“Let’s grab breakfast, then go wedding dress shopping.” Excitement swells in my chest. I didn’t want to shop alone. Now I don’t have to.
When Tasha and I head into the breakfast area, it surprises me to see the entire crew is here. Half the men are in sweats and tees; the other half are suited up like they’re headed to a board meeting. Cyan, of course, looks devastating in a grey pinstripe three-piece, as if he didn’t just rail me into the mattress an hour ago.
My empty seat beside him waits. Another chair has appeared next to Collin—clearly meant for Tasha.
“Morning,” I greet. “What’s going on?”
“Introduce us to your friend,” Gabriel yawns, stretching. I’ve never seen him awake this early. The legend of Tasha’s bat has obviously circulated.
I gesture proudly. “Guys, this is my best friend, Tasha… my sister from another mother.” A round of heys and hellos follows. I start the introductions. “Tasha, you’ve already met Cyan. Next to him is Collin, his younger brother. The one you hit with your bat.”
Tasha smirks at him. “Hey, Pretty Boy. How’s your shoulder?”
“Fine, now that I’ve popped my dislocation back in,” Collin raises a brow. “Are you going to apologize?”
Tasha tilts her head. “Sure. Here’s my apology: I told you not to fucking touch me. Your ass got what it deserved. So go fuck yourself.” Hurricane Tasha. My best friend.
Collin stares. Not his usual expression. It’s actual confusion. I don’t think any woman has ever spoken to him like that. Tasha stares right back, refusing to break. We will be here all day if I let this continue.
“Tasha,” I pull her toward the next set of introductions.
“Nice to meet you, Tasha,” Trent nods her way from across the table, wearing a shit-eating grin. “We had to come see the woman with the balls to storm the estate.”
Rosa cuts in. “Beautiful. Now that everyone knows each other, let’s eat. Busy day ahead.” I start to introduce Tasha to Rosa .
“Oh! Tasha, this is Rosa, Johnny’s mother.”
“We’ve met,” Tasha waves. She’s the one who brought me in. Those jackass security guards refused to call you. I was about to take Trevor out and smack some sense into them when Rosa drove by and ordered them to let me in.”
Johnny groans. “Mama, you weren’t supposed to do that. You should’ve called me.”
Rosa shrugs. “What? She’s not a stranger. Anyone who knows who Cyan is and still comes looking for Aria? That’s loyalty. She deserved to be let in.”
“Mama,” Johnny insists, “what if she had a gun in that case?”
“Jonathan.” Rosa gives him the mom Voice. “The guard checked her.”
“But that’s not–”
“Jonathan.” She cuts down the conversation with only his name.
Cyan clears his throat. “Listen to your mother, Johnny.” Then he looks at Rosa, gentler. “Next time, just reach out to one of us, yeah?” She nods, and the matter is done.
I pull Tasha toward the open chair beside Collin, but she veers away. “Tasha,” I call out, panic flickering when I see where she’s heading. “Don’t–”
Too late. She stops directly in front of Cyan, measuring him from head to toe. “Look,” her tone is calm, not an ounce of fear. “I don’t give a fuck if you’re the Capo Bastone of Boston. If you hurt my girl, I’ll rip off your balls and make you eat them.” The table falls into stunned silence.
Cyan studies her for a long beat, his face unreadable. “I respect that, Ms. Diamond… warning noted. Anything else?”
“For now? No.” She nods. “Just wanted you to know I’ve got her back.”
“Understood. In that case,” Cyan’s lips shape with a faint smile, “sit down. Rosa worked hard on this breakfast.”
Tasha holds his stare a second longer before lifting her chin. “Since you’re marrying my girl… call me Tasha.” She finally takes her seat.
Cyan meets my stare, and I mouth,thank you.That could’ve gone nuclear.
“Alright,” Rosa claps. “Eat. We have a flight in two hours.”
