“And not only that, your nieces love her too. You may not care about anyone else’s feelings, but I know how you feel about those two girls. You chase Tate away, and you’re going to crush their little hearts. Do you want that shit on your conscience? They’ve been through enough with Katie. They don’t need you causing more heartbreak.”
“Okay, Ma. I got it,” he whispers. “Geez.”
“You do whatever you need to do to make shit right with her.”
“I don’t have a problem with Tate.”
“Liar,” I mutter, earning myself a glare from my brother.
“Some shit went down with her and the club.”
Ma glares up at Thumper. “What kind of shit?”
“They wanted her dead for something she didn’t do, but somehow he’s still holding it against her.”
Ma gasps, covering her mouth quickly with her hand. “What in the ever-loving fuck, Dante? I didn’t raise you to be this way.”
My brother looks like my mother’s slapped him across the face.
“Leave her alone. I mean it, Dante Allen.”
“Ooh,” I teased because she pulled out the middle name. If we didn’t know how serious she was before, that seals the deal. Cheryl means business.
“Fucking hell,” he mutters, shaking his head. “I’ll steer clear. It’ll be better for everyone. Happy?”
Ma shakes her head, her hands solidly back on her hips. “You’ll make things right because you can’t steer clear forever, especially if she becomes part of this family.”
“You getting married?”
“No,” I tell him as I rub my forehead.
Cheryl has really gone off the deep end with this conversation, but far be it for me to stop her.
“Just be nice,” she repeats to him.
“Fine, Ma. I’ll play nice,” he says, hissing out the last word.
But I know my brother. No amount of my mother’s intimidation is going to work. But I couldn’t care less. He can pretend she doesn’t exist, and I’ll be okay with it. As long as he keeps his shitty comments to himself—or else we are going to have a big problem and not one I’ll shy away from either.
“And you.” She rounds on me. “Talk to her, and don’t mess this up. Make sure you’re clear what you want. Don’t let Katie ruin any more things in your life. She’s already taken enough.”
“Got it,” I tell her, knowing she’s right. Tonight is the night I make Tate Gallo officially mine.
8
TATE
“Tate,”Gigi squeals as she comes barreling through the front door of the shop with Pike behind her. “I’ve missed you.”
She sucks me up into an almost suffocating hug, but I don’t fight it. I’ve missed my cousin. Over the last handful of years, as I was developing the concept for the Chicago branch of Inked, I spent a lot of time in Florida and the most time with Gigi and Lily.
While I love my cousins here in Chicago, my Florida cousins are closer to me in age. We have more in common, which makes getting along easier. And if I’m honest, I look up to my cousin Gigi. She has her shit together and has everything I want in her own personal and professional life.
“Look at you,” she says, pulling back and letting her gaze rake over me. “As hot as ever.”
“Thanks, cousin. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“What’s this?” she asks, moving my hair away from the side of my neck. Her eyes immediately narrow. “Is that a…”
