Page 59 of Chef
“Grazed but alive!”
“Hungry!”
“Still ugly!”
Laughter fills the air and it feels so, so good. Sure we may have committed many counts of murder, in two locations, but our guests are safe, our babies are safe, and I’ve got my husband back.
Chapter Twenty Two
Chef
“You sure about this?” I ask Sage, my hands rubbing her upper arms to soothe myself rather than her.
It’s been two days since “The Showdown at the Keep Corral” as TumTum dubbed it, and I’m still not OK at letting Sage out of my sight. It’s not that I think she’ll be taken from me. In fact, it’s the opposite. I was too cocky that night I was taken. I went in with no backup, and I underestimated just how batshit crazy some people can be. Nathaniel and whoever is really in charge have done a number on these people.
“I’m sure.” Sage says in a soothing voice, running her hand over my short hair, her fingers digging into my scalp, pulling a groan from my lips. “Don’t start with the noises, babe. You’ll distract me from my murderin’.”
My lips tip up and I lean forward and press a chaste kiss to her plump mouth. “Wouldn’t wanna do that.”
“Nope. Cos we need answers and I need to finally get rid of Nathaniel for what he did to you.”
“You know that you don’t have to do this, right? Nathaniel is just a pissant. He means nothing.”
“He took you from me, had you beaten and almost killed you. You’re as mental as him if you think I’m gonna let that go.” She raises a brow, then a smile breaks out across her beautiful face. “Didn’t think so.”
She gently pats me on the ass then steps up to the St Andrew’s cross where Damian and Justice strapped Nathaniel earlier.
“Where’s Camel Toe Man?” Sage asks, looking around the room.
“We’ve got him,” Loyal says, pressing a kiss to the underside of Vex’s jaw as her and Joe push “Camel Toe Man” forward.
He’s looking reasonably comfortable strapped to an old office chair with wheels. “Please, I won't say a word to anyone. Please, I promise,” he grovels, nose already dripping snot onto his shirt. He even has a wet patch on the front of his pants, and judging by the stains, I bet this ain’t the first time he’s pissed himself.
Joe makes a clicking sound behind her teeth. “Aw, I’d love to let you go.” Camel Toe Man’s face perks up. “But unfortunately, you’ve been doing bad things, Joshua. You’ve been helping bad men steal girls and sell them to even badder men. Do you think your God would like that?” Joe’s brows are raised as she nods at the man, then her nod turns to her head shaking. “No. He wouldn’t like that at all would he? So, to atone for your sins, you can watch Nathaniel pay in blood for his. Then, you’re going to tell my friends everything you know. OK?”
Camel Toe Man cries louder, and somehow his wails make Joe’s kind face seem even more sinister than her less than soothing words.
“Shit, brother, remind me never to piss off Joe,” TumTum says, eyeing the little woman.
“Don’t worry, Justice will rein her in,” Saint says with a grin. Which disappears when Justice stares at him and slowly shakes his head.
“She’s perfect the way she is,” Justice replies quietly, adoring gaze on Joe who boops Camel Toe Man’s nose and giggles when he cries louder.
“OK then, brother,” I say around a grin.
“You can’t talk.” TumTum butts in, tipping his head in Sage’s direction. “That ain't normal either. When I find my woman, she’s going to be oh so sweet. Wear them pretty sun dresses and like to bake and stuff.”
All heads slowly turn toward TumTum and the dreamy look on his face.
“You just cursed yourself brother,” Prez grins. “There’s a wild woman out there with your name tattooed across her ample chest.”
The brothers laugh at TumTum’s expense and warmth settles in my gut. Not at the teasing, but at the smile on Sage’s face as she watches this group of misfits become a family. Her gaze catches mine and I can’t help but mouth “I love you.” Her eyes widen slightly, pink coloring her cheeks as she mouths the words back.
“You’re damned!” Nathaniel’s voice breaks through the laughter. “You hear me? Damned! Each and every one of you!” He tries to swing his gaze around the room, however with his position he can only spit vitriol over his shoulder. “The murderers, the adulterers, the fornicators, the liars! All damned!”
Omen snorts, “OK, which of you fuckers has been murdering fucking and lying?”
The brothers all stomp their feet, hand in the air, claiming it was them. Nathaniel ignores it all, instead twisting his gaze to Sage.
