Bristol laughed. “You have no idea how many times I have heard that when it comes to Alice. The things she says and does would boggle your mind, but she’s one of the best people you will ever meet.”
“I’d love for her to meet Leo and Marco. She would most likely curtsy and ask which one of them is the king of the mafia.” Greer laughed loudly. “I only met her one time, and it was a highlight of my life.”
“Alice does know how to spice things up,” Bristol agreed.
“I have a list of people I need to hang out with, and Alice was just added to it.” I burrowed under the blanket and sighed. “I only got a couple of days with Meg before I had to run here.”
“Oh gosh,” Greer sighed. “That is another pairing I would love to see. Alice and Meg. I wonder if their craziness would cancel out the other or if it would just be an epic explosion of craziness.”
“I would have to lean toward it more being an explosion,” Bristol declared. “I mean, Alice carries a blender in her trunk, and Meg can turn anything into a three-ring circus.”
“Well, if they ever do meet, I hope I have a front row seat.” Greer settled into the couch. “And a video camera.”
“Yes,” Bristol called.
My eyes were heavy, and I listened to Greer and Bristol reminisce stories about Alice and Meg. I fell asleep on the couch and dreamt of being a golden girl while buying a cow.
Crazy.
*
Marco
“Shh, beautiful,” I whispered.
Royal wound her arms around my neck and sighed. I lifted her from the couch and cradled her in my arms.
“Be careful with her,” Greer called. Apollo had his arm around her waist, and she had her head resting his shoulder.
“I’ve got her, Greer.”
Bristol was still passed out in one of the recliners, and Murphy and Princeton were doing rock, paper, scissors to decide who was going to carry her to bed.
I nodded to Apollo and headed down the hallway to the stairs.
Even nine months pregnant, Royal was as light as a feather. I was going to have to make sure she was eating enough for her and the baby. She had only eaten half of her dinner tonight and had passed on dessert.
I climbed the stairs, and she didn’t even stir when I bumped open her bedroom door with my hip. I moved to the bed and leaned over to lay her down.
“No,” she whispered. “Don’t leave me.” Her arms tightened around my neck, and she clung to me.
“It’s okay, Royal,” I whispered back.
“Don’t leave,” she repeated.
“Beautiful, I’m not leaving you.”
She sighed lightly but didn’t move her arms from around my neck.
I was awkwardly bent over the bed with Royal clinging to me. I tried to move her arms from around my neck, but she wouldn’t budge.
If I called for help from Murphy or Princeton, I would wake her up. I didn’t want to do that.
Shit.
I would just have to lie with her until she loosened her hold on me.
I lifted her up again, set her further on the bed, and managed to lie down with her. This wasn’t the most comfortable position, but I had to admit it was nice to have her in my arms.
Just a few minutes and then I would be able to maneuver my way back to my room.
“Don’t leave,” Royal whispered again.
She had to be talking in her sleep, though I had to wonder what she was dreaming about since she kept repeating don’t leave.
There was so much I didn’t know about Royal.
One thing I was learning right now was her body fit perfectly against mine. Even being nine months pregnant.
The fact she was pregnant should have made me run for the hills, but it didn’t. I not only wanted to protect her, I wanted to make sure the baby was safe.
They both needed someone to be there for them, and deep down, I wanted to be that man.
The problem was, Royal didn’t even want to be in the same room as me unless she was sleeping.
I needed to figure out how to change that, but I didn’t even know where to start.
She whimpered in her sleep and then sighed.
Maybe this was my in.
I was her punching bag before, and now, I was her pillow. She may be unconscious, but it was an upgrade.
Baby steps.
*
Chapter Nine
Royal
“He was in my bed, Bristol.”
Bristol turned from the stove. “What are you talking about?”
I held my coffee cup in both hands and sighed. “I woke up this morning and Marco was there.”
“In your bed?” she asked.
I nodded.
“Naked?”
“What?” I gasped. I looked around to make sure no one was around to hear us. “Of course, he wasn’t naked.”
Bristol turned back to the stove. “Well, you said he was in your bed. I guess I just jumped to him being naked with you.”
“I wasn’t naked either. I was still in my clothes from yesterday.”
“So how did he get into your bed?” she asked.
That, I didn’t know. The last thing I had remembered was watching Golden Girls and listening to Greer and Bristol giggle about Meg and Alice stories.
“I don’t know. How did you get to bed?” I asked.
Bristol shook her head. “I didn’t. I woke up in the recliner.”
I frowned. “Then I should have woken up on the couch.”
“So what happened when you woke up and he was in your bed?”
I took a sip of my coffee. “Well, I asked him what the hell he was doing in my bed.”
“What did he say?”
I sighed. “He told me I wouldn’t let him go and he must have fallen asleep before I let him go.”
Bristol’s jaw dropped. “Say what? Were you sleepwalking or something?”
I didn’t have a damn clue. “Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead, slipped out of bed, and went to his room.”
Bristol moved to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine.
“I think it’s a little early for that,” I drawled.
Bristol held up the bottle and shook her head. “I’m not planning on drinking it. I was making sure I bought you non-alcoholic wine. You had three glasses of it, but you shouldn’t have gotten tipsy enough to fall into bed with Marco.” She put it back in the fridge. “No booze in it.”
I put my head in my hands and sighed.
“What’s with the long face?” Greer called. She breezed into the kitchen looking like she had slept for twenty hours, refreshed and ready for the day.
I groaned. I wished I could look as put together and classy as she did. Right now, I was a beached whale ready to pop who was trying to figure out what I was feeling.
Bristol handed Greer a coffee cup. “She woke up in bed with Marco.”
Greer’s steps faltered. “Say what?” She grabbed the cup and moved over to the coffee pot. “I think you might need to rewind a little bit and tell me how that happened. You were passed out to the world when he carried you to bed.”
“What?” I yelped. “He carried me?” Oh, my Lord. I was mortified. Now I was also worried that Marco had possibly thrown his back lifting my big ass.
“Well, you surely didn’t walk. I tried waking you up and you wouldn’t budge. Marco and the guys came in to see what I was doing.” She filled her cup with coffee and sat down next to me at the kitchen island. “Marco carried you.”
“Why didn’t I get carried to bed?” Bristol pouted.
Greer laughed. “Well, Murphy and Princeton duked it out over rock, paper, scissors, and Murphy lost. He tried to lift you up and instead of wrapping your arms around his neck like Royal did to Marco, you threw a left hook and caught Murphy on the chin. He dropped you like a sack of potatoes and left you to sleep in the recliner.”
“How chivalrous of him,” Bristol scoffed.
Greer waved her hand at Bristol. “You did
n’t even wake up, and you looked damn comfy.”
Bristol grabbed a whisk and bowl. “Yeah, well, I won’t be making him his favorite cookies anymore.”
“The cherry chip ones?” Greer asked.
Bristol nodded.
“Yes, you will, because those are also Marco’s favorite,” Greer laughed.
Bristol frowned. “Well, shit.”
Greer waved her hand. “Enough of that. We need to go back to how Marco ended up in your bed this morning.”
I buried my face in my hands. “I don’t know,” I whined.
“He told her she wouldn’t let go of him so he just climbed into bed with her,” Bristol blabbed.
“Shh,” I hissed. “I don’t even know what he meant when he told me that.”
“I do,” Greer smirked. “When he picked you up, you wrapped your arms and body around him like a cat.” She motioned to my belly. “Well, as much as you could with baby in the way.”
“No, I didn’t,” I insisted.
Greer eyed me knowingly. “You were dead to the world, Royal. I was not.”
“I totally believe it,” Bristol sang. “The chemistry between you and Marco is undeniable.”
“There is no chemistry,” I growled. What was she even talking about?
“I saw it, too,” Greer chirped.
“You barely even saw us together,” I insisted. “You don’t even know what you are talking about. There is so much between Marco and me that I want to kick him in the butt when I see him.”
“Maybe,” Greer smirked. “But I think after you kick him in the butt, you’d love to kiss him.”
“My brother is gone because of what Marco did.” I sounded like a bitch saying it, but I didn’t know what else to say to prove to them that there wasn’t any chemistry between Marco and me.
“Honey, I’m not going to tell you how to feel, but I will say Marco did not kill your brother.”
I turned in my stool toward Greer. “Do you actually know what happened?” I asked.
“I was given the rundown.” She put her hand on my leg. “Was Marco involved with the deal with the Meeks? Yes. Was there any way for him to know they would go all psycho? Not at all.”
“He should have just left it alone. Why did he have to go back on his word and completely mess things up?” I didn’t understand any of this.
“Because he wasn’t about to actually help Meeks,” Greer reasoned. “In the plain sense of the word, Marco and the rest of the Banachi are bad men, but they have morals. Morals that they don’t bend on.”
“And what morals are those?” I asked. “He should have just left it alone.”
“We don’t hurt women, children, or the innocent.” Marco’s words thundered around the kitchen. “And maybe you’re right about leaving it alone, beautiful, but I can’t take back what happened.”
He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
My heart dropped to my stomach. Why did he have to walk in at that exact moment? I mean, it was his place, after all, and he could go wherever he wanted, but maybe he could clear his throat or stomp his feet a little bit to announce his arrival.
Greer gulped, and Bristol dropped the spatula in her hand.
“Good morning!” Bristol shouted. “Are you hungry? I like to cook!”
Greer sputtered and slapped her hand over her mouth.
I buried my face in my hands and wished to drop dead right there. “Oh, Lord,” I mumbled.
“You’re the one who doesn’t do well under pressure,” Marco laughed. “There’s always one of them in the group. Though there are a couple of them in the Devil’s Knights ol’ ladies.”
Bristol scrambled to grab the spatula off the floor. She tossed it in the sink and smiled wide. “I don’t like to be surprised, Mister.”
“Mister?” Greer laughed. “You really are the one who can’t handle pressure.”
Bristol turned back to the stove. “I’m going to stop talking.”
“That may be a wise choice,” Marco drawled. He moved to the cabinet and grabbed a coffee cup.
“Did you sleep well?” Greer asked him.
I groaned again. Anytime now, I was going to melt into a puddle of embarrassment.
“Good.” Marco grabbed the coffee pot and filled his cup. “Actually, great.”
“Bed nice and comfy?” Greer went on.
“Shut up,” I hissed. Who’s side was she on?
“Yes.” Marco leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee.
Greer planted her elbows on the counter and rested her chin in her hands. “Will you be sleeping there again?”
Marco grinned wide. “Only if I’m invited.”
“Eggs!” Bristol shouted. “I am making eggs!”
“You really don’t do well in high-pressure situations,” Greer laughed.
“This is so awkward,” Bristol drawled. “I’m dying of embarrassment, and I wasn’t the one who slept with Marco last night.” She slapped her hand over her mouth and turned back to the stove. “I’m not talking anymore,” she mumbled.
Greer sipped her coffee and looked from Marco to me. “You two talk. I’m just here enjoying my coffee while I wait for the eggs that Bristol likes to cook.”
Marco laughed and shook his head. “Call me when those eggs are done.” He pushed off the counter and headed to his office.
No one spoke until we heard his office door shut down the hall.
“Oh, my God!” Bristol gasped.
“I cannot believe you,” I hissed at Greer.
“He totally wants you,” Greer sang.
“No!” I pointed my finger in her face. “Do not put that voodoo on me.”
“Voodoo?” she laughed. “I’m just telling you what I see as plain as day.”
“I sounded like such an idiot,” Bristol moaned. “And he does want you,” she added.
I shook my head. “Nope. Not listening to this.” I put my fingers in my ears and hummed loudly.
Greer talked, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. Bristol was also talking while she waved her spatula around in the air.
This was chaos. Pure and utter chaos.
These two were completely against me. They were supposed to be on my side, not telling me that Marco wanted me. I needed reinforcements that were on my side.
I pulled my fingers from my ears.
“What in the hell is going on here?” Apollo boomed.
What was with these guys sneaking up on us?
“Sweet nibblets,” Greer gasped. “What in the hell is wrong with you Banachis?”
“I don’t know. You’re a Banachi, too,” he drawled.
Greer rolled her eyes. “By name, not by blood.”
Apollo shrugged. “You were mine when you were sixteen, Greer. Just took us a little bit to line up together.”
Greer waved her hand at him. “Don’t be sweet with me right now, Pol. You’ve got my heart beating a mile a minute, and it isn’t the good kind.”
“It’s not like you would have even heard me walk into the kitchen since you two were yapping so loud and Royal had her fingers in her ears,” Apollo pointed out.
“Because they’re traitors,” I drawled. “I need Indiana here.”
“You better run that by Marco before you make that happen.” Apollo grabbed Greer’s coffee cup and gave her a wink.
“You think he’ll be okay with Indiana coming to visit?” I asked, hopefully.
Apollo shrugged. “The worst he can say is no.”
“You guys did sleep together last night,” Greer pointed out. “I’m sure he’ll totally let you have Indiana over.”
“How can I like you and hate you at the same time?” I drawled.
Greer bated her eyes at me. “I’m special like that.”
“Real special,” Apollo drawled.
Greer slapped him on the shoulder. “Now who’s side are you on?”
“How long until breakfast?” I asked Bristol.
Bristol looked over her s
houlder at me. “Well, seeing as I’m a wreck right now and trying to figure out what the heck I’m going to make besides eggs, I would say half an hour.”
I slipped off my stool and grabbed my cup of coffee. “I’ll be back.”
“You gonna try your luck with Marco?” Greer asked.
“I need Indiana here since you can’t seem to pick which side you’re on.” I bumped my hip against her stool, playfully.
“What?” Greer squawked. “I’m like Switzerland,” she insisted.
“Right,” Apollo drawled.
“You go,” Bristol called. “I’ll be the referee between these two,” she laughed.
“How could you say I’m not Switzerland?” Greer grumbled at Apollo. “The truth comes out after twenty years, huh?”
I left Greer pouting at the kitchen island while Apollo tried to grovel.
I knocked on Marco’s office door and waited.
And waited.
I raised my hand to knock again but the door swung open.
“Yes?” he drawled.
I cleared my throat. “Uh, do you think we could talk for a second?”
“Without the peanut gallery listening?” He stepped back and opened the door more.
“Those two are quite a pair when they’re together,” I mumbled. “Right now, Apollo and Greer are bickering while Bristol cooks.”
“Because she loves to cook,” Marco chuckled. “It’s always good to know how the staff will react under pressure.”
“I think if it’s something to do with food, she’d do amazing.” I laughed. “Anything else, and she might read like an open book.”
Marco motioned to two chairs by the window. “Have a seat.”
I sat in the one closest to the window.
“What do you want to talk about?” he asked.
My eyes scanned his office and landed on his desk that was full of papers. “I didn’t interrupt your work, did I?”
He shook his head. “I was about to make a phone call. It can wait until later.”
“Is it about Grit?” I asked.
“Royal,” Marco drawled.
“Let me guess, I don’t need to know.”
“It’s for the best that you don’t know much about what is going on. The less you know, the safer you are.” Marco’s eyes connected with mine. “Trust me.”
Royal Mess (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation Book 3) Page 7