Thunder (Hell's Handlers MC #10) - Lilly Atlas Page 0,86

to pass her off. But Thunder just laughed and held up a hand for a high five, which Emmie happily delivered. Then, as though he seemed to finally realize he and Emmie had an audience, he scanned the room. “What?” he asked the group staring at him with various expressions of surprise.

Izzy, who Mak had learned wasn’t one for subtly, snorted. “I can think of a few reasons to cancel. A few damn good ones.” She folded her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow.

Thunder’s face screwed up, and he shook his head. “Huh?”

These people were way too far up in each other’s business. Izzy clearly meant reasons to give up on the stripping gigs, and she was referring to Mak and Emmie, a fact everyone else in the room seemed to pick up on. Thank God Thunder remained oblivious, though it sure did hit her square in the ego.

And it hurt.

Shit, now the tip of her nose was tingling the way it did before she cried. She blinked rapidly.

Don’t cry. Do. Not. Cry.

Things were better this way. After just one night, she’d begun to spin fairytale fantasies she had no business drumming up. Already, he’d taken up too much of her headspace. Her neurons needed to focus on bettering her family’s situation, not daydream about a man who would never be hers. Thunder being clueless about how his job taking his clothes off for women and possibly having sex with them might make a significant other feel helped her remember her place.

Significant other? The only thing significant was that orgasm she’d had.

God, she had to get out of there before she did something ridiculously stupid like begging him to cancel his gig.

Or cry.

She stood, shoving her chair back so fast, Emmie shrieked. “Well, we should probably get going.” Nothing like depressing introspection and supreme mortification to get someone moving. “Don’t want to wear out our welcome.”

“Pretty sure that will never happen. You’re welcome here any time. In fact, I insist on babysitting more, so please keep me in mind.” Cassie rose as well, putting a hand on Shell’s shoulder to keep her sitting. “I’ll walk you out.”

“I got it, Mama V,” Thunder said, still holding a very content Emmie. “You sit and chat.”

Cassie nodded and sent Thunder a narrow-eyed look. What was that about?

He was walking her out? Why? What did that mean?

And why was she such a cliché with the mental questions?

“Thank you again, ladies.” Mak gave Cassie a long hug then moved on to Shell, who stood as well, her bump making the embrace a bit awkward.

“Give him some time,” she whispered. “This is new for him.”

“Not necessary,” Mak whispered back. “Much better this way.” Stepping back, she gave Shell a grin. Hopefully, her friend bought it. The pressed set of Shell’s mouth didn’t have her feeling too optimistic about her acting skills.

A solid fifteen minutes were eaten rustling up the kids, getting shoes on, and collecting all their belongings. Thunder kept Emmie entertained and having a blast the entire time. Then, he followed them outside to Mak’s beat-up old car. She’d bought the thing for five hundred dollars and said a prayer of thanks every time the engine turned over.

“No Lee today?” he asked on the way.

Mak shrugged. “He’s still at his friend’s house.” Or at least she assumed he was. He hadn’t answered her texts that morning and was supposed to return home more than an hour ago. She refused to let herself freak out. Lee was secure with his friends. He knew how to play the game and keep himself safe. Knew to be cautions. He was well aware of what would happen to all of them if their father or her husband located them. He wouldn’t be reckless.

Please let that be true.

Lee wasn’t the best at making wise decisions these days. He could easily let something personal slip if he’d had too much to drink. There were a million things she should have done differently, could have done better to guide him through his teen years. Now she could only hope she hadn’t done him a disservice, and he had the tools to make wise choices.

“Everything good with him?” As though a seasoned parenting pro, he put Emmie in her car seat and fastened the five-point harness. Anything he did, he made seem effortless. It’d taken Mak a solid twenty minutes to figure out how to put one of the kids in a car seat the first time. He did it so