Baewatch - Xavier Neal Page 0,85

would honor undercover Johnny Utah.”

We share a round of snickers that are unexpectedly interrupted by knocking on the suite door.

Ax glances over his shoulder before asking me, “Did you order room service, too?”

I quickly shake my head in denial.

Caution is in each of his next actions as he makes his way out of the room and to the front door.

We’re due for a late check out and even if we weren’t – though we are – it’s still way too early in the morning to be kicked out. And, if they didn’t kick us out for the corvina fish sex – fish who fuck so loud it could deafen other ocean creatures – I can’t imagine they’d come to kick us out for being radio silent last night.

I haven’t exactly stayed in a lot of hotels, but I at least know that much.

“What are you doing here?” my fiancé’s voice scoffs loud enough that I can hear it in the room.

There’s a small pause in which I assume the other voice says something, although I can’t hear what.

“She’s in our room,” Ax informs the individual. “We were trying to eat breakfast since not all of us got to enjoy dinner last night.”

Just the word reminds my stomach that we should be rendering that right now.

I reach over for the plate I momentarily banished and resume the devouring of my favorite fruit.

Less than a minute later, Harrison strolls through the door with Ax heavily on his heels, something that pulls an annoyed huff out of him. “Could I have a little space, Scott? You’re so far up my ass I feel like if I got a nosebleed, you’d think you were PMSing or some shit.”

“Men don’t surf the crimson wave, dick,” Ax grumps, shoulder checking his brother on his way back to my side.

“And, we should all thank the lords and ladies of the sea for that,” I giggle before sliding another ring into my mouth.

Harrison shoots me a smirk and shifts his attention back to his brother. “You seem a bit on edge…”

“Could be because I almost lost the love of my life last night.” Ax tilts his head in a taunting manner. “That kind of stress can put even the most pleasant person in a shit mood.”

“That’s why I’m here.” His hands find their way to his suit pockets. “That’s…what I want to discuss with the two of you.”

“You come to defend his inexcusable behavior? Do everything in your power to argue with me over his actions? Deem it was all justifiable by using a weak defense that he’d been drinking or was overstressed or was lashing out because we blinded him with an engagement or-”

“No,” Harrison firmly states shutting his brother up.

The chewing of my last slice of fruit slows down significantly.

“I came to say I stand with the two of you.”

Ax’s head tilts a second time, this one in perplexity.

“I came to say that…April and I stand with the two of you.”

My fiancé’s confusion noticeably deepens. “Wait…hold the board. What?”

“After the two of you left, Harris and Autumn came running into the room. They had heard your voices and were looking for you. They wanted to play with their aunt and uncle.” His eyes gloss over in a mixture of rage and sadness. “Father declared you would never be their aunt. That you were simply someone they should forget. Someone they would never be seeing again.”

Wow.

And, just when I thought he couldn’t get any. Fucking. Worse.

Unlike Captain Hook, I hope the alligator or crocodile takes both his hands.

“Autumn immediately started crying, and Harrison started throwing things, and I don’t know if it was their unified tantrums that was sobering or the fact their mother…a woman who has been groomed to kiss ass and play the part, told him he didn’t get to decide who our kids do or do not associate with.”

I nearly choke on the bite of bagel I’ve got in my mouth. “April said that?!”

“Like…your April?” Ax’s bafflement further bubbles. “Like…the woman you married?”

He nods slowly, a little shock still on his own face. “Yeah.”

“Whoa,” Ax and I retort in unison.

“Quite similar to the inebriated response I fathomed,” Harrison lightly chortles. “But we left shortly after that moment and did something I don’t think we’ve ever really done.” The gaze in his eyes grows serious again. “Talked.”

Thoughtlessly, I snip, “You don’t talk to your wife?!”

“Not about…real shit.” I watch him resist the urge to stop explaining. “Not about the things I should.”

I couldn’t imagine a