My Maddie (Hades Hangmen #8) - Tillie Cole Page 0,123
be the one to tease it—my little snake-tamer. Oh shit. Not little. My fucking massive, asteroid size, snake tamer. I took some pictures just to celebrate its glory. You wanna see?” I shook my head. I didn’t want to see it.
“Great,” a voice said from behind. “We hearing about the fucking Anaconda again?” Ky stood beside us. “Vike, at this point I know more about your dick than I do about my own.”
“As it should be,” Viking said.
Rudge came and placed his hand on Vike’s shoulder. “You wankers talking about his cock, again?”
“As it should be,” Vike repeated, bowing his fucking head.
“It’s worth the reputation. I’ve seen it.” Rudge shrugged. “If that was mine, I’d walk around with my cock hanging out every fucking day. Get every piece of pussy in the club creaming.”
The door opened, and Ruth and Stephen came in. They went straight to Bella, Rider and Mae. Mae and Bella hugged their father. “Motherfucker,” Viking hissed. Vike pushed his hair back from his face and approached Ruth. “M’lady,” he said, and took hold of her hand. He pressed a kiss to the skin on the back.
“Hello, Viking,” she replied, and pulled back her hand.
“Enquiring minds wanna know what you’d like to drink?” Viking said.
“I will get them, Viking,” Stephen said, moving toward the bar.
Viking stood in his path. “No one asked you.”
“Okay,” Stephen said, eyebrows pulled down. Ruth stood beside Stephen. Viking’s face went red. I didn’t know why. “Nevertheless, I shall get the drinks.”
“Having fun living in your new cabin?” Viking asked Stephen and Ruth, his gaze bouncing between them.
“Yes, thank you,” Ruth replied. Stephen nodded.
“So,” Viking said, folding his arms over his chest. “Y’all fucking?” The place grew fucking quiet.
“Viking!” Mae called and got to her feet. She stood beside her father. “How dare you be so rude!”
Viking shrugged. “Simple enough question.” Ruth dropped her eyes.
“Viking, step the fuck back from my mama.” Rider now stood in Viking’s path.
“It’s okay,” Stephen said, and put his hand on Viking’s shoulder. I thought Viking might break it. “Viking. I do not know why you care, but Ruth and I are friends. Best friends. That is all.”
“I don’t fucking believe you,” Viking said back. His eyes were narrow.
Stephen smiled wide. “I promise, Viking. I have no interest in Ruth that way, or indeed any other woman, for that matter. I am no threat to a man like you.” Stephen walked off. Viking’s mouth swung open as Maddie’s old man ordered drinks from the bar. I didn’t stay to hear the rest of the conversation because the door opened behind me.
I turned. AK and Phebe were already through. AK flicked his chin at me. “Vike being an asshole again?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, not knowing if he was or was not. He was just being Vike. AK waved to Vike. Phebe held out her hand in the direction of the hallway, and Sapphira walked into the bar. I hadn’t seen her in months. She stayed close to Phebe’s side. I heard a glass smash behind the bar. Turning, I saw Ash staring at her, before he turned his head and got on with the cleaning up.
I heard Beatrix before I saw her. Her cry pierced the fucking air and I ran to the door. Maddie was carrying her inside. “Shh, my heart,” Maddie said, kissing Beatrix’s cheek.
“Maddie,” I said and moved to where she stood. Maddie smiled at me, making my fucking heart stop.
“She is being fussy. She is tired but refuses to sleep.” Maddie stepped closer to me. “Here, she settles better for you.” I stayed lock still as Maddie placed our daughter in my hands. The minute I held her, all the twitching of my skin stopped. Beatrix stopped crying and she looked up at me. Her eyes were now green… they were Maddie green. Beatrix was as beautiful as her mama.
Maddie kissed me on my cheek as I brought Beatrix to my chest. “I will never tire of seeing you hold her. I cannot think of a single sight that would leave me as happy as this.” I stared down at Beatrix as her eyes started closing. Maddie laughed and I fucking melted at the sound. “Of course she sleeps for you.” Maddie walked to the door. “Let us go in.”
I followed Maddie to the table where her sisters sat. I sat beside AK. He leaned over and ran his finger down Beatrix’s cheek.
“Where’s my girl?” Viking boomed. Maddie and her sisters all shushed him at once.