Chapter 26
“I love you.”
Blake motherfucking Vitale said he loved me! My heart was still firmly lodged between my rib cage, creating an ache on my left side. I was too overwhelmed.
He loves me?
Was he stupid? Maybe Blake had tripped and hit his head on the way out of here. It wasn't impossible, it was slippery as fuck outside. January was a bitch; we had more negative degree weather where it felt like even the blood coursing through my veins froze the moment I stepped out the door.
"Yeah, that's it," I muttered to myself.
Blake had hit his head and was seriously hurt. That's why he said it. I stopped in my tracks and rushed out of the apartment. No socks or shoes. All I put on was a pair of sweats that did nothing to shield me from the biting cold. I made it to the first floor and walked outside, regretting it the moment my toes touched the ice cold pavement. Slush crunched under my heels as I looked up and down the sidewalk. Nothing. No blood, no Blake.
I opened our messages and stared at his name, contemplating how to word my questions. My stomach twisted. I wanted to ask, but I feared the answers at the same time. What if I was right and it wasn't what he meant? The more I thought about it, the more my head hurt. I pressed my fingers to my temple and headed back inside before I caught pneumonia.
Our place was hot as fuck but compared to outside, I was thankful for it. I slouched back down on the sofa staring ahead, unsure what I was supposed to do.
My phone rang and I answered it without looking.
"Blake, what you said?—"
"Mr. Adachi, this is Lenard Hoffmen, from?—"
Agitation at it not being Blake burned the inside of my chest. Why in the fuck wasn't it my husband? I needed to hear his voice more than ever. "I know who you are. Look, I'll move my mom soon. I just need a little more time?—"
"No, that's not why I'm calling." His sullen voice gave me pause, and instantly, I was sitting up straighter.
My gut clenched as an uneasy feeling crept over my shoulders. "What?"
"I don't know how to tell you this, but the building is on fire."
Everything around me stopped as the most vile and disgusting feeling crept up. Excitement. I snuffed it out and slapped a hand over my mouth. I avoided the mirror hanging in the living room that Blake had added as decor recently. I couldn't stomach the sight of the smile that I knew was on my face. She was my mom, and yet I couldn't deny the relief at the thought of her death. Just as fast as those emotions came about, guilt and regret came right along with them. I was instantly hit with the fact I'd lost the only other parent I had.
"The firefighters are putting everything out, but I haven't gotten any word that your mother was amongst the people escorted out of the building." He cleared his throat as if he didn't want to say anymore. "The fire started in her unit."
Of course it did. That place was one broken wire or lit cigarette away from going up in flames. As much as I detested my mother at the moment, I loved her all the same. I still craved the motherly love that I knew wasn't there. Some would say I was a sucker. I'd have to agree. I was raised by a woman who never wanted me in the first place, and made sure I knew it.
"Okay," was all I could muster. I know I should have been jumping up with joy at the possibility of her survival and a part of me was. But it was too buried under pain and hurt at the moment. "Thank you for telling me.”
"I’m sorry. I hope she's okay. Maybe she went shopping before the fire started," Lenard said.
That would only make matters worse. She'd need more stuff and another place that I'd have to take care of. The first few weeks of her new environment, I'd be forced to stay by her side. It never failed when all her precious things were gone, she turned to me. And every time, I was there soaking in the facade of parental adoration and love. Whoever said a parent's love was unconditional had never had the pleasure of growing up like me.
I hung the phone up, not willing to talk any longer with him than I needed to. I wish Blake was home . My phone was heavy in my hand as I waited on bated breath. After thirty minutes of sitting there unable to move, I forced myself to get up. I dressed and packed a bag.
I don't want to go. Maybe this time will be different.
Even as I hoped, I knew it was futile.
I’m a shit son.
Bile burned the back of my throat as the guilt continued to build inside of me. I grabbed my phone and dialed the first pawn shop. Five others followed, including a few thrift stores. None of them had seen my mother today.
My stomach started to hurt the more I began to assume my mother was, in fact, dead. What have I done? I wasn't there for her. Didn't care enough to get her a bigger place and help her somehow. Even as I blamed myself, in the back of my head, I kept giving reasons why this wasn't my fault, but that voice was too small and too used to being beaten down.
Ringing cut through the thrashing sound of my blood rushing. I grabbed it, staring at the screen without really seeing it. This was it. The call to tell me she was dead, and I needed to come and identify the body. The smell of flesh burning hit my nose, and I swallowed back the puke that threatened to come out.
I hit the green button and brought it up to my ear, unable to say anything. I was barely breathing.
"Hey, Quincy, I'm on my way back finally. We just passed that hole in the wall pizza place you like. Want something to eat?" Blake’s voice was the last thing I expected to hear.
How long had it been? I pulled the phone away from my ear, finally able to make out Baby Girl on the screen with three water droplet emojis.
"Blake."
There was a moment's pause, silence filling the line as I pressed the phone back against my face.
"Quincy, what's wrong?"
I swallowed thickly, trying to get the words to come out. "I—She—" Any way I tried to start, it got stuck.
"Harlow, hurry up. Something’s wrong. I don't know, but I need to get to him." Blake called for me once more. "Breathe and tell me what’s happened. Who do I have to kill?"
No one because she was gone. My stomach twisted. "I'm the one who does the murdering." Talking to Blake unknotted something deep down.
"Doesn't mean I don't know how."
I smiled despite everything that was happening. I blew out a breath. "I need you home."
"Almost there, I swear."
I didn't deserve reassurance, but I soaked it in like a sponge. Maybe she'd been right about me and how I'll so easily ruin someone’s life. Would I ruin Blake’s?
"Did something happen, Quincy?" Blake asked again.
I nodded but still wasn't able to say anything. I sat on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Blake was thankfully chatty enough for the both of us.
"I should cook tonight, anyways. How about the gnocchi soup you like? It’s sure as fuck cold enough."
All I could muster was a nod. My emotions were all over the place. If I thought I was messed up before, I had no idea how to navigate the landmine that was my head now.
"We have Gin's baby name thing next week. He sent out the official invite, it's going to be a lot." Blake kept talking about nothing and everything all once.
The comfort I received from his voice alone was enough to lull me into a state of emptiness. I was no longer crawling out of my skin, there was nothing. The only thing that would make this better was if I was high. I scrambled up the bed and found one of our many joints in the nightstand. I lit it, and the moment I sucked in a breath, it was like a balm to the edges of my psyche. I laid back down, smoking until I heard the front door open and I could hear Blake in person and over the phone at the same time.
"What’s wrong?" he asked. Blake was on the bed, breathing heavily as he stripped out of his coat and reached for me. His fingers were cold from being outside.
I buried my face in his shirt and breathed him in as I let the phone drop. There was our shared body wash along with the scent that was uniquely him. I took in another shuddering breath. His fingers played with my pink curls. I sighed, relaxing further. As I breathed him in more, I paused as something faintly tickled the back of my mind. There was a sour note that clung to only the fibers of his clothes. One I’d know anywhere. It was what I grew up with and had soaked in my entire life.
"Blake, where is my mother?"
His eyes widened, only confirming my newfound suspicion. I was up, staring at him with a blank face. I wasn't sure what to think.
"How did?—"
"You didn't." I was up and out of bed in a flash. I wanted to defend her, but all I had was that she was my mother who was shitty to me.
"They were calling so often, and any time you had to go there, you came back so fucked. I couldn't keep letting her treat you like shit."
My stupid heart fluttered at his words. "That doesn't mean you—" I couldn't even say it.
"Yes, the fuck it does! You're with me, Quincy, you're my husband and that means I will do anything and everything for you. Even if it means burning your mom’s place down and sticking her in a fucking home."
"What?" I stared at him, my mouth hanging open.
"I didn't want to ask you because you have a soft spot for her I will never understand. She is such an evil bitch who doesn’t give a damn about anyone but herself." His voice grew louder with every word out of his mouth. "Some people don't even need to have children. I'm sorry you had to grow up?—"
I tackled him down to the bed and kissed him hard. Blake's shock was short lived as he kissed me back. Our tongues twisted together as we each tried to devour one another.
"Thank you," I finally said between kisses.
"You're thanking me?"
I nodded, a laugh hanging on my lips. “I thought she was dead, and I was spiraling for feeling relieved. I'm glad you didn’t kill her. Yeah, she’s awful, but… I can’t be the reason she’s dead.”
Blake nodded as he traced my temple. “I understand.” He frowned. “You know what she told you isn’t true, right?" When I didn’t say anything, Blake nipped at my lips. “Fine, I’ll prove it to you.”
“But I’m like both of them,” I admitted. Those words had never been spoken out loud. But in the far reaches of my mind, I saw it constantly. “I don’t want to go down in flames like they both did.”
Blake kissed me again. “I won’t let you end up like her.”
All I could muster was a weak nod. Blake kept surprising me. Whenever I thought he was the best person I’d ever had in my life, he’d top it and do something new that blew me away.
“Just for the record, I wanted her dead. Harlow was in agreement, but I was strong and only burned all her shit.”
I snorted out a laugh. How often had I dreamt of all the shit she called treasure going up in flames? Just for my husband to do it for me. “Thank you. If it was up to me, I would have never gone through with it."
His blue eyes glistened as he brought my face closer to kiss me more. "I'd do anything for you, Quincy."
All the love I never thought I could have for someone came rushing forward. "I love you, Blake."
His smile was slow, but brighter than anything I'd ever seen. "I love you too."
"You sure?" I asked, my fingers curled into the waistband of his jeans, and I pulled them down.
Blake lifted his hips without question. The moment his pants were off, he slapped me in the back of my head.
I grunted, grabbing his wrist and slamming it down on the bed. "Watch it, baby girl."
"You're an idiot. Of course I'm sure. I love you."
I licked my lips. He had no idea what those three words were doing to me. "I'm going to make sure you can never love anyone but me for the rest of our lives."
Blake's eyes widened. "You mean as long as I live."
I shook my head. "You go, baby, I go. If I'm dying, I will take you with me." My hand wrapped around his cock, stroking slowly, tracing every vein that lined his length. "I can't live without you, and now, I can't die without you either."
Blake's breath caught as he flexed his hips up, meeting my hand with a greedy groan. "Yeah? You need me that badly, huh?"
He had no clue. "そう、呼吸をする以上に君が必要なんだ。今から永遠に、あなたは私のすべて。" Yes. I need you more then I need to breathe. From now on and forever, you are my everything.
Blake stared at me, waiting for me to translate, but there was no amount of words that could express what I planned on showing him. Our clothes vanished as we grappled at each other with desperate hands. I couldn't get to him fast enough. There was no amount of patience in the world that could have me waiting for another second. I fumbled with the lube, squeezing a healthy amount on Blake's cock.
I thought I’d have to beg him to ignore the prep and just fuck me, but Blake was just as mindless as I was right now. The head of his cock pressed against my hole, building pressure that intensified as he pushed forward. My body caved under him, opening up as he filled me with every inch of his length. My breath caught the moment his pelvis slapped against my ass.
The need to shout burned the back of my throat. My lips parted, but no words came out, only a desperate needy sound that was achingly close to a whimper. I didn't want soft and slow. I wanted him to fuck me like he would die without me.
Our gazes locked as Blake pulled back and slammed forward. The zaps of pleasure trickled up and down my spine, making every fine hair on my arms stand on end.
It feels so good.
Blake set a punishing pace, hitting my prostate with every thrust. I swore he was trying to break my body and mind. I'd only be able to get it up with his cock in me if he kept doing this. I swallowed my moans, only allowing the bare minimum out.
"Why are you being quiet?" Blake grunted. His face screwed up in concentration. His dark strands fell over his face, and I moved them to the side. "Oh, I get it. I'm not driving you crazy enough."
Before I could say anything, Blake was moving my legs like I was a rag doll. He folded me to his liking, and plunged back into my ass. His fingers pressed into my flesh as he forced my knees to touch my chest. His pants mixed with my moans filled the space up with the sounds of us owning one another. I wish I had a camera set up somewhere. This would be engraved in my memory forever. Blake was the first man to love me and he'd be the only one I loved back.
Pleasure slammed down on me as Blake changed the angle just slightly. The guttural moan that escaped me sounded strangled as my husband forced more sounds out of me. He hit a spot deep inside and had stars bursting in the back of my eyelids. I was cumming before I could even comprehend it, untouched.
"Fuck, Quincy. You're so fucking tight," Blake hissed. He slowed down, breathing heavily as he stared at me like a madman.
Cum decorated my torso and my chin. "Baby girl?"
"I want to do that again."
There was no way I could cum that hard again, but before I could say anything, Blake was moving once more, pounding into me as if he needed to prove something. My ass clenched around him in spasms as pleasure continued to rain down over my overly sensitive body. Pain joined the mix and I was fucking goner. Ecstasy dragged me back under the chaos that Blake was unleashing on my body, and I was reduced to moans all over again.
"I love you. Love you. Love you. Love you. Love you. Love you," my chant built more and more as Blake fucked me.
His laughter only made my stomach twist with desire. "Am I breaking you, Quincy?" He lowered himself, moving my legs out of the way. I quickly wrapped them around his waist and pressed my heels into his ass cheeks, urging him to continue. To never stop. "Mine, you're all mine." The possession in his voice filled me with so much happiness, it only made me yearn for him more.
I nodded, pulling him in for a kiss and biting down on his lip. The tang of copper joined the mix and only seemed to heighten the already charged kiss.
"Come on, baby girl. Cum in me." I ran my tongue over the shell of his ear as I met his fevered thrusts. "Own me inside and out."
"Fuck. I love you, Quincy." He shoved my head back down and took my lips in a chaotic kiss. Our teeth clinked together as our tongues fought with each other. It was as if we both weren't close enough even with his cock in my ass and his tongue down my throat. I wanted more.
“Don’t worry,” he groaned. “I would never miss out on breeding your tight ass. Not even for a second. You need to be stuffed full of my cum. Don’t you, Quincy?”
I nodded feverishly. “Yes, yes. Need it.”
He cooed. “So easy and breedable for me. How could I ever tell you no?”
Blake's hand wrapped around my dick and I was a goner before I couldn't fathom a single thought. My eyes rolled back as my husband's thrusts faltered. The sounds he made, I greedily swallowed them and mentally begged for more as I continued to kiss him. The first hot splash of his cum was the catalyst that turned my climax into a full-body orgasm.
Pleasure erupted from the pit of my stomach, and sank into every fiber of my being. I was left in a pure state of euphoria as I laid under my husband. His cock was still nestled inside of me, and I had half a mind to beg him to keep it in.
Blake grunted as his softening cock finally slipped out. He rolled off to land on the bed next to me. The silence that followed wasn't the least bit awkward. If anything, I felt more at peace then I had smoking prior to his arrival. My mind was blissfully blank, and I had no one to thank but the man who meant the world to me now.
I turned over, tossed a leg over Blake and drew him practically underneath me. This had been all I ever wanted.
"We're getting matching tracking devices," I blurted out.
"Fine, but I get to choose the colors. Knowing you, it will be neon pink or tangerine orange."
Those were good colors. I shoved him. "Fuck you, I have good taste." I pushed at him. "Don't forget we have to go shopping for Gin and Ash's baby name day thingy."
Blake grunted. "Thought I gave you money for that?"
I pressed my knife against the back of his neck. "Are you calling me a deadbeat?"
"No, more like a trophy husband." He turned his head, a smile on his face that instantly warmed my heart. Fucker. I was going to get back to work soon. I'd be damned if I was going to be taken care of like some pillow princess.
Gift in one arm and my husband in the other, we headed toward Giancarlo's and Ash's place. It was a nice house, homey and relaxed, with three steps leading to the front door. Music could be heard all the way on the sidewalk.
"You ready, peaches?"
Blake fidgeted; it didn't matter how often we interacted with his family, there was always this air of awkwardness about my husband. Like he wasn't sure what to do with so many people who had his back. I knew the feeling all too well. Because of him I had that now too.
I squeezed his hand and his startling blue eyes flickered up to meet mine. January was a bitch, colder than December. The bite of frost colored his cheeks a stark red. I cupped his face, rubbing my thumb over his cheekbone, and trying to bring warmth to it.
"You go out and do crazy shit with your brothers all the time," I pointed out.
He nodded. "Yeah, but this will be real family time. A house full of them laughing and joking around." His laughter was short and more awkward than comforting. "I know it sounds stupid. Shit, it sounds stupid to me. Who the hell gets anxious when hanging out with family?"
I pulled him close, kissing him and loving the way his flesh instantly warmed at my touch. I pulled back and clouds of cold air pillowed between our parted lips. "People like us, baby girl. We're not alone anymore." I kissed him again. “And you’re still getting to know them. Give it time.”
"This is the gayest shit I've ever seen," Giancarlo's voice broke through our moment. "You two planning to freeze your dicks off out here as you lock lips?"
I flipped off the Vitale twin. "I don't want to hear shit from you. I’ve heard what you've done in the board meeting room." I pulled Blake along with me as we entered the house. The heat instantly hit me and dragged out a contented sigh.
"Who told you?" Gin asked. His dark gaze went right to my husband.
"The whole floor knew," Blake said. He shrugged out of his coat. "I might have even had to shut down the security camera that my older brother conveniently forgot about."
Gin's eyes widened along with his smile. "Oh fuck. Please tell me you kept it."
Blake stared at his brother, his brows dipped in confusion. "Why in the hell would I? I still need to pour bleach in my eyes."
"Man, that would have been perfect blackmail. I want another baby, and Ash is holding out on me. Said we can't fuck as much cause we got a baby now." Gin looked like he was ready to scale a wall.
"He didn't seem that against it at work," Blake muttered.
I had no idea what happened there, but one of my favorite pastimes as of late was listening to Blake talk about his legit job as head of security at Vitale Construction. Not worrying about money was great. Blake got paid a shit ton from the legitimate business as well as the work he did for Benito. However, it was starting to get under my skin that I couldn't shower him with the same attention. Not to mention the boredom. I spent yesterday contemplating how to kill our upstairs neighbor. His heavy as fuck feet never failed to trample around the place for hours on end. I swore he was a professional elephant imitator.
"Come on, you two are the last ones to arrive," Paolo said, poking his head around the corner.
Two other sets of eyes came into view. Big, brown eyes landed on me as the twins raced in my direction. I grabbed them into a tight hug.
"Uncle Quincy," Navy shouted. It felt good to be Uncle Quincy now that I was officially part of the family.
She was the first one to me and we fist bumped followed up with three high fives and a twist of our fingers. The handshake was elaborate as we finished out and Nyra took her spot to do our own.
"That's not fair! How come you guys don't have a secret handshake with me?" Gin whined.
"Yeah, me either," Paolo joined in, glaring at me.
I raised my hands, moving around them. "I'm cool. You two are boring."
The girls giggled as they went for Blake.
"Hey, Uncle Blake."
My husband's smile was genuine. He opened his arms and both girls surrounded him. He stared down at them as if he'd torch the earth for them. Knowing Blake, he would do it.
"I know that face. Don't worry, I'll share some of my research with you on how to get pregnant. There are all types of moves to make sure the seed takes," Gin said.
As fucking stupid as he sounded, I nodded. There was no harm in trying.
The girls ran back over toward us. "Papa Paolo, can we go play with Molly now?"
He nodded as if he had the ability to tell them no. I was pretty certain the girls had every single person in the family wrapped around their fingers.
"Please stop roping people into your form of stupidity," Benito said to Gin. He had a glass of dark liquor in one hand and a cupcake in another. It wasn't exactly what I pictured the head of the Vitale family to be doing, but then again, he was an odd man.
Harlow came over, holding Emica in a fluffy pink dress with more bows than fabric. "Ash, your man is over here trying to convince people to have babies," Harlow shouted.
Ash's head popped up. His doe shaped eyes widened more as he searched for his fiancé.
"Everyone is a fucking snitch in this family," Gin grumbled and headed right over to his man. In Ash's arms was the baby. He was much bigger than the last time I’d seen him. He was dressed in a little tiger button up with black jeans. The few strands on his head were brushed down, leaving a single curl in the middle. The moment Gin was near them, his demeanor softened even more and he cooed at the baby.
"I hate to say it, but I think this baby was the best decision he's ever made," Benito said. “Even if he bought him.”
“I didn’t buy him!” Gin interjected. “The mother wanted a new life, and I gave her the opportunity. Just because I outbid the other parents…”
I blinked at Gin. “Yeah, I’m not sure that’s how that works. Like at all.”
Gin shrugged. “Works for me. He gets a home, we get a baby. Every problem solved!”
Harlow grunted, ignoring us both. "Well, Ash has said that Gin makes sure to be home every night if he can. And something about him taking some parenting classes."
"Who?" Blake asked as he made his way to my side. My arm instantly draped around his shoulders.
"Your crazy brother."
Blake looked around the room before meeting my gaze. "Again, who? They’re all crazy."
"Watch it," Benito warned, moving with Harlow the moment Emica started fussing.
Blake looked unfazed by Benito's warning and shrugged.
"Gin," I answered him.
"Oh, good for him." He grabbed my hand once more just as Ash came over, no longer holding the baby.
"Hey, Quincy and Blake. Thank you so much for coming."
I handed him the gift and he took it with a grin. "You guys didn't have to. We already have so much stuff." Ash passed us both a pen. "It's to keep track of any games you play."
"What are the prizes?" I asked.
"Ounce of weed. Gin said it's the good stuff. A vintage brandy, and I think the last thing is some money. Not sure. You will have to ask Gin, he came up with everything."
I was playing. I looked around the room scoping out my competition. Melony was there leaning back against her girlfriend, Chelsea. I recognized the colorful dreadlocks and the beaming smile that always occupied the wallpaper of her phone. She sipped her drink, listening to Enzo talk. He looked enthusiastic about something. I'd never seen him talk so much. I couldn't deny I was a bit curious and wanted to go over to hear what they were saying.
"Who's that lady?" Blake asked Ash, pointing toward the kitchen.
"Oh, that's Tex's mom. She's been a huge help with this whole raising a baby thing. She has so much wisdom, and since I don't have a mom and Gin's passed, she's someone we've been clinging to." He looked around. "Oh, you haven't met Chelsea yet, right? Since you're a brother, you probably already met Melony."
We followed Ash around as he made sure to introduce us. The Vitales were a tight knit group: the brothers, their men and the few others who were like family. Tony was there and we nodded at each other. His man was tucked against his side, holding a helmet.
"Caleb, get over here," Gin called out.
We joined everyone as we moved closer to the star of the party. "You guys have had the baby for months. What took so long with the name?" Blake asked Gin.
"Twenty bucks says it's because Gin wanted to name it something stupid," Tex muttered under his breath a little way behind me. He lifted his drink up and I took an offered one.
Enzo nodded as if he already knew.
"We wanted to make sure his name fit him," Ash said. "Plus, this is a big deal. I wasn't letting my son be named after that thing ."
Blake and I looked at each other in confusion but the rest of the family seemed to understand. Everyone except Giancarlo.
"So, what's his name?" Benito asked.
Gin and Ash smiled lovingly at each other. "We are proud to present the newest Vitale. Luka Syl Vitale."
There was a round of applause and the girls cheered as their newest cousin got a name.
It was a little daunting to be a part of all of this. I hadn't started work yet under Benito but soon I'd be right there in the mix. My stomach flipped and couldn't help but place my hand over it.
We moved around the place, talking to everyone and interacting with this new family we both found we had. It didn't escape my notice that we both sought each other constantly. Any distance between us for too long, and the other was there within the next breath. It would be weird if it wasn't the case for every single person in the house. Benito and Harlow were practically glued at the hip. Tex constantly went to check on his man, and the moment he did, you could visibly see Enzo relax. Ash and Gin kept gravitating together as if pulled by the same invisible string that was around me and Blake. Paolo and York had disappeared twice, and both times, the girls had been playing with the dog or with the cat named Pen.
The party wasn't winding down any time soon. Ash found me next to Blake and his brothers and pulled me away. Blake looked my way, and I shrugged, just as confused as he looked.
I was plopped down on the sofa, and I looked to the side of me noticing Harlow, York, and Tex. "Here, welcome to the Vitale wive’s club," Ash said as he offered me a drink. He smiled like he'd given me a million dollars.
"The what now?"
York sipped his wine and grunted. "Just go with it."
"He'll cry if you don't and no one wants to deal with Giancarlo when his man cries," Harlow added not so helpfully.
"I don't cry anymore." Ash fidgeted on the spot looking way too innocent for this life. "Quincy, if you really don't want to be a part of the group I understand." His mouth dipped in a frown, and I felt like I'd destroyed his sand castle or something.
I took the offered drink and tossed it back. It was a bit sweeter than I normally liked but it was good as hell. "Nah, I'm in. What do I have to do to join?"
Ash grinned from ear to ear. "Nothing. You're in just being with Blake."
"Now wait. He has to agree any trash talk doesn't get back to them," Tex added.
My brows kissed my hairline as I looked at them. "Is there a group message?"
Ash was practically bouncing as he pulled his phone out. "Yes."
"You also have to agree to one night out with all of us," Tex said. “We do it once a week.”
Harlow and York nodded as if they had reluctantly agreed to the terms as well.
"Oh, and the most important part, we have to plan out the holidays. If we leave it to them, it will be another disaster." They all nodded in agreement to Tex's rule.
"This is starting to feel like a cult," I pointed out.
"You have no clue," York said as he got up. "I'm going to check on the girls and Paolo. Knowing him, they are hyped up on sugar again."
"Welcome to the family." Harlow held up his glass and I clinked mine against his. "Glad you found your person."
My gaze was instantly drawn to Blake. He was talking with his brothers. He fit amongst them so effortlessly, it was a wonder that he had any anxiety when it came time to being with them.
"Yeah, but I can't help but feel like I don't deserve him." I rolled the glass cup in my hand. "I've done some shitty things and will probably always end up doing them. There is absolutely nothing good about me, and yet he said he loves me."
Arms wrapped around my shoulder before I knew what was happening. Hot tears hit my shoulder. "You're so kind, Quincy, and super cool. Everyone deserves happiness." Ash's words were wobbly as he cried in my arms.
"What the fuck did you do?" Gin's tone was ice cold. A stark difference to his usual playful tone. His dark brown gaze zeroed in on me as if he was planning my death.
Blake was at my side in seconds, stepping up to his brother. "It's your man who's hanging all over my husband."
"Because he made him cry." Gin stepped toward us.
I made no move to stand. Ash was still crying, and I'd really feel like the bad guy if I just shoved him off. Although, the way Blake kept glancing back at us, I probably should. Was he jealous?
My cock twitched at the thought. He was going to own my ass tonight.
"Hey, Ash? Can you let me go? My husband and your baby daddy are ready to break and set fire to everything in this place,” I said.
Ash pulled back, wiping at his face. His eyes were puffy from crying. It was touching to have someone cry for me. I'd never had so many people give a damn. My chest tightened, and I couldn't help but smile.
Gin pulled Ash close and kissed his eyes. "Do I need to get Silvy?"
Ash groaned. "No!" He glared up at Gin. "You bring her out and I swear you will go another week without dick." His face reddened as he threatened his man.
I whistled. "A whole week. Couldn't be me."
Blake twisted on his heels and glared at me.
"I mean, I'm sorry, baby girl. I'll be good."
He bent over and pressed his lips against my ear. "Better be or I won't fill your filthy hole with a drop of my cum for a month."
Blake was fucking diabolical and he knew it.