Page 48 of At Their Mercy: Part I

“Yeah, now it truly is,” Colt laughed. “Ten bucks on Reese!”

“What the fuck,” Greer grunted.

“A bajillion frog dollars on Papa Bear!” Corey countered. “Get him, Sir! Kick him in the jelly beans!” He punched the air.

I had a better idea, and I was ready to raise my voice. “Or we go inside and fuckin’ eat!” I yelled.

“River wins!” Penelope was on my side. Her usually wavy and curly hair was almost straight at this point. “Let’s go, folks!”

KC glanced back at me, and I nodded before I turned back to Ash and Nathan. They nodded too. We’d make sure the Carters got a nice swim on the way in.

The aisle and the sides of the seating area flooded with guests who were itching to get out of the rain, including Colt, Lucas, and Kit. With Reese and Greer literally wrestling on the lawn, it was up to the rest of us.

“Sloan and Kingsley are in on it too,” Ash said, walking past me. “You and I grab Colt. The others will push in Lucas and Kit.”

I nodded firmly and gave Shay’s arm a squeeze. “Wait here, baby.” We’d reached the loungers, so this was a good spot to enjoy the show.

Ash and I started sneaking up behind the Carters, and they⁠—

“Look at me, Daddy!” Noa yelled, running toward the pool. “I’mma do the helicopter with my butt!”

Wait, what?

KC was never fazed by his boy’s outbursts. “I thought that was called twerking.”

“Not if I’m airborne!” With that hollered, Noa threw himself into the pool, while trying to shake his little ass.

As funny as that was, we were out of time. The Carters were about to leave the pool area, so Ash and I picked up the pace and finally reached them. He grabbed Colt by one shoulder, and I grabbed the other.

“Hey, buddy, how’s married life?” Ash asked. Colt stumbled and uttered a curse as we pivoted him sharply toward the water. “Good, yeah? Yeah, it’s fucking awesome. We’re real happy for you.”

“Couldn’t be happier,” I filled in. “A baptism is traditional after a wedding, innit?”

“Hold on, what?” In the short second Colt alternated between confused as fuck and ready to protest, Ash and I made our move. We shoved him into the pool, and all the brats competed to shatter my eardrums.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Lucas went in next, quickly followed by a flailing Kit.

“Oh my gosh!”

“Cameras out!”

“I hope their shoes weren’t too expensive.” That was Tate.

And that was why you went barefoot.

Ash planted his hands on his hips. “Why are you in the pool, boys? It ain’t good to go in the water when there’s thunder rolling in.”

Colt pushed back his hair and smiled a stunning fuck-you smile. “I’ll get you later, Riley. You too, Tenley.”

“Kick them in the jelly beans,” Lucas told him.

I laughed.

CHAPTER 5

Shay Acton

This had to be one of the best weddings ever planned. The ceremony had been unconventional and fun, and the reception was chill as fuck. We were literally down to wearing towels or blankets. We’d even borrowed sheets and covers from the guest rooms to make the couches comfier. I mean, people fucked on them, so they had to be easily cleaned. In other words, sitting down on soft covers sure topped sticking my ass to whatever hose-able material was underneath.