Something Evie said has pissed Vivianne off and she looks like a completely different person in her anger.
What the hell is going on?
I’m not the only one who notices, though, and I hear Roman start whispering to Kortez behind me. “You see that?”
I turn just enough to see Atlas angle himself towards the other two, clearly listening in on their conversation as much as I am.
Kortez’s voice is barely more than a grunt. “Yeah.”
“You ever check into her?”
Look into Vivianne? No, they can’t do that. I don’t know if she covered her tracks enough.
“I’ll make you all a bet.” My voice is loud compared to the whispers I was struggling to hear before, but I can tell by their silence that I got their attention.
I let the tension grow long enough to get a huff of annoyance from Atlas. “What is it?”
I shake my head and turn towards them. “Not you. You can’t compete.”
He visibly bristles, his fingers clenching tightly around his drink. “And why’s that,soldier boy?”
My head tilts back as I let out a laugh. I guess he heard Evie’s little nickname for me.
Roman rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh, “Quit pushing Wylder. What’s the bet?”
I may not be a good man for this, but when Paolo called to tell me someone from our house ordered fake birth control pills…I couldn’t resist joining in on Roman’s little secret. It’s his fault for not properly vetting his people. Paolo’s been working for Markus longer than I have, following us to Denver when the club broke up.
“I bet I’ll get her pregnant before you and Kortez can. Obviously, Atlas can’t compete because he has Abel.”
“That’s not fair! I didn’t even know about him until a week ago. I should get another shot so I can at least experience it with her.”
I let out a hum, looking over at Kortez. “What do you think, Tez?”
I can see the surprise in his eyes at the nickname, but it’s only fair. If they can call me by Evie’s nickname for me then I’m calling them by theirs, too.
“You can compete as soon as Abel starts talking to you.” He delivers the blow so effortlessly, but I can see it was the push Atlas needed.
He’s been…scared to approach his son. Honestly, if it wasn’t so heartbreaking for Abel then it would be funny. A strong mafia man like him scared to face a ten year old boy and the wrath he could possess…Yeah, this is exactly the push Atlas needed.
And it’s enough of a distraction to keep them from looking too much into Vivianne.
Atlas doesn’t say anything before he downs his beerand pushes the empty bottle into Kortez’s waiting hand. The rest of us watch as Atlas makes his way over to Abel, now waiting his turn on the slip and slide, only for Abel to look at him like he’s a piece of rotten fruit before walking away.
“Well, so much for that.”
I shake my head at Roman, “Abel is smart for his age, maybe too smart. This isn’t going to be easy for Atlas just like the last ten years weren’t easy for Abel or Evie.”
Evie begins to make her way across the backyard, heading over to her house.
“Count me in on the bet, and I’m starting right now.” Roman shoots me a wink before following Evie, his red hair making his skin look even more tan in the bright sunlight.
And then there were two.
I turn around to check the burgers, grabbing the plate and putting a few on the rarer side ready for the adults to eat. I feel Kortez standing at my back, his presence somehow threatening even in the middle of a backyard barbeque. He comes forward, grabbing a few raw hot dogs and placing them down where the other burgers were.
The silence grows thicker with each passing second and the sounds of the kids playing are somehow drowned by the sound of his breathing next to me.I can’t stand it anymore.
“Are you in?”
