Page 82 of Time Served in New York
“Just like the lions.”
“Exactly like the lions. And do you remember what happened when they got a hold of that buffalo?”
“They ripped him apart.”
“They’d have done that. And I would have helped.”
“Does that upset you?”
“Realizing what I would do if someone in my family was threatened?”
“Yeah.”
“When I was alone and threatened, all I could think to do was run. But when I’m with them, I know I don’t have to do that.”
“You’ll never have to run again, Birdie. I’ll make sure of it.”
“And so will my girls,” Birdie said with a grin.
“You’re right.” I couldn’t help the chuckle when I thought of the comparison, and Birdie looked at me in confusion so I had to explain. “It’s kind of like the mafia, if you think about it.”
“What . . . our coven?”
“Yeah. Once you’re in, you’re in. They’ve got your back just like you’ve got theirs. They’ve proved themselves over and over. A few months ago, when Sis was kidnapped, Brea and Blue chased the fuckers who’d taken her instead of losing their shit or cowering in fear. When they caught them, it was all over. What happened today was the same sort of thing, but all of you were involved. Someone threatened the family, and rather than play the role of damsels in distress, you took care of business. The man that loves you is still freaking out at the thought of losing you, but the man I was raised to be is just chilling because he knows that’s what needed to be done.”
“And we did what needed to be done.”
“You did, Birdie, and even though the thought of you, or any of the women, in danger strikes terror deep in my soul, I know that you can take on the world together.”
Birdie grinned smugly. “The coven is unstoppable.”
“And if they ever need backup, they’ve got all of us. My boys adore you and so does Paula’s son. So not only do you have a whole group of crazy women by your side, you’ve got a bunch of ex-cons and mobsters watching your back too.”
“I’ll never have to run again.” Birdie sighed, and I felt her relax in my arms as she rested her head on my chest. I held her close as we moved around the dance floor and smiled when I heard her say, “It’s a good feeling.”
“Isn’t it, though?”
???
BOSS
“Does your hand hurt, or are you giving someone hand signals?” I asked as I felt Jenn clench and unclench her fist at my back.
“I guess I sort of tweaked it when I landed earlier.”
I couldn’t help but to shake my head and growl when I imagined her midair, 90 stories above the ground. She sighed and said, “I shouldn’t have said anything. We were having such a nice evening.”
“I’m not mad,” I assured her.
“Bullshit.”
“Okay, I’m not as mad as I was earlier.”
“You just growled.”
“I love you, Jenn. The thought of losing you makes me crazy. When I imagined what you went through today, and I wasn’t there to help . . . I’m not good at being useless.”
“You aren’t useless! You weren’t even there!”
