Chapter 7
Bronson
When my phone pinged again, I thought about chucking the thing against the wall.
What the fuck was her problem?
Ever since Thursday night, she had been up my ass about Lila.
Eve – Who was that woman?
Eve – How dare you have a tramp around my kids?
Eve – I want my time with them this weekend.
Eve – Bronson?
Eve – Bronson!
Eve – Whatever. I don’t know how you have the world fooled that you have a big set of balls, but I’ve seen them. News flash, you don’t.
Eve – I expect a fucking answer.
Eve – Oh, and tell that little bitch she better watch herself.
And that was when I hit my breaking point.
Me – First of all, back the fuck up.
Me – Second of all, sure. That’s why you were gagging for my dick and did what you did.
Me – Third of all, as far as I’m concerned, you have no claim to my kids. Same with the five you’ve had aborted because the fathers all went back to their wives and they paid your crazy bitch ass self off.
Me – Fourth of all, ever call her a bitch one more time or threaten her, I’ll go fucking public with what I really have on you.
Eve – You don’t have shit on me motherfucker.
Me – DeLuca.
Me – 980-321-9876
Eve – What. The. Fuck.
Me – Wanna tell me again how I don’t have shit on you?
She stopped texting.
Thank fucking Christ.
I had that number.
She knew that number.
And I had that name.
She definitely knew that name.
That was the number to a certain mafia boss who would love to get his hands on her after she slapped his wife in the face when she was drunk.
Gabriel DeLuca didn’t hesitate to do justice.
If she went after Lila or tried to hurt my kids, then I would be calling that number and serving her up on a silver fucking platter.
***
I had just told the kids goodnight and locked up my house when my phone pinged from my back pocket.
I pulled it out, and when I saw Lila’s name, I felt a smile pull at my lips.
Lila – What did you do?
Me – Care to elaborate?
Lila – Luke Mason.
Me – Oh. Well...
Lila – Thank you.
Lila – I just talked to him.
And with the good deed I had done, it got me thinking about another good deed the kids and I were doing tomorrow.
And for some reason... I really wanted Lila to be there with us.
Which was why, as I lay down in the bed that night, I tapped the screen on my phone, unlocked it, and opened my messages.
Me – Care to have an open mind about something?
When she didn’t respond after a few minutes, I put my phone down and started mentally listing everything that needed to be done tomorrow.
Just as I was on the sixth place, we needed to go, my phone pinged.
I’m not going to lie that I hurriedly snagged my phone.
Lila – Umm... okay.
Me – Can you be at our house tomorrow morning around 8?
Lila – I can’t. But I can be there around 10. I’m meeting the girls for breakfast in the morning at Gushers.
Me – Okay, what time?
Lila – *snickers* @ 8.
Me – Okay. The kids and I will be there at 8.
Lila – Okay. See y’all in the morning.
Me – Night.
Lila – Night.
I plugged my phone up, then started with my list once more.
Tomorrow was going to be a great day.
Not only with what we were planning to do but because the kids were going to get to see Lila... and so was I.
***
The moment my alarm blared, I rolled out of bed and stretched.
Muscles popped as I stretched, and I let out a low moan as one in particular finally popped.
It had been aching since I stood there against that fence Thursday night.
But... seeing the smile on my girl’s face every time she looked over and saw us standing there... it had been worth it.
I got up and got dressed.
Then I walked through the house and smiled when I saw both Cole and Madalyn dressed and waiting in the living room.
See, I had started this tradition of sorts years ago.
And the kids had seen the result of our kindness, and now, they count down the days for it.
After we loaded up, Cole called out, “Breakfast at Frannie’s.”
Frannie’s was the diner in Clover Valley, the town that sat between Whispering Falls and Garland.
Madalyn called out, “No. Gushers.”
Cole shrugged, “Fine with me.”
I smirked. “Good. Because that’s where we’re headed.”
I felt both of their eyes on me, but it was Cole who asked, “Why are you smirking?”
I grinned, “Because I invited someone to go with us. And that’s where we’re meeting them.”
Madalyn gasped, “If it’s not Lila, I will literally riot.”
Cole nodded, “What she said.”
I grinned, “Good thing then.”
Cole fist bumped the air, as Madalyn squealed.
I had just parked the truck when I climbed out, and since Madalyn was sitting behind Cole, he got her door for her.
It made my heart feel so fucking proud of both of them when I didn’t have to ask Cole to do it.
Even more so when Madalyn lifted on her tiptoes and kissed Cole’s cheek.
With both of my kids at my side, we made our way into Gushers.
I chuckled at the sight before me.
On the left were the girls, and on the right were the guys.
Madalyn smiled as she headed to sit with the girls, but I caught the back of her shirt and stopped her, “Don’t tell her yet. She doesn’t know.”
She looked over her shoulder at me, “Got it, Daddy.”
Cole and I both walked over to the guys and took the two seats.
“Almost lost an arm saving those two for you. Place is fucking packed,” Dominik said as both Cole and I lowered our frames into the chairs.
“So, what are y’all doing today? I asked Harlee when she asked if we could swing by and get Lila, and she informed Harlee that you wanted her to go somewhere with y’all.” Carter asked.
I nodded after I ordered a water, and Cole followed suit.
Then I said, “No offense...”
Alec snorted, “When someone says no offense, they usually mean to offend.”
I smirked at Alec, “Not the case. Promise. Only three people know what we do on this day every year. Cole, Madalyn, and I. Lila will here shortly. It’s up to her if she shares or not.”
At my words, Carter nodded, “Respect that.”
“Damn. I was just proven wrong,” Alec grumped.
We all chuckled.
And when I felt eyes on me, I looked over at the girls’ table and saw that it was Lila.
I winked at her.
And man, oh fucking man.
The way her cheeks were tinged pink... damn, but I wanted to wink at her again just to see that.
Cole
I looked over at Lila, then at my dad, and I smiled.
But first.
Dad needed a push.
How many times was I going to have to see the two of them together and them not actually be together?
Madalyn
I looked at Cole, who was watching Lila and Dad.
And I didn’t miss that dad winked at Lila, and Lila’s body’s response to it.
Come on, Dad. Hurry up and ask her out already.
Then I got an idea.
I pulled my phone out and scrolled to my brother’s text thread.
Me – I got an idea.
Bro – About getting Dad and Lila 2gether?
Me – You know it.
Bro – I’m here for it.
Ethan
I looked at my brothers, Carter, Garrick, and Alec, and then I looked at their women.
To say I wasn’t jealous of them all would be a lie.
And I also looked at my baby sister, Talia, then I looked at Dominik.
How the two of them worked, I would never know, but they did.
Then I looked at Everly.
Word through the grapevine is that she is seeing someone from Clover Valley, but seeing as none of us have ever seen him... well... I wasn’t sure about it.
Then I looked at Bronson.
The only other single guy in our ragtag of a group.
Well... from the wink he just sent Lila... I was thinking they were both about to be off the market.
Which left me.
Fucking hell.
But then I looked at my daughter, Melanie.
The one left out of the loop once again.
Lila
I had just blown a raspberry at Everly because Deacon was busy and couldn’t meet with us.
I looked at the rest of the girls who wore similar expressions to my own.
Was he really busy... or did she not want us to meet him?
Everly sighed, “I know what y’all are thinking. But he really is busy. Promise. I’ll set up a time so y’all can meet him. Okay?”
Tatum leaned forward and asked, “Soon? Right?”
Everly nodded.
Just then, I felt a presence at my back.
I looked up at Bronson and Cole.
It was Bronson who asked, “You ready?”
I nodded, then moved to get my wallet, only for him to toss down two twenties, “That covers yours and Madalyn’s food.”
“Bronson.” I snapped.
He winked, “Lila.”
I sighed, then got up and followed them out of Gushers, but not before giving the girls hugs and kisses on their men’s cheeks.
I had just stepped out of the door behind Cole and Madalyn, with Bronson walking behind me, when I took in the excited faces on both Cole and Madalyn.
“So, where are we going?” I asked.
“Something we do every year. Open mind. Please.” Bronson said.
“Yeah. Come with us. You’ll like it,” Madalyn said.
Cole nodded, “Really think you will.”
I eyed the three of them suspiciously, “So this is how it feels to have the three of you gang up on me, huh?”
They chuckled, then I shrugged, “Y’all haven’t let me down so far. I’m in.”
Thirty minutes later, we were at the superstore.
I lifted a brow but didn’t say anything.
And knowing how this played out, both Madalyn and I waited in the truck for Cole and Bronson to round the hood so they could open our doors.
Once we were both out, we headed into the store as I heard a woman say, “Ladies, those are some good men y’all have there.”
Madalyn looked at her and smiled, “Thanks. But it’s our dad teaching my brother how to be a good man.”