Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ROMANIA
“Die!” I snarled at the character on screen. Quake chuckled from his spot on the end of the couch as his character suddenly sliced my head off. “Dammit. How do you do it that fast?”
“Can’t tell you.”
“Can’t tell you,” I mimicked in a deep voice.
He chuckled again, and Eve, who was sitting between us, laughed too.
“You’re such a sore loser,” she teased, bumping into my shoulder.
Smiling, I nodded. “I really am. It’s why Texas doesn’t play with me anymore.”
Quake snorted.
“I think it’s time for a movie,” Eve suggested. She leaned into Quake, who put his arm around her shoulders, and they shared a sweet look.
Eh, they were sickly cute. It made me happy and annoyed seeing it. More happy than anything else. I was only annoyed because I didn’t have that.
Standing, I told them, “I’m getting the popcorn. You two pick a movie.”
“Grab some cookies too,” Quake called.
“You got it, big guy.” I skipped out and down the hall, greeting people as I went. It really was like home here. So many wonderful people were members. I wanted to get to know them all on the same level I did with the brothers in Caroline Springs.
My parents and I had been here for a few weeks now, and I already knew I’d miss this place and the people in it when I went home.
Especially Eve and Quake.
We’d been hanging out nearly every day. That was when I wasn’t working on the bikes or Quake wasn’t at the bar, and Eve wasn’t working at her new job in a retail store.
A place I wanted to visit because she had some kickarse clothes from there.
Before she got this position, she used to work in a butcher shop that Death and Quake used to own before they sold them so Death could concentrate on his security business and Quake his bar.
In the common room, I waved to Blaze, Henri, Sawyer, and Arlo who were sitting with Lucas, West, and Adrick before I skipped into the kitchen and spotted Dusty.
“If I was a popcorn bag, where would I be?” I asked.
Laughing, she pointed to the pantry. “In there on the third shelf up the back. Near the chips.”
“Thank you.” I walked into the wonderland of so many goodies and called back, “And the cookies?”
“Did Quake make you ask?”
I poked my head out. “He did say to ask.”
Dusty sighed. “He saw me making some. I knew it wouldn’t be long for him to want some. They’re on the cooling rack over there.”
“Thanks again.” I went back in the pantry, found the popcorn bag, and walked over to the microwave. While I waited for it to be cooked, I leaned against the counter and peeked in the large bowl Dusty had her hands stuffed in.
She snorted. “You and Quake with food. This will be meatloaf for dinner.”
“Wicked, I love meatloaf. Mum makes it all the time, so I wonder if yours will be like hers or if it’ll be different because we’re in America. Do you need any help?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks, though, and hopefully you’ll enjoy this as much as your mom’s.”
I opened the microwave and found a bowl to tip it into. “No doubt I will.”
“Are you watching a movie with Eve and Quake?”
“Yeah.” I smiled.
“You’re close with Eve,” Dusty commented.
I faced her. “Is that okay? Am I stepping on anyone’s friendship toes? I can totally back off.”
Dusty giggled. “Relax. I think it’s good. Eve doesn’t open up to many so it’s wonderful to see how she is with you. And now she’s…. I couldn’t be any more thrilled than I already am at seeing her and Quake together. They were always made for each other.”
I threw up a popcorn piece and caught it in my mouth. Around it, I said, “They really are.”
“Rommy?”
“Dusty?” I grinned.
“Are you really okay with seeing them together?”
I jerked my head back. “Yeah, why?”
She shrugged, but then said, “It’s none of my business.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Dusty, I’d like to think we’re friends—”
“We are,” she said quickly.
I smiled. “Good. Then I want you to know that you can say anything to me.”
She blew out a breath. “I just thought that maybe you have a small crush on Eve and Quake.”
Groaning, I palmed my face. “Is it that obvious?”
She grinned. “I don’t know if anyone else has noticed how you stare at them with heart eyes. No one has said anything to me.” She shrugged.
“I hope not.” Reaching out, I patted her arm. “And don’t worry, I’d never do anything to jeopardise what they have. I’ll be going home soon anyway, and it was never like something could happen.”
Nothing would happen.
My smile faded, but I shook myself.
“I’d never think you’d try to come between them. You’re a nice person, Rommy. The best since you’re willing to bottle your own feelings to make sure they work on each other when they’re new.”
Shrugging, I gave her a thin-lipped smile.
I was also realistic. I lived in Australia, and they were in America. I loved men and women, and they were loyal to each other.
Even though it would be a dream come true to have more with them both, it could never work.
“Hey, have you got a container I can put some cookies in?”
“Under the counter down the end there.” She tipped her chin to the left. “And Rommy, whoever you end up with will be the luckiest person alive.”
Laughing, I went to grab the container thinking how her words made me feel gooey on the inside. “Well, I hope they’ll be alive. But thanks, Dusty. You’re awesome, too, and you’ve got a smoking-hot old guy to brag about.”
She blushed. “I did get lucky too.”
“And you deserve it,” I told her as I placed six cookies in the container and put on the lid. “I better get the food upstairs.” I picked up the bowl of popcorn to balance it on the container. “One day soon, you and me are having a gaming day, deal?”
“Deal,” she called before I walked out of the kitchen.
I’d only taken a few steps when Henri called, “Chéri, come here, please.”
I detoured over to them at the table. “Hey, hi, hello.” Smiles were given. “What can I do for you?”
“Where are your parents? I still haven’t met them yet,” Henri asked. “I would like our boys to meet them too.”
I brightened and looked around. “They’re here somewhere. I can go find them and bring them here.” I set the bowl and container down on the table.
“I would win,” Adrick grumped, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Adrick, it’s really not worth worrying about because it would never happen,” West said.
“What’s going on?” I asked because Adrick looked miffed over something.
Lucas rolled his eyes. “Wreck refuses to fight Adrick to see who would win.”
“It would be me,” Adrick said.
I eyed the man up and down and shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Adrick’s dark gaze slowly turned to me.
“Adrick,” West warned, taking hold of his arm.
There was a chuckle and then another Russian voice said, “I like this one.”
Adrick snarled something in Russian, and then added in English, “So shut up, Dimitri.”
I looked up at the man who’d just joined us. “Hi, I’m Rommy.” I held out my hand. He looked at for a moment before taking it, and we shook.
“Dimitri. Adrick’s second.”
“Oh cool.”
“Why do you not think I would win, little girl?” Adrick demanded.
West sighed.
Lucas groaned and dropped his forehead to the table.
Henri laughed. “He’s like a dog with a bone.” When Adrick shot Henri a glare, the French man squeaked and clung to Blaze’s arm.
Blaze, who’d been just enjoying his coffee, shot a look at Adrick that had me wanting to pee myself. He was definitely thinking of bashing Adrick’s head in.
Adrick waved him off. “Relax, I would not harm yours. Even I know I would be breathing through a tube if we ever fought.”
Blaze grunted and went back to drinking his coffee.
“But I would win against Wreck,” Adrick added.
“Kid” was called, and I turned to see Mum and Dad walking our way. Dad had his arm around Mum’s shoulders.
“Hey, come meet Henri, Blaze, Sawyer, and Arlo.” I waved them over, but they were taking too long so I rushed to them, took their hands, and pulled them back to the table. “Henri, Blaze, Sawyer, and Arlo, these are my parents, Low and Dodge.”
Blaze and Dad tipped their chins up, while Mum said, “Aren’t you all just an adorable family.”
“Thank you, chéri.”
Mum’s gaze widened. “That is a hot accent.”
Henri cackled. “What is it people say? They call French the love language.”
Sawyer rolled his eyes, but he was smiling too. Arlo just watched on with a big grin, until he said, “We’re not living with them yet, but we will be. Sawyer and I aren’t their real kids, but we wish we were. They’re the best.”
Nodding, I told him, “I bet they are.” I thumbed to my parents.
“They aren’t my biological ones either. Dad’s actually my uncle, and Mum was Dad’s girlfriend when we came along.
Well, she was when he wore her down.” I winked, which had people laughing.
“And since then, I’ve been the happiest in my life. ”
Arlo jerked up. “I am too. So happy.”
“It’s the best feeling, right?”
He nodded.
I glanced to Henri. Tears sparkled in his eyes. I mock whispered to Arlo, “I think Henri needs a hug from you.”
Arlo jumped up and threw himself at Henri. It was lucky Blaze was there to help catch him.
“Little girl, why do you not think I would win?” Adrick said.
There was more groaning, and even Dimitri said, “You need to drop this.”
“Nyet.” Adrick stared at me, waiting for an answer.
“You’re both strong and big, but Wreck seems like the kind of guy that would break you in seconds.”
“I am fast,” he demanded.
I cocked a brow. “Then spar with me.”
“What?” he asked with a smirk.
I bounced on my feet, loving this idea. “I wanna see how fast you are. Fight me and then I’ll believe you could beat Wreck.”
“Rommy, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Lucas said.
West nodded. “Adrick, don’t even think about agreeing.”
“She has asked for it,” Adrick said, standing.
“Adrick,” Dimitri started but shut up when Adrick raised his hand.
“Are we doing this?” Glee saturated my senses, and I skipped back to give us room while stretching my arms.
“Rommy’s Daddy, you should stop this, oui?”
Dad shrugged. “She knows what she’s doin’.”
I loved the faith Dad had in me, but I also knew if Adrick did get the better of me, Dad would stop it.
“Kick arse, girl,” Mum called.
Henri, Lucas, and West stared at them with wide eyes and gaping mouths.
I gave my parents the finger guns and a wink.
“Let’s go, Adrick.” I squatted down and stretched my left leg out and then the right.
Adrick cracked his knuckles, and his gaze seemed to dance with excitement too. He pretended he was casually strolling my way, but I knew as soon as he got close, he was going in for an attack.
Since I was still crouching and stretching my leg out, when he did go to strike, I quickly rolled out of the way and bounced up.
Grinning like a maniac, I asked, “Come on, you can do better than that.”
Adrick smiled evilly at me. “You asked for it, little girl.” He went into a fighting stance, but then quickly straightened and looked over my head. I wasn’t falling for it. I heard that someone was approaching, but I wouldn’t let whoever it was distract me.
“What the fuck?” Quake growled before his arm went around my waist and I was lifted off my feet.
“Wait, no. We were about to fight,” I complained, tapping at his arm.
“That ain’t happenin’,” Quake snarled. He walked, with me held up against him, back to the stairs.
“I guess I win,” Adrick called.
“No way. I’ll be back,” I snapped. “Come on, Quake, what the hell? You know I can fight.”
He stomped up the stairs and, in my ear, he snarled, “I know. But he used to be with the Russian mafia. He’d play dirty just to prove himself.”
Huh. Did he?
I didn’t know that.
That meant Adrick would really go all out.
“Really?” I muttered, more to myself.
Quake stopped. “Fuck. Now you’re really interested, aren’t you?”
“Noooo,” I drew out. “Not me.”
He started moving forward again but still didn’t drop me.
When we entered the room, Eve sat up from slouching on the couch. “What happened?”
Quake took us to the couch and dropped me onto it where I was half sprawled on Eve’s lap.
“I found her downstairs ready to go head-to-head with Adrick.”
“You were going to fight Adrick?” Eve yelled.
Groaning, I rolled over and kicked my feet over the couch armrest while leaving my head on Eve’s lap. “I’d have won too.”
Eve stared down at me, brows pinched as she brushed my hair back. “You also could have got your ass beat.”
I grinned. “It’d be fun no matter.”
Eve sighed. “What would your parents say about you fighting an ex-mafia man?”
Quake snorted, though he was still glaring down at me. “They were there watchin’.”
Eve shook her head. “They’re all crazy.”
Laughing, I nodded. “That we are, but it’s the best way to be. Hey, I forgot the snacks.” I sat up. “I’ll go and—”
“Nope,” Eve said, pulling me back down. “You stay here. Kayson can go get them.”
“Awww, that’s—”
Eve covered my mouth as she blushed.
Quake bent and kissed her neck. “Be back. Tie her up if you have to.”
I moved Eve’s hand and yelled, “Kinky.” But really, I didn’t want to move. I liked that Quake and Eve were scared about me fighting Adrick, and I really was comfortable where I rested my head as Eve brushed her fingers through my hair.
“It’s so long and thick.”
I smirked. “Are we talking about my hair or Quake’s dick?”
She snorted and then laughed. “You’re an idiot.”
I was.
An idiot for both of them.
Dammit, I was so screwed.