they do?”
“This is my home, Dagger. My world. My family. For fuck’s sake, of course I care.” Though I rolled my eyes, I shoved out of their hold, and muttered, “Game on.”
I heard their laughter as I strolled out of the office where we’d been meeting, but as I did, I hollered, “Flame, fix your fucking cut.” No way was he attending with that fucker covered in blood.
Heaving out a sigh, I headed outside. Everyone was there, helping out. It reminded me of the parts I loved about the life. Sure, there were a little more blood-and-guts than I’d have liked, but fuck, wasn’t that everywhere?
Death was the only constant, after all.
Don’t be so grim. It’s a good day. She’ll feel better after this. You know what she’s like. Liked everything in its proper place.
So people didn’t think I was nuts—more than the regular amount of nuts, at any rate—I barely moved my mouth as I replied, “Hasn’t changed all that much in all this time, Ry. Glad you know her. Just wish she knew you better.”
Oh, I have my ways.
“Fuck, I want to cry again,” I whispered, touched at the thought of him helping Ama, getting her through shit when she wouldn’t let anyone else in.
“Momma?”
Quickly blinking, I turned to my son. The little fucker was turning into a dead ringer for Flame with his bright red hair. Both my kids had that mop of fire, but Matty owned it. Seamus tended to have a buzz cut because he said he was going to have to get used to it—I knew he was heading for the Army the second he could.
Fuck.
That was the last thing I needed to be worrying about.
I reached up and shoved my fingers through Matty’s mop. The waves were all over the place, but I’d seen the women eying him up. Let’s just say both sons took after their dad. Fucking sluts wanted a piece of them, and I already knew far too much because Flame would tell me anything I asked even if I didn’t want to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
This life… motherfucker.
What kind of dad took their sons to a fucking strip joint at fourteen?
My sons’ dads. That was who.
So fucking wrong, but they’d done it, and they’d do it again with the baby in my belly—a baby none of them knew about yet.
Hence the fucking maxi dress. Had to hide my pooch somehow, didn’t I?
“Leave it alone, Ma,” Matty grumbled, instantly messing up the waves of hair again.
I scowled at him. “You’re going to brush it for the photos, aren’t you?”
He groused. “It is brushed.”
Eying it like I’d done the last time he had lice, I squinted at him. “Doesn’t look it to me.”
“What’s wrong? You looked like you were crying.”
I shrugged. “Emotional day.”
“You don’t cry,” he muttered, sounding surprised by my admission.
“Yeah, well, I ain’t a fucking monster, son. I cry sometimes. Especially on days like today.”
He pursed his lips. “I should get D-Flame.”
The whole four fathers thing was more complicated with my sons who refused, unlike Ama, to call them ‘Daddy Flame, Daddy Wolfe etc.’ So they’d come up with a compromise.
D-Dagger, D-Axe.
I had one thing to say to that—FML.
“I don’t need anyone hovering around me. A mother is allowed to get teary-eyed on her baby girl’s special day!” I groused, then I shooed my hands at him. “Go on, brush your fucking hair, then come and help with the chairs.”
Though he glared, when I glared back, his shoulders immediately hunched around his ears like he knew I’d box them—and I would. He wasn’t too old for that shit—before he scuttled away.
Wonder if it’s another girl.
“I hope so. Can’t stand another man around the place.”
You’d love it.
My lips twitched. “Of course I would. Didn’t think I’d be having a baby this late.”
You’re not exactly ancient.
“No. But I’ve had three. Thought that was enough. Hope it’s Axe or Dagger’s. That’d be nice. Flame always did like to turbocharge shit. He’s already my baby daddy twice over, doesn’t need to be three times.”
Bet he’d crow.
“Bet your ass he would.” I sighed, stared over the compound which showed our wealth.
Everything was pristine, the lawn, the drive, the clubhouse. I made fucking sure of it. The paint was fresh, the place was clean, and where we were having the ceremony was close to a fire pit we’d had installed years ago.
They’d set up an arbor entwined with wildflowers close by, and chairs had been stacked around. Everyone was invited,