Twenty minutes later, we’re seated around a dining table that rivals the conference tables at Harrington Bank and Trust in Charlotte, and food covers every inch of available space.
Clover wasn’t exaggerating about Madi’s stress cooking. There’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits, gravy, sweet tea, mac and cheese that’s still bubbling in the pan, and something she calls funeral potatoes that Chief immediately declares as the best thing he’s ever eaten.
“Good to have you back, Chief.” Madi smiles. “Pops was missing you.”
“Bull hooey,” her grandfather, Pops, scoffs from the head of the table. “He wants to have adventures, he can have ’em. Not like I missed his ornery ass or nothing.”
“Sure,” Chief says around a mouthful of potatoes. “Whatever you say.”
Pops holds his fork like a weapon and scowls down the table. “I didn’t miss ya, you numb nut. I just don’t want to have to pick up your body somewhere. It woulda upset the girls, and then I’da killed ya myself, you old fuck.”
“Who are you calling old?” Chief fires back. I’ve landed in a weird version ofThe Golden Girls. “You’ve got five years on me.”
“Enough, you two,” Braxton chides the two oldest men at the table while gently cradling a newborn to his chest with ease. It sets off a spark of…something as I stare at him, at how naturally he maneuvers with a tiny human in his arms. “We all know you missed each other, and we’re not dealing in that masculine toxicity crap anymore, so admit you were worried about each other, missed each other, and are happy to have each other back, and move on.”
Pops scoffs but nods. “What he said. Glad ya didn’t die.”
“Glad I didn’t die too. Poker tomorrow night?” Chief asks as though they weren’t just bickering like an old married couple.
“Yup. Braxton’ll get our beers.”
Braxton rolls his eyes. “Sure thing, Pops.”
Staring at the shitshow before us, I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like to have a grandfather growing up. Hell, what would it have been like to have an active father?
My skin tingles, and I scan the table to find who’s watching me. Greyson. The prick still blames us for Savvy’s condition, even though he’s the one who tried to send her entire protection detail home. If it hadn’t been for Roman’s quick thinking, Savvy might not even be here.
“Thank you for taking care of Clover,” he says. Surprise must register on my face because he lifts a brow, silently daring me to argue.
“You don’t have to thank me for that. Clover’smypriority.”
“Good.” His gaze narrows. He’s a shark in his world, but so am I. “Don’t fuck it up. We all love her, which means if anything happens to her, it’ll happen to you too. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” I say, unwilling to keep the slight mockery from my tone. It’s cute that he thinks he could do anything but cut me a check to protect his ass.
“Excellent.” His tone suggests anything but. “I’m sure we’ll get along fine then.”
This is Clover’s family. And I’m starting to understand that bringing her here wasn’t just for her physical safety, it was for her emotional well-being too.
“So,” Savvy says once everyone’s settled, eating, and the chatter is down to murmurs. “Let’s address the elephant in the room. You’re all here because someone’s after Clover.”
Clover’s hand freezes with her fork halfway to her mouth.
“Savvy,” Elle says gently. “Maybe we should?—”
“No, it’s okay.” Clover sets down her fork, then pinches the material of her jeans with her thumb and forefinger. “You all deserve to know what you’re getting into by letting us stay here.”
“Letting you?” Madi’s voice is sharp—it doesn’t suit her. “Clover, this is your home. You don’t need permission to be here.”
“But I’m bringing danger?—”
“That we’ll deal with,” Braxton says simply as he shifts his baby higher on his chest as though he’s already protecting him. Clover’s body stiffens, telling me she saw it too. “We’ll handle it together, Clover. That’s what family does.”
Clover turns to me, and I nod even as her distress seeps into my skin.
I hold her hand as she tells them the tale—because that’s exactly what it sounds like, fiction.
By the time she’s done, Madi’s crying again but calms when Braxton places the baby in her arms. Elle’s gone pale, and Savvy looks like she’s contemplating murder but can’t decide if I’m her target or if she’s aiming for the woman who calls herself my mother.
