Thunder (Hell's Handlers MC #10) - Lilly Atlas Page 0,91

leaned back and began tossing the ball again. “Forget all your head shit. Just answer it based on gut and dick, okay?”

Thunder watched him from the corner of his eye. “Okay…”

“Do you want her? Do you wanna fuck her again? Do you want to be the only one fucking her? Do you want to be fucking only her? And do you want other shit too? Meals, hanging with her family—because you know bailing on those won’t be an option. Being there for her when her day sucks. Having her be there for you. Dates, good times, bad times. Do you want it?”

Did he want it? Yes. His gut, his head, and something deep in his chest resonated with everything Screw said. His dick? Well, sure, that was easy. Fuck yes, he wanted Mak to be fucking him and him alone, and he had no interest in sticking it anywhere else either. Instead of sending him for the hills, the picture Screw painted sounded…nice. Perfect, actually.

“Yes, I want it. I want her, but—”

“Nope.” Screw held up a hand. “No buts. No telling me you’ll fuck it up, or you don’t deserve that shit. You’re a good fucking guy, T. Shit, I’ll owe you forever for catching Jeremy the day he blew up the diner. Who knows what he’d have done to Jazz if you hadn’t caught him. You want her, take her, brother. The rest of the shit is just work. If she wants you too, you work together.”

“That easy, huh?”

With a half snort, half laugh, Screw stood. “Fuck no, it’s not easy. Hardest thing I’ve ever done some days. But I’m not afraid of hard. Neither are you. And trust me when I tell you it is so fucking worth it. Pun intended.” Screw winked then headed toward his kitchen. “Need something stronger than beer to counter all these feelings. Want something?”

“Yeah, man. I’ll take whatever you’re having.”

When Screw disappeared into the kitchen, Thunder pulled out his phone and opened a text message to a buddy of his.

Got a gig I can’t make tonight. Bachelorette party with extras. Want it?

Not five seconds later, he had his answer.

Fuck yes. Send me the deets.

After texting the details, he also messaged the party’s hostess, claiming illness, but letting her know he’d found an incredible replacement up for anything the ladies wanted. She’d been disappointed, and he could feel the annoying pout through the phone, but once he’d fired off a topless pic of his replacement, she’d perked right up and forgiven him.

As Screw sauntered back in with a glass in each hand, Thunder shot to his feet. “Sorry, brother, I gotta go.”

“You cancel your gig?” Screw set the glasses on the coffee table.

“Yep.” He stowed his phone and held his fist out to Screw, who gave it a bump. “Thank you.”

“Anytime, man. Anytime. Gotta do something with all this newfound maturity and shit.”

Rolling his eyes, Thunder practically sprinted out the front door. As he reached his bike, Screw stuck his head out the front door.

“Make sure she knows she wouldn’t have gotten more of your dick tonight if it wasn’t for me!” he shouted, neighbors be damned.

Thunder revved his engine and shot down the street, flipping Screw off in the process.

“Maturity, my ass,” he muttered, unable to keep the huge grin off his face.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“AND AFTER WE watch Frozen—the second one—and eat the ice cream, we can watch Trolls World Tour while we eat the cookies, and after that—”

“After that, you’ll be passed out in a sugar coma.” Mak laughed. Nothing like sweets and animated movies to get her normally shy sister running her mouth like a chatterbox. She pulled the shopping cart to a stop behind her car. “Remember, I told you ice cream or a few cookies. Not both.”

“I know,” Kara said in a tone that let Makenna know the issue wasn’t dead. Not by a long shot.

“I yike cookies!” Emmie said from her seat in the cart.

The seven-year-old Kara would be lobbying for a second treat the moment she finished her first. Mak couldn’t begrudge her the move. Whenever frustrated with the kids for classic kid behaviors, she reminded herself the annoyance was a privilege. Giving her siblings a stable and normal childhood experience had been the goal. Arguing over snacks seemed a pretty good indicator of normal when it came to children.

After loading the groceries in the trunk, while Kara continued to chatter on about the movies they planned to watch once home, Mak turned to grab Emmie. “Ready