“Eww,” Jovie says, loud enough for us to both to hear. Her eyebrows are raised, the clear look of revulsion on her face causes me to smirk at her. This kid has balls, and I like that she feels comfortable enough around me to speak up.
The mutated Barbie whips her head around, glaring at Jovie.
She starts to open her mouth to no doubt say something bitchy, but I catch the furrowed brow of Brynn from across the floor. Storming towards us, ready to handle whatever situation is unfolding. I would never let something happen to Jovie, but Brynn doesn't know that. I imagine it's just been the two of them for however long, and the cling-on hanging off me is about to find out what happens if you go after her kid.
“Is everything alright here?” Brynn snaps, standing on the other side of us, redirecting our attention away from Jovie.
Good Girl.
I gently remove the woman's hands from where they’re pressed against me, stepping away slightly so she's no longer touching. Irritated by this, she huffs, crossing her arms, glaring at Brynn.
“No, actually, it's not. I've been trying to get your attention, but you keep avoiding my table.” She leans toward Brynn, snapping her fingers aggressively.
“Oh, I'm sorry, hun. I thought you were showing off some new dance move.” Brynn gives her a tight-lipped smile, one that doesn't meet her eyes, however, this woman isn't smart enough to understand the insult. I'm about to say something when Inotice Jovie shaking her head at me, nodding toward her mom and smiling, so like any good boss, I wait and see what unfolds.
“There is nothing on the menu that I can eat. I'm vegan, youneedto make something, or I'm going to leave a bad review.” She's giving,don’t you know who I am,energy, and the funny thing is, I couldn't give a fuck if she's the queen of the world. The entitlement rolling of her is so repulsive, I was about to ask her to leave anyway.
The Gallows is a place where you leave your attitude at the door. If it wasn't me, it would be any one of my brothers telling this woman where to shove it.
Speak of the devil.
The low rumble of motorbikes can be heard faintly in the distance, my ears more attuned to the sound than the people around me. Their boom grows louder, and you see almost everyone's heads turn toward the noise, following the path around the corner as they travel past and park behind the bar. All except two people. Brynn and Jovie both stare at me, wide-eyed and worried. I lean down to Brynn's ear, her lavender scent mixed with the body wash I got her earlier. I wasn't going to spend time finding the girly shit, so I got her the same one I use. The combination of the scents flowing from her feels like they were always meant to be, that she was always meant to be next to me.
“It's just my brothers, baby,” I soothe her.
The sound reverberates through the loading dock and out into the bar. Like a thunderstorm directly overhead. The glass bottles behind the bar rattle from the vibration, and just as the sound starts to become uncomfortable, it stops. Jovie jumps from her chair and races to me, lifting my arm and ducking underneath.
How in the space of fifteen hours have this beautiful woman and her daughter wormed their way into my life?
Brynn looks up at me, trusting, a small nod of acknowledgement before reaching out and pushing some of Jovie's loose hair back from her face, telling her everything is alright in a way that only a mother can.
The staff door slams open, Jovie flinching from the sound, and I make the mental note to smack whoever walks through over the head later. I wrap my arm tighter around her, hopefully reassuring her that everything is fine.
“Alright folks, the cavalry’s arrived! You can all get back to enjoying your meals.” Axel yells out as he saunters through and comes to stand behind Brynn. The smack I was giving him is now turning into a punch if he keeps looking down at my woman like that.
I mean, down at Brynn like that.
She's our employee, not his plaything. Mac walks past me to where Sarah is fixing a drink, and Blaze pats me on the shoulder once, not saying a word.
“Ooh, goodie, there's more of you,” the woman with makeup as thick as plaster says, smacking her lips together as she flicks her eyes between the three of us men, completely ignoring Brynn.
“Oh, goodie, you're still here,” Brynn says dryly. I can see where Jovie gets it from now, and I contain my grin, for the second time today. The woman looks to where Jovie is placed under my arm.
“Eww, is she yours?”
A low growl erupts from my chest as I hold Jovie tighter. Brynn shoves at my arm, pushing between Blaze and me, muttering under her breath as she aggressively fills a cup with water from the tap, half spilling it on the floor when she squeezes between us, unapologetically flinging the water at the woman.
Mascara runs down the bitch’s face and she screeches at an unnatural octave, as if she’s actually fucking melting.
“There's your fucking vegan meal,” Brynn fumes, her eyes narrow and cheeks red with rage. “It comes with a side of advice. Don’t talk shit about people's kids. Especially not mine.”
I quickly wrap my other arm around Brynn, both my girls tucked safely under each arm as I step back, bringing them with me.
“You heard the lady, don’t talk shit about the kid,” Axel says, stepping in front of us and crossing his arms.
“But she threw water on me!” she screams, stomping her foot, throwing a tantrum.
“Go.” Mac states calmly, now standing beside where I hold Jovie.
