Chapter 13
“Em? I just heard Havoc is grilling steaks,” Barron said, walking into their living room.
“Yeah, me, too,” Emmalyn said, holding up her phone to show him the text from Analise.
“You wanna go?” Barron asked.
“As much as I’d like to go, I can’t even imagine the smell of cooking meat right now. So, no. Feel free if you want to go, though.”
“Naw, I’m good. I’ll stay with you.”
“Aw, you’re so sweet to me,” Emmalyn said.
“’Course I am. I’m a sweet Sonofabitch,” Barron teased.
Emmalyn laughed, then they both looked toward the door when someone knocked on it.
Barron walked over and opened the door. “Is it time?” he asked, on finding Brandt standing there.
“No, but I’m heading over to Havoc’s anyway for just a little while. Daisy and her boyfriend are over there, and apparently he knows the name of the fucker that hurt Daisy so badly. Thought I’d go introduce myself and see what he’s all about. Wanna come?”
“Em?”
“Go. I’m fine here. Got my Yoohoo, got my popcorn, I’m good.”
“You sure? I can stay home,” Barron said.
“Please go. You’re interrupting my videos.”
“Just a thought and I’m right back here,” Barron said.
“I know. I’m okay.”
“I won’t be long.”
“You’ll be there long enough to eat a steak,” Emmalyn said as she scrolled on her phone.
“Yeah, I’m hoping they’re ready when I get there,” Barron admitted.
“I’ll bring him right back, Em,” Brandt called to her.
“You can keep him a little while. He’s been locked in with me for more than a week,” she answered.
“Yeah, but I need to be back for Tempest shortly,” Brandt said. “Just gotta check on my sister and this guy and see what it’s all about.”
Have fun,” Emmalyn called out, snuggling down into the sofa and adjusting herself on the numerous throw pillows she was reclining on.
“What is she watching?” Brandt asked as Barron stepped outside and pulled the door closed behind himself.
“Some Chinese mini-drama things she’s found on scrolling on social media. Long as it keeps her distracted I really don’t care. She’s been miserable.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling. Tempest is about ready to bring the whole damn world down around her ankles just to get the ruffian, as she calls our kid, out of her,” Brandt said.
Barron nodded, then stopped and looked at Brandt when he realized what Brandt had said. “Can she do that?”
Brandt shrugged. “Let’s just hope everything goes well, and goes soon. She’s completely out of patience and I can’t say I blame her.”
“We driving?” Barron asked.
“Thought we’d just cut through the woods,” Brandt said.
“Even better,” Barron said.
~~~
“Well, look what we have here!” Havoc said, lifting his beer in a semi-toast to Barron and Brandt as they walked up the driveway toward Havoc’s impromptu cookout.
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Barron said sarcastically.
“We’re having a play date!” Analise said. “Want to join us?”
“Of course, they do. They not here because we invited them, they smelled meat and followed the scent. That’s why I sent an invite. If they didn’t get invited, they’d be butt-hurt,” Havoc said, taking a bite of his steak and chewing appreciatively. “And it’s good, too!” Havoc said.
Barron and Brandt looked at each other then at Havoc. “So where’s ours?” Brandt demanded.
Havoc laughed. “Got it right here,” he said, lifting a large cover off a buffet server so they could see inside.
“Oh, my Lord, load me up,” Barron said, grabbing a plate and holding it out for Havoc to put a steak on his plate.
“Want a potato? Analise made a potato bar set up,” Havoc said, waggling his brows in what he thought was a provocative manner.
“Hell, yeah,” Barron said, waiting while his plate was filled.
“Same,” Brandt said, patiently waiting his turn. Then standing behind Barron waiting for him to finish fixing his potato so he could do his.
“You look like Mr. Bane,” Carson said from where he sat, his gaze firmly on Brandt.
Brandt looked over at the boy. “I do, don’t I? That’s because he’s my dad. I’m Brandt. Who are you?”
“I’m Carson. Mr. Bane is my new friend.”
“He’s a good friend to have,” Brandt said, adding cheese, sour cream and butter to his potato.
“Yeah. And so is Harley. She’s my new friend, too,” Carson said. “And Gerald.”
“Sounds like you got a lot of new friends,” Brandt said.
“I do. Do you have any friends?”
Brandt laughed. “I guess that depends on the day.”
“Don’t let him fool you, Carson. He’s my brother. He’s a good male and he has lots and lots of friends. And his wife is about to have a baby. He’s going to be a daddy!” Daisy said.
“Are you going to be a good daddy?” Carson asked.
Brandt smiled as he finished preparing his meal and sat down next to Daisy. “I pray every day that I’m as good a daddy as my dad was.”
“Respect,” Carson said, with a firm nod of his head.
“What?” Brandt asked.
“That’s what Mr. Bane said. The kids causing everybody all the problems haven’t ever been taught respect,” Carson said. “And accountability.”
“How do you know a word like accountability?” Brandt asked.
“I know lots of words,” Carson said.
“I’m telling you, the kid’s a genius,” Havoc said.
“I see that,” Brandt said. “Want to come over to my house and help me with my baby?”
“Or mine,” Barron said. He looked up when there was no reply from anybody.
Everybody kind of looked at each other, not sure if they should admit they already knew Emmalyn was pregnant.
“Oh, come on. Like there’s even one of you who didn’t already know,” Barron said.
Everybody laughed.
“Does Emmalyn want us to know yet?” Havoc asked.
“I don’t know. Sometimes she does, and other times she doesn’t. Take a shot, either way you got a fifty/fifty chance of getting her on a good day,” Barron said.
“Is she happy about it?” Lucien asked.
“Yeah. I think she was just stunned at first, and now she’s really scared because she’s so sick all the time. Well, that and she’s afraid she’ll get one like herself.”
Havoc laughed heartily. “Please, Lord, give her one just like her,” he said, still snickering while he looked up at the sky and pressed his hands together.
“It’s a Gator. Gators make the mothers so sick they can barely function,” Lucien teased.
“If it’s a Gator, you and me are going to have a long, serious talk,” Barron threatened.
Lucien chuckled.
“Just gotta stir it, don’t you?” Hellen asked.
“It’s expected. It’s my place in the dynamics of things,” Lucien said, leaning over and kissing her. “But you know it’s impossible. I love you, cher. Only you.”
“Mmhmm. You’re okay, I guess,” Hellen said.
Brandt looked across Daisy to the unknown male, who must be her boyfriend. “Hi. I’m Brandt.”
“Brandt, it’s good to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Charlie. Carson is my son,” he said, gesturing toward Carson.
Brandt nodded and sliced off a piece of steak, stuffing it in his mouth. He chewed for a few seconds, then swallowed. He mixed around all the topping on his potato and took a bite. Without looking up he spoke directly to Charlie. “So, what makes you worthy of dating my sister?”
“Brandt!” Daisy admonished.
Charlie’s brows rose a little and he looked at Brandt, who totally ignored him as he waited for the human to answer.
Charlie made eye-contact with Daisy briefly.
“Daisy, forgive me for this, but apparently, it needs to be said.” He refocused on Brandt.
“I’m not going anywhere, Brandt. I’ve walked through my life on auto pilot lately, nothing much ever changed.
Then I met Daisy, and every damn thing in my life has color now.
This is where I’m meant to be. This is where my boy, who usually doesn’t talk to anyone very much but talks to everyone in this family like he’s known them all his life, is meant to be.
You are welcome to think of me what you will, or not think of me at all.
I really don’t care, but I will not be going anywhere unless Daisy insists that I do, and if you try to make Daisy feel badly for wanting to spend time with me, I feel I should warn you now; I will not stand for it.
Nobody’s going to harm her, nobody’s gonna hurt her in any way.
Nobody’s even going to make her even momentarily sad on my watch.
Not even you. She’s had enough crap from the rest of the world, and I’ll now be standing between the rest of the world and her. ”
Daisy’s mouth fell open in surprise.
“Now that is an answer! I like him!” Havoc said, chuckling as he shoved a bite of potato into his mouth as he repeated Charlie’s words under his breath. “Not even you…”
Brandt put another bite of meat in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully as he watched Charlie and weighed Charlie’s response to his question.
Without another word Daisy leaned toward Charlie and pressed her lips against his cheek.
Charlie smiled at her and leaned his forehead against hers before turning his attention back to Brandt.
“Well, then there’s only one thing to do,” Brandt said. He held out his closed fist for Charlie to bump.
Charlie raised his fist, unsure of meeting Brandt’s apparent fist bump, but not wanting to fail to follow through.
The moment Charlie’s fist bumped Brandt’s, Brandt nodded. “Welcome to the family, my man. What the fuck took you so long?”
“Amen,” Barron said, nodding in approval.
“Ooooo! You owe my momma five dollars!” Harley said, shaking her head in disappointment at her Uncle Brandt.
“Was worth it to make my point,” Brandt said, reaching over the picnic table to boop her on the nose.
Harley scowled at him and pretended to snap at his finger, even clacking her teeth together.
“Hey, now! I’m bigger than you! Don’t bite the Alpha!” Brandt said.
Harley laughed and fed a piece of potato to Gerald.
“Well, since it seems you’re family now, I’m Barron, how you doing?” Barron said, extending his hand to Charlie.
“Good to meet you, Barron.”
“You met any of our parents yet?” Barron asked.
“Only Mr. Bane and Mrs. Janie. I have to say, I love them both already. They just pull you right in and make you feel welcome.”