Lucca (Made Men #4)(83)

“Watch the sarcasm,” I said, taking the larger bag from her shoulder, along with the suitcase. As she went to argue, I added, “Grab Adair.”

I didn’t stay to listen to her grumbling, choosing to stalk through the house and past the collapsed door as Jax jumped out of the four-door truck.

“I never knew pink looked so good on you.” He chuckled, gesturing at the pink suitcase. “Come into your inner feminism?”

I grunted, throwing the suitcase into the back of the truck.

He was about to say something else when he looked up, his eyes almost popping out his head. “Holy shit, if I knew you were hunting down such a nice piece of ass, Hunter, I would have joined you.”

“Shut the fuck up,” I snapped, shoving the back gate closed.

Jax shrugged, exposing his myriad of tattoos. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist.” He slapped my shoulder with a grin then looked back over his shoulder. “So, you gonna let me ride her?”

I raised my fist, ready to knock the teeth right out of his skull, but Jax ducked out of reach.

“I meant your Harley.” He laughed, knowing damn well he said it that way on purpose.

“You’re the only one who can get away with that shit, you dick,” I growled, digging my keys out of my pocket and tossing them at him.

He snatched them out of the air, looking at my beautifully inked bike parked in the driveway.

“You dare get a scratch on my bike, I’ll take yours apart.”

“No worries, bro.” He started making his way toward the bike. “I’ll see you back at the compound, yeah?”

“Yeah. Thanks for the truck.” I didn’t take my eyes off him as he swung his leg over her body. His size, though a little smaller than mine, fit snuggly on her seat.

He put his unruly black hair into the helmet, started up the engine, and then pulled out of the driveway. The beast roared as she tore down the tarmac and out of sight.

I turned back toward the truck to see Mallory standing on the truck’s running board; her round, perky ass swaying as she leaned into the cab. I stood there for a minute, admiring the shape of her ass, thinking how, if it was any other woman, I would have told her to park it on my lap already. But she wasn’t any other woman. I knew the kind of woman she was, and the fact I was already checking out her ass pissed me the hell off.

“What are you doing?” I snapped.

After a few moments of ignorance, she pulled back out of the cab and stepped down off the running board before turning to face me. “Strapping Adair into the car seat.”

She then smiled as she leaned back toward the truck as I stepped forward, watching as she placed a small kiss on Adair’s cheek. His green eyes wrinkled in a smile.

“Don’t worry, baby,” she whispered. “We’re going home.”

“Home?” Adair repeated, eyes curious.

“Yeah.” The resignation in her voice was crystal clear. “Home.”

With a final brush of his cheek, she stepped back and closed the door. Then she looked back at me, the deep mothering brown seeming cold and sad.

“I’ll go back with you on one condition.”

“Condition or not, babe, you don’t have a choice,” I told her, stepping toward her until only a few feet separated us.

“Then a favor,” she pleaded.

I narrowed my eyes with a raised brow.

She looked back at the truck through the tinted window. Then, as if it spurred her resolve, she looked back at me with determined eyes. “Don’t let anyone know who Adair’s father is.”

“Like fuck,” I growled. No way in hell was I denying my brother his only legacy.

“Please. I don’t want anyone knowing.”

“You’d rather I lie to all my brothers and tell them what? That this is just some kid I picked up?”

“No,” she said, looking back and forth up the street as if to inspire her with an idea. Then she looked back at me, her eyes locking onto mine. When they softened, I recognized the look.

“No,” I said before she could open her mouth.

“But you have the same eyes!” she pressed.

“I’m not claiming him as mine. I won’t take that away from Noble.”

“Please.” Her voice was growing more desperate as she stepped into my space. “It’s not forever … I just … I want to protect him.”

“And lying about his dead father will put him danger?”

“I—”

“No.”

“I’ll run,” she promised. “I’ll run every chance I get unless you do this for me. For Adair.”

I gazed into her eyes, and God be damned if I didn’t see the absolute truth in them. I could say I would keep her locked up, not letting her out of my sight, but I also knew I couldn’t do that to Adair. He was my nephew, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t take him away from his mother. Every kid needed a mother, and as much as I didn’t want to admit it, the tenants I had tracked down had told me Mallory was a damn good mother, despite her terrible life choices.

I clamped my hands down at my sides, sure the horrible taste in my mouth was acid when I spat the single word I would probably regret. “Fine.”

I could see relief flood her eyes, but I wouldn’t let her live in it for long.