4. Ink
INK
“Taz, I’m going to fucking kill you!” Karissa yelled as she stalked down the stairs into the common room. Ink burst out laughing the moment he saw her hair. Her hair was a bright orange, and so were her eyebrows.
“Why do you always assume it’s me?” Taz demanded, but the glee in his eyes couldn’t be hidden. “I was on protection duty last night, remember?”
“You were on opposite times as me, and we both know that you’re a fucking ninja when you want to be,” Karissa spat.
Her dark eyes blazed with fury, even as Razor came up behind her, looking like he was trying to swallow a laugh, but the grin on his face didn’t really help things.
Karissa rounded on her man, shooting him a look that promised retribution.
“And you! What kind of biker doesn’t fucking hear when someone is breaking into his room to mess with his Old Lady? ”
“The kind that was exhausted after his Old Lady wore him out,” Razor said, wearing a smug grin.
Ink snorted as a chorus of groans sounded behind him.
He turned to see the twins walking in, their lips curled in disgust. The girls were identical, with honey-blonde hair and green eyes, but Wren had a slightly sharper edge than her sister.
However, at that moment, they looked exactly the same, right down to their clothes.
That was usually a sign they were up to shit. Glancing around, he didn’t see Rogue or Scarlett anywhere, but he was sure they’d arrive soon to get the girls to school. He almost pitied whoever was on the receiving end of their shenanigans, but as long as it wasn’t him, he didn’t care.
“Then you’d better have enjoyed it because until this shit is gone, you’re getting nothing,” Karissa snapped. She turned and pinned Taz with a glare. “Your ass is mine the next time you’re here. I’m going to wipe the floor with you, shave that beard, and buzz your head.”
Taz’s face went white. The man was obsessed with his beard and head of hair. “Xena, I know you’re obsessed with me, but even that’s a little too far.”
Her wicked smile lingered, and she didn’t reply. She turned on her heel and headed back upstairs, leaving them staring after her, wondering what the hell she would do next.
“You know she’s going to fuck with your shit now, right?” Simba warned him, his exasperation clear. “When are you guys going to outgrow this stupid shit?”
“Probably not until he finds a woman he can annoy,” Ink offered. “If there’s one out there who can put up with him.”
Taz smirked. “There are plenty of ladies out there who love me. I can give you a list. But why settle with one when you have so many to piss off? Besides, we both know Xena and Glitch miss me when I’m not here brightening up their lives.”
“Yeah, like a hemorrhoid.”
Everyone turned to see Glitch walking in. Right behind her was a very tired-looking Naomi carrying a bright-eyed Asher.
Ink perked up. Her dark-purple leggings hugged her slim legs and hips, along with a black workout tank that revealed the swell of her breasts and the pallor of her skin. Her hair was in a high ponytail, accentuating the tired lines around her eyes and the tight set of her jaw.
She was stunning. He had a strange urge to grab Asher from her to offer her some reprieve.
Since he valued his balls, he stayed in place, having no interest in setting off her mama-bear instincts. He didn’t like seeing her so tired, though. Had Asher kept her up all night? Or had she not slept well?
“Hemmoid,” Asher repeated, and Ink laughed along with everyone else. Even Taz grinned, unoffended.
Naomi, on the other hand, looked horrified.
“That’s right, honey, he is a hemmoid,” Glitch agreed with a bright grin. She looked back at Taz. “Karissa already sent me a picture. You’re dead, you know that? She’s going to bury you in the middle of the desert and surround you with cottonmouths.”
“Snakes love me, we’ve already tested that theory.” He winked at Naomi. “Don’t worry, darlin’, they’re just trying to get their last few licks in before we leave.”
“Licks!” Asher exclaimed.
More chuckles, and Naomi relaxed slightly, but she bit her lip as she looked at her son. He clearly liked to repeat things.
“Did you have breakfast?” Simba asked Naomi. She nodded and glanced around the room nervously. Ink gave her a reassuring smile when her gaze landed on his, but she quickly looked away.
He hoped she soon wouldn’t see any of them as a possible threat, but that wouldn’t happen today.
“Excellent, then, let me introduce you to the other ladies,” Glitch said. “We can start with the twins before they head to school.”
Wren and Winter hurried over, big smiles on their faces. They grinned at Asher, and Asher looked at them with wide eyes.
“He’s never seen twins before,” Naomi muttered, almost like she was worried he would offend them somehow.
“Hi Asher,” Win said, waving at him. “I’m Win.”
Wren introduced herself, and Asher just looked back and forth between them, like he couldn’t comprehend they were two different people.
It seemed to be too much, because his little face crumpled and big tears rolled down his cheeks. The girls’ faces fell, and Naomi reassured them he didn’t understand as she tried to soothe him. Asher wasn’t having it, and the more distressed she looked, the more Ink hated it.
Moving forward, despite telling himself it was a stupid idea, he murmured, “Hey, little man, what’s the matter?”
Naomi looked to Ink when Asher’s cries softened to hiccupped sobs. To his surprise, Asher held his hands toward him.
Ink gripped him under the arms, and Naomi gasped. He offered her a reassuring smile. “I’m the favorite uncle around here,” he said, trying to calm the fear on her face.
“It’s because they want to trace all the colors he decorates himself with,” Wren quipped, twisting her hair with her finger.
Asher continued to cry and struggle, and Naomi fought to keep him in her grip.
“I can take him,” he offered. “And I’ll stay right here so you can take him back.”
Naomi swallowed hard, and Asher’s cries grew louder, angry that he wasn’t getting what he wanted. Finally, she slowly released him, but her whole body trembled.
Ink knew it was a big moment, so he propped Asher onto his hip, keeping him close to his mother, and the little boy quieted, looking up at him with such trusting eyes that Ink’s chest tightened. “See, favorite uncle.”
Naomi wrung her hands and her breathing increased. He didn’t know how to reassure her. Asher gripped Ink’s shirt, his little fist tugging and twisting at the fabric, even as he studied his bare arm, fascinated.
“I-I-I can take him out if you don’t want to hold him,” Naomi whispered. “I’m sorry if he’s bothering you.”
“Nope, not bothering me. I like kids. And pretty soon, the place will be full of them, and he won’t even be the loudest, I promise.”
Her lips pursed slightly, but she didn’t try to take him back. Everyone watched Ink with amusement but also understanding.
This was a hard moment for her, and the sooner she realized there was no threat, the better. Still, he didn’t like seeing her so distressed.
“Did you sleep all right?” he asked her.
“I slept okay. New space.”
He had been on patrol last night, and when he was outside the warehouse, he wondered how she was. There hadn’t been any movement, so he assumed she’d been sleeping.
Before he could press any further, the door swung open, and in walked Esme, Fury, and Gabe. Esme was nearing her due date, and her man and son were never far away if they could help it. No one knew what she was having yet, though Ink’s bets were on it being a girl.
“Gabe, go grab something from the kitchen to take with you to school,” Esme ordered. “And Fury, if you don’t get the hell out of my way, I’m going to punch you in the dick.”
“Dick!” Asher yelled, startling everyone. Ink choked on a laugh, Naomi stared at her son with wide eyes, and Esme and Fury looked at him in surprise, then started laughing.
“Alright, note to self; watch what I say when there are little ears around,” Esme joked. She smiled at Naomi. “You must be Naomi. I’m Esme. If you need any help keeping any of these guys in line, just let me know. I’m hormonal, and they’ve all learned not to piss me off.”
“And we thought Royal was bad,” someone muttered.
He stifled a laugh when Royal smacked Razor upside the head, making him grunt and then give her an apologetic smile.
“You were always crying, and Savage looked murderous every time. We were afraid for our lives. With Esme, we’re just afraid she’s going to snap and murder us all like she keeps promising. ”
“That’s why Savage put the ban on the women having guns around here.” Jax snickered.
Ink glanced back at Naomi, and something flashed across her face, but he couldn’t quite name it. Was that guilt? What did she have to feel guilty about?
“Ignore them. We don’t let them out often.” Esme huffed. Looking at Ink, she grinned. “Should have figured. Kids just flock to you.”
“Favorite uncle, what can I say?” He jiggled Asher, making the boy laugh. He did it again, grinning down at him. Naomi stared at him wide-eyed. Was it really that surprising he was good with kids?
“Kids heading to school, get your asses outside. I don’t have all day!
” Rogue barked from the doorway. He pinned Esme with a glare.
“And your ass better not be in that seat before noon, or I’ll have your man haul you out.
Don’t test me today.” His eyes moved back to Ink, but he said nothing.
He gave Naomi a clipped nod before he stalked back out.
“He’s just a regular ray of sunshine,” Taz joked. “Alright, kids, let’s load up.”
“Are you coming with us to drop us off?” Gabe asked excitedly.
“Dude, you’ll be the coolest one there with me showing up.” He headed for the door, even as Wren and Win snickered behind him.
“Rogue’s going to lose his shit.” Glitch snickered. “I’ve got to see this. Be right back,” she told Naomi before hurrying after them.
A bunch of people headed for the front door, but Ink stayed put. Naomi frowned, brow furrowing.