Chapter 40
Flipping Tables
Tasha
“You talk too much,” Misha says to Vlad.
Vlad and Alexei have been working Misha’s last nerve as they taunt him. This shows how much they have become a part of our world. The two are usually short, if not silent.
If you think Misha is out of his damn mind, these two make him look like a saint. Five or six years ago, I would have preferred to follow Misha into a confessional before trying to befriend one of them. Now they are as much family as Misha is.
I can’t hold back my laughter as Vlad and Alexei go to taunt Misha by standing on each side of his wife and planting kisses on her cheeks. Misha pulls two blades and lifts a brow at the two. They both throw their heads back in laughter, a rare gesture for the stern men.
Their faces light up, showing how gorgeous they both are. It must be in the Russian water. Crazy and gorgeous.
“Damn, I don’t even like blonds, but you two are breathtaking when you laugh,” Pam says.
“Ain’t that the truth,” someone calls out.
I turn to find Laoise ogling the two with a cheeky grin on her lips. I cover my mouth to keep from laughing. She and Cass have been in rare form tonight.
From Laoise’s rosy cheeks and her red-tipped nose, it’s clear she’s been indulging in drinks. The woman has been knocking them back with her son and nephews most of the night. I’m glad she’s enjoying herself.
“On that note, I call it night. Have calls make. Good night, my friends,” Vlad says.
“Da, same. Good night, all,” Alexei says.
A grin comes to my lips. Most of the single men have left. It’s almost time. I glance toward LaSalle’s cousins at a table of their own. They don’t look like they’re going anywhere soon.
One of the staff members brings Marco a bottle right as I have the thought. He and D’Angelo actually look like they’re settling in.
Dean’s loud laughter pulls my attention. She’s sitting with her nephews and husband at another table. The McGowans have taken Dean in like one of their own. You would never know she’s married into the family with the way they dote on her.
“Shut up, Graham. I already know I can’t trust shit you say when you’ve been drinking,” Dean laughs out.
“Ach, what do ya mean by that?”
“You told me in that pub that night Felix was older than Jamie. Let me see, your words were. Jamie and Dylan are younger than Felix. Jamie, by a few months. Felix and Kate are two years apart. She’s the older one,” Dean snorts.
“Jamie has Felix by four years. Kate has Felix by another two years, making her six years older than him. Your word is shit after a few drinks.”
Everyone around them bursts into laughter. Graham’s cheeks turn red as he sits there thoughtfully. The handsome man looks sheepish and adorable in this moment.
“You remember all that?”
“I sure do, love. Not much gets by me,” Dean snickers.
“With the lot of us, how am I supposed to keep it all straight? Sober or not,” Graham protests.
“She got it right,” Carrick croons.
“Aye, that’s a one-off. I have a grand that says none of the rest of ye could get it right.”
“I’ll take it,” Felix croons.
“Aye, anyone but you,” Graham scoffs.
“Fine, I’ll do it,” Braxton says.
“None of Aunt Cass’s lot. You guys memorize the count of hairs on a lad’s head after saying hello. I’m not a fool.”
“Looks like a stook to me,” Jeremiah deadpans.
As I laugh at them teasing each other, Val gives me the signal to let me know it’s time. I give a nod and gather my bag to head out. As I stand, LaSalle grabs my wrist to stop me.
Uh-oh. This might not happen tonight. I know that look.
LaSalle
Today has been another good day. All the wives loved the spa day, and the kids were excited about their lessons. I think we successfully wore them all out.
After dinner, not a single child put up a fight when bedtime was called. Paulie practically ran into his nanny’s arms. That was a surprise, as he is normally the one with whom his mother and I have to debate, like he’s an attorney or something.
Four going on forty, that’s my boy. I’m actually amused when he thinks he’s going to best us. For a four-year-old, some of his arguments make sense.
I blame Bobby and Marcus. To be honest, his skills have gotten better, leading me to believe Paige has taken a part in the tomfoolery recently. As if Paulie needs any assistance in getting his little butt in trouble.
“I’ll be right back,” Tasha says and bends to kiss my cheek after I grab her wrist to stop her.
I nod toward the others, trying to get up and sneak away. “Don’t go getting into trouble. I’m not in the mood to stitch anyone up tonight. Keep your clothes on and tell your friends to do the same. Especially Dean,” I warn and lift a brow.
She laughs and drops a kiss on my lips. “Relax, no one’s going to get hurt tonight. At least not because of anything we do. Trust me.”
I give her side-eye and release her. I can see the mischief in her eyes. She’s up to something.
I shake my head as she adds a little extra sway to her hips. That black sleeveless dress is sexy as hell on her. The red shoes have me growing hard as I take her in.
I bite my lip as my gaze drops to her lush ass. I wouldn’t mind a private performance later tonight. Those heels and I have a date this evening.
“Jesus, Mary, Joseph. I can read your thoughts on your face,” Laoise snickers. “It reminds me of when Cianán looked at me like that.”
“Ach, he still does,” Cass says.
“Cassidy, I don’t fib to ya, so don’t ya start fibbing to me,” Laoise huffs.
“Mum, are ya behaving?” Ronan croons as he comes to take a seat at my table.
“Ach, and if I’m not, who’s gonna do something about it?”
I grin as a laugh bubbles up in my throat. Ronan chuckles at his mother and shakes his head. Cass waves her mother off and gets up to leave the table.
While everyone falls into their own conversations, I pull my phone to check the reports coming in from back home. I have my men back there keeping an eye out for any changes.
I’m also getting updates from the wedding planner we hired for Brooklyn and Deja. A crew is set to hit Ireland at the end of next week to start on some of the special things we have in the works.
Before I can get into my email, Misha and Ronan’s back-and-forth grabs my attention. Misha tends to avoid Ronan as Ro has two fucks to give and loves to rile him up.
“Does yer mouth taste like shit? It has to. You always have that sour look on yer face, like ya’ve never known pleasure. Why not live a little?” Ronan says.
“Da, but everything joke to you. Why is that? Do you fear what we will really see without shield?”
“Aye, you would think that. I think it’s just the opposite with you. You’re afraid we’ll see you as a person if you let your guard down. Aye, that’s it, isn’t it?”
“Go away, McGowan. I haven’t had enough to drink for this.”
“For what, lad? We’re just having a little chat. My wife is friends with yours. Why can’t we be friends?”
Misha gets this look on his face and I know he’s about to say something that’s going to set Ronan off. I clench my fists and tighten my jaw. Thankfully, the lights on the stage come on and the speakers come to life with a crackle and whine.
I look up toward the stage as “Buttons” by The Pussycat Dolls begins to play. A groan leaves my throat immediately. I shake my head as I do the only wise thing I can.
I sit back and watch the show. The four queens are the first to appear on stage, strutting like supermodels.
I hadn’t even noticed the other two leave after Val and Tasha.
I look to Misha and Logan and chuckle. Misha has one of his blades still out as he cleans his nails with it as if he’s not paying attention—when we all know better.
Logan has that blank expression he gives his wife when she’s about to try him. So much has changed for him in the last eight years. However, that temper hasn’t gone anywhere.
I glance back at the stage as laughter rings out. The queens all have on black satin robes and red heels, revealing their sexy, shapely legs. Even the Bellas who don’t get their hands dirty still stay fit.
Our women aren’t our weakest links. Touch one of them and they will take your head off themselves. I know and have seen the power in those limbs.
I begin to chuckle as I focus in on the performance happening on stage. Dean has made her way around the queens with Cass at her side. Dean starts rocking and swaying her hips from side to side as she pats her thigh in time to the beat with each rock back to the other opposite side.
It looks like she’s trying to keep Cass on count beside her as she mocks the motion. Cass is actually staying on beat as she follows her sister-in-law. I can no longer hold my laughter in as Cass’s face goes from deep concentration to lighting up as it hits her that she’s doing it right.
She gets so excited she begins that crazy, offbeat wiggling. Dean throws her head back and waves Cass off to keep doing her own thing. That’s when the queens move forward, two on either side of Dean.
A loud growl fills the air as they go to release the buttons on the robes they have on. I look to Ronan, and his face is a bright red.
All traces of the funny, jovial man from earlier have vanished. He pulls what looks like a gun. However, as he front-loads the cartridge, I realize it’s a Taser.
He places the Taser down on the table and gives Dean a daring look. She continues with her buttons, as do the others. I grin at Tasha as her robe floats to the floor, revealing a black silk pajama set.
The same set the others are wearing with their red heels. Ronan begins a slow clap. I throw my head back with laughter.
That’s when Laoise seems to stumble her way on stage, looking lost as the song begins again. I know what’s supposed to happen next, but seeing it in action has me in shock as laughter continues to pour from my lips.
Nate comes from behind the curtain with his shirt half open, moving like a model on a runway. He stops behind Laoise, wraps an arm around her and dips her, placing his forehead to hers.
She cups the side of his face, smiling up at him. When he lifts her to stand upright, she rips his shirt open the rest of the way. Nate shrugs the ruined shirt off and starts gyrating his hips.
“That’s my man. Get it, Laoise,” Pam sings good-naturedly.
As if I haven’t been thoroughly entertained already.
While Laoise is wiggling in front of a shirtless Nate, Joe Black and his son John come out next, dressed in what I can only describe as black leather chaps with a glittering crotch.
They are moving their hips in a jerking motion as they move forward—as if humping the air.
“Aye, ya have to be kidding me,” Ronan snorts.
“It’s not over, Mate,” Uri laughs.
That’s when Wyatt, Noah, and Ryan pop out dressed in white dress shirts and black pants.
The shirts open at the top. When they get to the front of the stage where Joe and John are, they tear their shirts away and then their pants.
However, it’s when Joe and John turn to reveal their bare asses in the chaps that I double over in laughter.
All five begin the rocking motion Dean was trying to show Cass. Joe and John with their bare cheeks toward us while Wyatt, Noah, and Ryan are in glittering thongs. Cass runs up and slaps Joe’s ass before starting to wiggle around him.
I have tears running down my face; I’m laughing so hard. Even Ronan is laughing. I catch my wife’s eye and wink at her.
She’s always restoring the balance. This back-and-forth was never meant to be taken as disrespectful. Things just got out of hand last time.
This is the fun we’ve had with this in the past. I can see it as something we continue for a long time. Tasha winks back at me and mouths I love you.
I mouth the words back with a grin and crook my finger for her to come to me. She comes down from the stage, saunters her way to me, then sits in my lap and wraps her arms around my neck.
“Told you we were going to be good.” Then she tosses a thumb toward the stage where the guys are still dancing, now joined by their wives. Ronan is even up there with Dean in his arms. “Now that, I wasn’t expecting.”
I palm Tasha’s face and capture her lips. A happy shout pulls my attention away from my gorgeous wife. I look up on stage and Ronan is on his knees as he kisses Dean’s belly.
“Danny getting a sibling?”
“I guess it’s okay to say something now. It’s really early, but yes. A test confirmed it this morning.”
“Should I bring in the albino?”
“No, I don’t think she’s planning on sitting down until this mess is over in Ireland.”
I laugh and shake my head. I should have known that would be the reply. I’ll make the call anyway. Ronan will have a much different opinion.
I get both sides, so I’ll cover them both. No members of the Alliance are ever left out to dry. We always have each other covered.