17. Queenie
Early morning missions for me usually meant checklists, coffee, and not talking or even looking at anyone. I feel a little twitchy this morning because we are hunting for my mother. That is enough to make anyone feel twitchy. It isn’t just that, though. Change isn’t something I am necessarily good at dealing with. This new relationship, or whatever it is, has thrown me into a weird tailspin. How are we supposed to act? He has been my friend for so long, but now that line.
Sleeping in his arms and waking up happy is amazing, but weird. When Joker left to get his stuff after, the alarm went off. It all started my anxiety and overthinking. Sometimes, people see things differently once it’s daylight. What if it all was just pillow talk? Maybe he won’t want anyone to know for at least a while. Can I be his secret? I suppose before a mission like this, perhaps it shouldn’t be announced beforehand. Everyone’s focus needs to be on the mission. A part of me wants to be selfish and blurt it out ASAP. After the mission would probably be better, then we can tell my brothers, ‘By the way, I’ve licked him and claimed him.’ That is equal parts true and enough to gross my brothers out so they don’t ask questions.
How will this mission be? Stop being such an insecure bitch! It’s day two of whatever is happening and everything will work out. I wish I could stop thinking about it and focus on my packing. I am such an asshole, worried about my personal relationship instead of focusing on getting our family back.
My procrastination won’t keep this mission from approaching quicker than it should. I need to go downstairs to get the rest of my gear. When I open the door, Joker is standing in his usual spot, which makes my heart beat faster. His eyes meet mine and he smiles while holding up a to-go cup of coffee, giving it a slight tilt back and forth, taunting me with the caffeine within. I can’t help but grin at him like the smitten woman I am. What is it about being happy that is slightly terrifying? Because every time you are, it crashes and burns. That thought again speeds my heart up slightly, but then it calms because it’s Joker. I trust him with my life, along with my family’s lives. I give him a small kiss and take the coffee. “My hero. You ready for today?”
He walks over to the elevator and hits the button. I take a sip, and of course, Joker made it exactly how I liked it. The man knows me almost too well. It gives him an unfair advantage in our newly found relationship. My mind flies back to all the years I have overlooked little things like this. So many things come to mind, and I chalked them up to our friendship. However, there is no way he would do the little things for anyone else. “More like I’m ready to get it done? Maybe take a vacation with you once it’s over?”
The doors open, and I walk inside, smirking at him. “Are you asking or telling me about this vacation?” I give him a flirtatious wink and think about him oiled up on the beach, all sandy and dried ocean salt lining his tattoos and muscles. It gives me a shiver.
“A bit of both? Where are we going, the beach or the mountains?” He tilts his head to study me, not breaking eye contact as he pushes the button for the main floor.
Surprised, I raise my eyebrows at him, and my heart does a weird fluttering thing. Surely, this is love, right? “Beach. The mountains can wait.”
He licks his lips. “You, a bikini, some cocktails… We are going to get sand in some weird places.” He leans forward and kisses me. I have to agree, and our thoughts are lining up perfectly.
I smile into the kiss, thinking about licking the salt from the ocean off his skin before shooting tequila and lime. “We’re getting tequila. Add it to the list.” I laugh. When the doors open, I pull away from him and walk out.
He growls and pulls me back to him before putting his hand on my lower back. “I like where your mind’s at.” Instead of pulling away from me, he keeps his arm around me, hooking his fingers in the belt loops of my pants. We walk into the conference room like that, where my brothers sit around the racetrack conference table. They stop talking when they see us. Surprise. I give them a small smile because I don’t know how Joker will proceed. He is unpredictable, as always. So far, though, he is doing all the right things to make me happy.
I half expect Joker to pull away, but he doesn’t. He instead doubles down and leads us to the two empty chairs nearest my brothers. Joker pulls out the chair, sitting first, then pulling me into his lap before I can take a step away. Yep, I cannot tell if this is well thought out or if Joker is winging it. But with him at my back, I feel almost bulletproof.
“So, this is a thing now?” King says while watching us, his face unreadable. Not that he could say anything. I am a grown-ass woman, and nobody gets to tell Joker what to do.
“Yes. Is that a problem for anyone?” Joker says with an edge to his tone. It’s subtle but there. His body is rigid against my back, but he holds me close, reminding me of a caveman. At any moment, he will grab and throw me over his shoulder at the first sign of something he doesn’t want to hear. The words sound calm, but it is a warning. It’s similar to when you hear a rattlesnake rattle before it strikes. He looks at Ace before adding, “We sorted it out.” Ace’s parting words before we left him a few hours ago—You two sort this shit out.
Ace nods as Jack slightly narrows his eyes, giving me an unimpressed look before saying, “No problem unless you don’t revoke your membership.” My twin cocks his head to the side as if he expected a fight to occur. I want to voice my question of what membership, but Joker’s arms tighten around me.
“Of course. That is a given, and I will handle it after this mission.” Jack relaxes at the words, but his eyes are still narrow.
I really want to ask what membership they are talking about, but Joker gently squeezes my hip. Let me know, and we will talk about it later. Doesn’t he know by now that I’m not known for having patience? I let it go, though, because now it’s at least out there and not a secret. “Let’s focus on the task at hand,” I say, wanting to get focused on the mission, which is everyone’s business. My relationship isn’t everyone’s business, but I like it. It feels like he is proud to show me off. Joker is all in. I know there will be a discussion in the future; however, ignorance is bliss for now.
Ace pulls out a map of the location and, as we are, dramatically throws down metal game pieces for each of us. Joker huffs behind me when he sees his piece. I roll my eyes because we hear this discussion on every mission. “Can we seriously not upgrade me? Surely we can get a cooler Joker rather than the court jester juggling balls in the air? I am supposed to be more terrifying, and that doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of anyone.”
Jack scoffs and rolls his eyes. “I am a freaking diamond. How emasculating is that? It makes me look like I am super bougie.” He picks up the metal piece that resembles a game board piece. A small part of me feels slightly bad for the guy, honestly. He has such depth, and so many people think of him as a pretty face when he truly is way more complicated than that. The man also uses his humor as a shield.
“You know you are hella bougie, Jack. I see the receipts for some orders that come through the company credit cards. Your shampoo and conditioner cost close to $150 easily!” King reaches over, grabs the diamond piece from his hand, and sits it on the map. “You’re the diamond, for sure.” Before tapping it with his pointer finger twice.
“Don’t come crying to me when your hair thins and looks like shit. You will wish you had spent that much on your shampoo. There is a reason men go bald, and it’s not happening to me.” He leans forward and points to his scalp. “Women love to run their fingers through my silky locks. Just touch it.” Jack pushes his head closer to King. “Do it! Touch it!”
King grunts and pushes Jack’s head out of his space. “I’m not feeling your fucking hair. I felt it enough helping you get those damn rubber band ties after Winnie got done being your hairstylist.”
“Can everyone just fucking focus? I’ll buy all new pieces and everyone some of Jack’s bougie shampoo if we can get on with this!” Ace stands, glaring at everyone at the table. Damn, someone needs to get laid terribly. Look at me; I got my pipes cleaned and feel amazing. Not that I was about to tell Ace that either, so I sit here and wait for the plan to unfold.
“If you add the conditioner too, you have a deal. It would just get ruined if you didn’t pair them together.” Jack leads forward and claps his hands together before rubbing them back and forth quickly. My hand wants to palm my face at the comment. The man wants to be taken seriously, yet he can’t help himself. “Where is this handsome, great-haired diamond man going to be?”
“Fucking dead if you’re not careful,” Ace grumbles and looks back at the map. “So the plan is to sort out the rats and distract them. Queenie and Joker, you will do the actual mission.”