I stared at him and realized what I had sounded like. Shit, he wasn’t a pussy, I was just concerned. I stepped closer and got on my tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Honey, I know you can protect me. I know you are capable of anything, but I also have grown fond of your cock. So just make sure that you come home without him broken and we will be fine.”
He leaned back and smiled at me. “I told you so.”
I tilted my head and said, “About what?”
“That my cock is addicting,” Falon said and I rolled my eyes.
“Whatever.”
“Come on,” Falon laughed and pulled me in back of him. “Mom and Dad already know I’m coming to tell them something important. Mia is on her way there too.”
We walked out to the car and made the trip to the O’Malley house in just a few minutes. Falon pulled up and I frowned and pointed to the large SUV parked in front of the house.
“Whose car is that?” I asked.
“Shit, the Roarks are here too. I should have known they would call them. Bob and Bear are probably with them.”
I shook my head. “Oh well, like a Band-Aid, rip it off.”
“You sure you wanna come with me. I would totally understand if you wanna take off and go home to chill out.” Falon sighed and I smiled and shook my head.
“Just like you,” I said. “I got your back.”
We got out of the car and began walking up the sidewalk. Before we could reach the door, Mrs. O’Malley opened the door and stepped out looking concerned and worried. “Well come on, we have been sitting on eggshells waiting for you.”
“Is that why the Roarks are here?” Falon drawled and his mother shook her head.
“No, they brought the baby to visit. Oh my goodness, she is adorable, have you seen her yet since they have been out of the hospital?” his mom asked and I smiled.
“Nope, we haven’t,” I said and she turned and stared at me, then her gaze went back to Falon and back to me and her smiled turned huge and she clapped.
“Oh my goodness, you are together, aren’t you? Like finally you are together instead of doing that ridiculous foreplay fighting thing. It was getting annoying. I’m so happy. Your father, he is gonna be beside himself.” Falon shifted on his feet, grabbing my hand.
“Ma, wanna let us in so we can get on with this.”
Mrs. O’Malley looked shocked and turned. “Oh yes, sorry,” she said and then opened the door and we walked in. Everyone was in the living room, which was fine, it was just a little disconcerting when they were all together. I looked at Bob who was sitting in the large fluffy chair looking gorgeous even though she just went through labor. Bear was sitting next to her holding a small little bundle protectively and was staring at us like he thought we were going to grab his baby girl and make a run for it. It was cute. Bob saw it and hit his arm and hissed, “Knock it off, people wanna see our little angel.”
Mr. Roark grinned and shook his head. “Don’t mind Bear, he is just having issues since he had a baby girl. He is in hyper protective mode and doesn’t like to share her.”
Falon laughed. “What did you name the little thing?”
Bear looked up and glared at him and said, “Why do you want to know?”
I let a small giggle slip out and then Bear turned his attention to me and he said, “I suppose you want to hold her?”
“Well yeah,” I replied and stepped forward and looked down at the beautiful baby girl in her father’s arms sleeping. “Oh my, she is gorgeous like her mama,” I whispered and Falon leaned over my shoulder.
“Damn, when she grows up you are gonna be in hell,” Falon said.
Bear shook his head. “Nope, I already have a plan. No pimple faced little punk will get within a foot of my sweet baby girl.”
Bob shook her head and whispered, “He is a little delusional.”
Mrs. Roark cleared her throat and said, “Her name is Raylee.”
“Yep,” Bear said and Bob smiled. “It means princess, which she is! My little princess, aren’t you, Ray Ray?” Bear to the little girl in a sweet tone. “We can’t leave for a few more weeks, Ray needs to have her follow-up. Don’t want to take a chance driving across country with her yet.”
The large man looked up and Falon and said, “Brother, can we stay at your place? I swear, I love the Roarks, my girl loves them, but I need some us time, you know?”
Falon smiled at me and raised an eyebrow. He was cleared and should be moving back to his place but I wasn’t ready to let him go. I actually enjoyed waking up to him there.
“Well, you did pay for the new carpet,” I said and Falon nodded.
“Yeah, I’m staying with Mel, grab the keys before you leave,” Falon whispered.
“Thank you, man, I owe you!” Bear said and Bob giggled.
Reilly walked into the room and spied me and grinned. “There’s my girl! I have been waiting for you to visit!”
Falon rolled his eyes and then whispered in my ear, “Don’t let him fool you. Now that we are together, he is worse than the moms, he wants grandchildren.”
Chapter Fourteen
Falon
Everyone finally settled down and Bear relinquished the child to Mel who was sitting next to me rocking a little from side to side. It struck me right then, I wanted to see her holding our child, not someone else’s. Shit, I loved her, like truly loved her. Fuck, I was looking at my future.
“Well?” Mom said and leaned in closer. “You had a doctor’s appointment, is something wrong? You can tell us; we will help you through it, I promise.”
I shook my head. “Nope, I am healthy as a horse.”
She nodded and then sat back and said, “Well, then lay it out.”
Mia ran into the room, out of breath and leaning against the door jam. “Sorry, I was uh, in a meeting for work and it ran a little longer than it should have.”
My father glared at her and then said, “Really? I’m sure you told your boss that this was about your brother who had been shot. What if he was telling us something important, and he kept you from it?”
Mia shook her head. “Dad, it’s okay, I talked to him and he understands.”
“Sit down, we will discuss this later, since you have moved out, things have been weird,” he said and Mia got pale, like really pale. I looked at my sister and wondered for a moment what could be going on with her. Hell, if she was dating her boss, the parents would go ballistic, the man was like twenty years older than Mia.
Mom interrupted and said impatiently, “I said lay it out for us.”
I wanted to laugh, ‘cause Mom had been hanging around the bikers too much, she was picking up on their slang and it sounded weird coming out of her mouth, but I refrained. So I told them the story of my teacher in high school and my mother interrupted a few times because she wanted to know why she wasn’t told about this when I was younger. I explained the situation, and basically told her that I had kept it from them, which kinda pissed her off a little. As the story progressed, both the Roarks and my parents began to get a strange look on their faces. Bob and Bear were staring at me openmouthed, especially when I told them about my success.
When I was done, Mel took my hand in hers and squeezed it a little, giving me her support. My mother of course was the first one to speak.
“How many shows have we missed?” she snapped and my eyes got big and I thought for a second.
“Well,” I started. “At the beginning it was other people’s shows and so I really can’t count them. But my own, well, I suppose I have had about ten, one a year give or take.”
My mom’s face got red and she yelled, “I’m a failure as a parent!”
My head snapped up straight and I went to say something but Sonia beat me too it. “Oh, Olivia, no, you are not a failure.”
“Yes I am. My son is an artist and I had no idea. I have never been to any of his shows! I have like missed ten years of his work. I never saw it. I never even got to see any of them,” Ma cried. Well shit, now I felt l
ike crap.
“Ma, seriously, it is not…” I started.
She swung back to me and then pointed at me, shit, I hated when she did that, it meant she was gonna go on a rant. “Not what? Important? Are you going to stand there and tell your mother, who was in labor with you for twenty-two hours, that becoming a world famous artist is not important? Really? Do you know how many gatherings we have been to, and bragged about our sons, all of them? But this? This is big stuff. I could have topped old lady Hansen whose son works on Wall Street for some big company, he bought her a new car, a BMW. I also could have shoved it in Vicki’s face, her daughter went to LA and landed a commercial acting job. I have watched that thing about a million time, who cares if it was about adult diapers. My God, Sonia, can you imagine what they would have said?”
“Oh yes,” Sonia said slowly. “You would have totally been in the lead with this.”
My mom glared at me and I smiled.
“Ma, really you are pissed because of what the neighbors think?” I said and she snapped.
“Hell yes I am. You have no clue! They are gossipers, annoying really, they are interfering parents, and I have always prided myself on letting you all live your own lives and not butt in.”
Holy shit, was she serious right now, I needed to get a hand on this. I looked at my father who was shaking his head but he didn’t look surprised really. My eyes narrowed and I stared at him. He cocked an eyebrow at me and I leaned back. Motherfucker, he knew, my father knew. I wondered how long. I opened my mouth but before I could say anything, my father whispered to my mother.
“Sweetheart, look at me,” he said softly and my mom looked at him and then he said softly, “Remember what his alias is?”
She looked confused and then she sat up and looked at me. “I didn’t listen after I heard that you were an artist.”
I sighed and said, “J. Holmes.”
My mother looked stunned again, and she opened and closed her mouth and pointed at me. I wondered what was going on. So I looked at Sonia who was staring at me as well with her mouth open.
“We have a painting,” Mom whispered. I frowned and looked around. No they didn’t, at least they didn’t in the main area. Crap, did they put it in one of the bathrooms somewhere, or maybe the garage. Yeah, that would suck.
“So do we,” Sonia said and looked at her husband who was also looking a little sheepish.
“For Christmas, three years ago,” Mom said quietly and Sonia nodded.
My sister leaned towards me and whispered, “Really? J. Holmes?”
I looked at her and my eyes narrowed then I hissed quietly back to her, “How in the fuck do you know who that is?”
Mia paled again and then leaned back and pressed her lips together. I turned back to Mom and started to say something again, but of course I was interrupted.
“Your father took us to a show in the city. We loved it. Dressed up all fancy, had champagne, and little sweets. Your father bought me one of the paintings for Christmas,” she said.
I frowned and said, “I don’t remember you ever getting a painting for Christmas.”
“It was the year you and your brothers couldn’t get home because of the storm until New Years. Remember, we waited except for a few presents, which one of them was the painting. Your father hung it right away,” my mother said and then Sonia interrupted.
“Ours is in the family room downstairs. I never would have known,” she said and I sighed.
“Can I see it?” I asked.
My mother nodded and stood and ran out of the room. She was gone a minute before she ran back carrying one of my painting. She turned and showed it to me, it was the one I made that represented the family, no one would know unless they knew me. I looked up and saw tears in her eyes.
“I loved this painting,” she whispered. “It hangs in your bedroom.” I stood and pulled the painting out of her hands and set it on the floor and hugged her close.
“Ma, I’m sorry, I fucked up. I really am, after a while, I just kinda forgot,” I whispered and she leaned back and glared at me.
“Forgot? You forgot you were a worldwide famous artist?” she growled and then glared at my father. “And you, seriously, you knew and didn’t tell me?”
My father smiled and said, “Sweetheart, it wasn’t my place to tell you. I figured he had a reason for it.”
Mel smiled at Reilly and said, “How did you figure it out?”
Reilly shook his head. “I know everything, haven’t you figured that out yet?”
I stared at my father. “How long?”
My father smiled and said, “Let’s just say, Mrs. Grossman and I are very close friends.”
“Mrs. Grossman?” my mother said and opened and closed her mouth. “We had her over for dinner a few times.”
My father nodded and he looked at me. “You know, it was always so easy for you to hide behind being a goof like your brothers insisted you were. I knew it wasn’t true, and yet you still just let them talk. I never understood why you did that. I mean, your talent is special, I’m in awe of the success you have had. But I could never tell you. You need to stop letting your brothers put you down and give you a hard time.”
I had no idea what to say to that but then Bob said loudly, “You know, I did that too in a way. Everyone thought when I was going on the road with the Warriors I was fucking all them. I wasn’t, I just couldn’t stay at the compound with everyone. I didn’t want them to know the real me, so I was labeled a slut, just like you.”
Bear frowned at his woman and said, “Babe, you were never a slut.”
Bob smiled at her man and said, “Yes I was, and it was okay.”
“Uh, yeah,” I said and smiled at Bob. I turned back to my parents and said, “Listen, I’m sorry, I know you are upset, and I hope you’ll forgive me.”
My mom rolled her eyes. “Like I could ever be upset with you.”
My father stood and said, “Hell, I’m just glad you didn’t come here to tell us you got some woman pregnant in the past and suddenly you had a kid.”
I turned and glared at my father. “Why does everyone think that? Gosh.”
Bob leaned forward and whispered loudly, “Because everyone thinks you are a slut too. I told you it was a good cover to have. Got me out of a lot of shit.”
I turned back to her and laughed. “I don’t think I’m a slut.”
My father said, “Yes you are, we were so glad when Mel showed up, we thought you would never settle down. Your mother has been praying every night to give Mel the strength to handle you and not leave.”
I opened my mouth and yelled, “Seriously? Did you really have such little faith in me? I’m not the one who had a one-night stand and ended up with a pregnant woman like Michael, and you know Brooklyn is gonna tell you she is knocked up too. So I don’t think I’m the slut here. Come on.”
My mom stopped and looked at my father and then turned and looked at Sonia and whispered, “We are gonna have a grandbaby together.”
Fuck, I thought and then said quickly, “Shit, do not tell her I said a damn word, Fin and Tony don’t even know yet. Promise me, Mom!” I begged, then Mel stood and came to my side and hit me on the back of the head.
“Are you kidding me, you blew their announcement. Fin and Tony are gonna kick your ass,” she snapped.
“Ma!” I said quickly and snapped my fingers in front of her face. “Mom, focus. DO NOT TELL FIN AND TONY YOU KNOW!”
Bear mumbled in back of me, “Shit, wouldn’t want to be in your shoes about right now.”
“Fine,” my mother said. “But they better be telling us soon. We have a lot to do.”
“Ma, just don’t spoil this for them,” I said warily and she sighed and then patted my face.
“Okay, well, why don’t you and Mel stay for supper and tell us everything about your paintings.”
I looked at Mel quickly and she opened her eyes up wide. She was hurting and I was not going to tell them why. So instead I said the only thing
I could think of that would get me out of the dinner.
“Sorry, Ma, the doctor wanted me to go home and rest. I had an issue, you know with um my performance, and he wants a sample asap to make sure my swimmers are still working.” It was a lie, and it sounded stupid, but I knew my mom and she looked at Mel and then at me.
“Probably the meds, honey. Go home, and do what you need to do. I need more grandbabies.”
Chapter Fifteen
Mel
This last few days had been a whirlwind, it wasn’t even funny how out of hand things had become. Falon was losing his mind because Brooklyn, Fin, and Tony hadn’t told the parents yet, apparently they wanted to do it in some cute way at dinner tonight. I hoped like hell that Olivia was going to be able to hold her tongue. Sonia too, because Brooklyn told everyone they had a big announcement to make.
In between preparing for the fight, and everything else, we had been busy, so busy that I had seen Falon in the morning and at night, late. That was it. We were both exhausted, but Falon had contacted the Russians. He was practicing his painting and Bogdan and he had agreed to wait until his father was back up on his feet before firming up a date. I was in the gym. And thankfully the whole clit piercing stopped hurting after three days. Petal shared that hers had been the same way, keeping the area clean was the most important part. Falon had taken this very seriously and every night he had made sure he did what he was supposed to. It had at least led to some very easy and clean oral sex, which took the edge off both of us. However, Falon was still whining about not being able to have sex.
“Come on, honey,” Falon yelled from the front door, “We are gonna be late, and I can’t be late because I have the duct tape for Ma and Sonia in case they start to blab.”
I rolled my eyes and then walked into the living room. Falon looked at me and I smiled. Yeah, I was teasing him a little. I had picked the black corset top that made my boobs look awesome, over it I had on a nice long sweater so I could button it. I was also wearing my jeans, I knew for a fact Falon liked, because when he had stripped them off two nights ago, he had explained his hard-on all day from seeing my ass in the jeans.
Tatted and Tamed (KO Ink Book 5) Page 10