasn’t going to poop for days if I kept shoveling cheese into my mouth. Bristol had already refilled the tray twice, but I still kept eating.
Marco sat on the other side of the island, and his eyes barely left me. The man was boldly staring at me, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it without drawing attention to it.
“Royal,” Greer called.
I jumped and shoved another piece of cheese into my mouth. No pooping for days. “Yes?”
Greer laughed. “I asked you how warm Destin is right now.”
“Oh, uh, well, it’s warm.” Another piece of cheese into my mouth.
Apollo chuckled. “I think that might be an understatement for Florida.”
“Did you want to eat in the dining room or here?” Bristol asked Marco.
“Here is fine,” he drawled. He sipped his glass of amber liquid and reached for a cracker. “No sense in moving the party.”
Bristol set about laying out dishes. I moved to the drawer and grabbed a handful of silverware.
“You don’t need to do that,” Bristol laughed.
I set the silverware on the counter and shrugged. “No reason why you have to wait on us.” No one had ever waited on me before, I wasn’t about to start now.
“It’s my job,” she laughed. “A job I happen to love.”
I suppose she was right. It just felt weird to have someone I felt was my new friend wait on me.
Greer moved to the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of lemonade. “Grab a couple of glasses,” she called to me. She threw me a wink, and I knew Greer got me.
Bristol set dinner on the island family style while Greer and I got drinks for everyone.
“Where are you going?” Marco called to Bristol when she wiped her hands on a dish towel and moved toward the staff quarters.
“Just holler when you guys are ready for dessert,” she smiled.
“You stay and eat with us, and you’ll know when we’re ready for dessert,” Marco shrugged.
Well, I did not expect that.
Neither did Bristol. She tried to talk her way out of staying for dinner, but Marco didn’t listen to any of it.
“You’re fired if you don’t sit down and have dinner with us.” He reached for a plate and set it in front of him.
Murphy laughed, and Greer rolled her eyes. “I’ve never heard a more inviting dinner invitation before.”
Marco shrugged.
Bristol sighed heavily. “Well, I guess I’m eating dinner with you guys.”
I grabbed a plate and filled it to the brim. Not because I was starving, but because I was delaying having to sit in the only open chair that was next to Marco.
“Have a seat,” Greer laughed. “I remember when I was nine months pregnant with Beau. Any chance I got, I sat. Didn’t matter where I was.”
Apollo chuckled. “She’s not joking either. I remember when we were out for dinner, and there was a wait for the ladies room. Greer grabbed an empty chair from one of the tables and shuffled it along in the line.”
I grabbed my plate and bit the bullet. I sat down next to Marco and pasted a smile on my face.
“Okay?” he asked softly.
“No,” I whispered.
He reared back, shocked.
Maybe I was channeling my inner Sophia a little too much. “I’m kidding.”
Marco shook his head. “Whatever you say, Royal.”
I managed to eat half of my dinner before feeling like I was going to pop.
“Are you done?” Marco asked.
I nodded and leaned back in my chair. The cheese I had shoveled into my mouth was sitting like a lead balloon in the pit of my stomach. “I’m pretty sure if I eat another bite, you’re going to have to roll me back to my room.”
Marco reached for my plate and set it in front of him. “Then I’ll just finish this.” He grabbed his fork and ate my half-finished plate of food like he did it every night.
Greer laughed, and I looked up to see she was looking at Marco and me. “Apollo always finishes my plate for me, too. You should see how upset he gets when I actually finish my plate. Some weird alpha thing.”
“It’s…different,” I drawled.
Bristol made a skillet brownie for dessert and pulled out the ice cream to top each piece with a scoop.
I groaned and held up my hands. “I can’t eat another bite. I’m now wondering if I’m going to have a food baby on top of having a human baby.”
Bristol laughed. “I get that feeling quite often. Well, except for the actual baby part.”
“You can give Marco my piece,” I laughed. He had done such a good job at finishing my dinner, that he could easily put away my dessert.
Marco waved his hand. “I’m gonna have to skip dessert tonight. Put mine up for later, Bristol.”
Marco’s phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket. He glared at the screen. “I need to take this.” He slid off his stool and stalked out of the kitchen.
“Oh hell,” Apollo muttered. “I better go see what the hell is going on.” Apollo followed behind with Murphy and Princeton trailing after.
“And then there were three,” Greer laughed. She reached for a plate with a brownie on it. “I guess that means I get to eat Apollo’s share this time.” She grabbed the spatula from Bristol and flipped another piece of brownie onto her plate. “How about we take this to the media room and continue our Golden Girls marathon?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I mean, why not?” Marco was rather annoyed I was staying my room, so if I camped out in the media room with Greer and Bristol, he couldn’t be grumpy at me.
Bristol pulled two bottles from the fridge and held them up. “You grab the brownie and I’ll bring the sparkling wine and wine.”
“Did you get me non-alcoholic wine?” I laughed.
Bristol shrugged. “It was on the list this morning. If it’s on the list, I buy it.”
We headed to the media room, and I plopped down on the comfiest comfy couch in the world.
“I’m totally having my baby right here,” I sighed.
“Uh, really?” Bristol asked. She set the pan of brownies on the table by the TV and twisted off the top to the non-alcoholic wine. “You think your doctor would be okay with that?”
“Doctor?” Greer asked when she walked into the room. She set three wine glasses on the table next to the brownies. “Do we need one?”
I shook my head. “I think I’m good.”
“Do you have one here?” Greer
asked. She sat down on the couch next to me and grabbed the TV remote. She turned it on the TV and started the next episode of the Golden Girls.
“Uh, well, no.” That was on the list of things I needed to do yet. Indiana and I had both said I needed to find a doctor to deliver the baby, but I didn’t have a chance to get around to it.
“Don’t you think that’s something you should have?” Bristol asked. She sat down in one of the recliners and moaned loudly. “Oh, my God. I don’t know how these chairs can be like sitting on a cloud, but they are.”
Greer stood and moved to a large trunk on the side of the room. She pulled out two blankets and handed one to Bristol. “I’m sure Marco and Apollo already thought about it. I bet there is a doctor on call at a minute’s notice.” She sat back down next to me and draped the banket over both of us.
“You think?” What kind of mom was I? I hadn’t even thought about how I was going to have this baby while I was holed up here. “Maybe I should call the local hospital or something.”
Greer shook her head. “As crazy as it sounds, I know Apollo and Marco have everything under control when it comes to that baby.”
I leaned my head back on the couch and sighed. “I hope you’re right, otherwise you and Bristol are going to help bring this baby into the world.”
“No, no,” Bristol laughed. “I am not at all skilled in the knowledge of giving birth. Though I did see a cow give birth one time.”
Greer twisted around to look at Bristol. “Does that story have anything to do with your cousin Alice?”
Bristol burst out laughing. “You know it.”
“Who is Alice?” I asked. I hadn’t heard that name when I was at the clubhouse, and Bristol had never mentioned her before.
“My cousin,” Bristol laughed. “She met a guy in a motorcycle club and now has a pet cow.”
I must have been the only who thought that was a bit weird. An ol’ lady in a motorcycle club and she had a pet cow? Those two just didn’t seem to go together. “That you watched give birth?” I asked. That was a story I didn’t see coming.
Bristol shook her head. “I watched her cow’s mom give birth to her.”
I blinked slowly. “I don’t even know where to begin my questioning.”
Royal Mess (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation Book 3) Page 6
