The Wild Wolf Pup (Zoe's Rescue Zoo #9)(23)

“Shouldn’t the fact you have three exes be enough to stop you from seeking a fourth?” Linc questions grinning at Wolf. “We’ll leave the ball and chains on that side of the table.”

“I wouldn’t mind a ball and chain,” Deuce drawls, flashing his smile full of southern charm.

“Been a while since you found your dick too, huh?” Wolf questions Satan’s cowboy.

“Nothing wrong with the man looking for a good woman to keep him warm at night, especially after coming back from the dark side,” I argue, glancing back at Deuce. “Boy’s looking for his heart—”

“Here we go again,” Riggs mumbles.

“Found yours didn’t you?” I fire back.

“What about you, Cobra? You’re awfully quiet,” Blackie interjects, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms against his chest.

It took a moment but Cobra finally lifted his head acknowledging that Blackie had asked him a question.

“I may have taken a chair at this table but I’m loner at heart,” he replies hoarsely.

I peer down the length of the table at the man covered in ink from his neck down to his toes and stare into his dull eyes.

Demons.

Each one of us sitting here has them. Some of us hide them better than others, then there’s Cobra who wears them on his skin. Each intricate piece of art tells his story, portraying his demons and giving us insight to the man of mystery.

“I’m almost afraid to ask, but fuck, someone has to grab their balls, why are we here, Bulldog?” Wolf asks, forcing me to peel my eyes off Cobra’s arms and the face tattooed on his forearm.

“Two reasons, but since Bianci thinks he can waste my time just like the rest of you, I’ll give you the good news first,” I grunt, knowing any kind of news coming down the pipe from Victor is bound to give me a fucking headache. “I’m getting hitched.”

“Yeah, we know, got that woman of yours wearing a rock as big as Pipe’s dick,” Wolf taunts.

“She finally give you the green light?” Blackie asks.

“Yeah,” I grin. “One month from today Reina will officially become Property of Parrish.”

“Praise Jesus,” Pipe mocks, clasping his hands together as he stares up at the ceiling.

“So does that mean more of them family dinners you two like to put on?” Wolf probes.

“That means you idiots get to whip this shithole into shape because we’re having the wedding here.”

“Here?” Pipe asks incredulously.

“Where else would the Bulldog get married?” I reply.

“Clearly, this won’t be a black-tie affair,” Linc chimes in.

“Reina wants to keep it simple and I want to do whatever the fuck makes her happy,” I tell them. “Any of you have a problem with that?”

My eyes roam the table, daring one of them to speak before I settle my gaze on Blackie.

“And you, you’ll be at my side just as you are now,” I ground out.

“You asking me to be your best man?” Blackie queries, biting back a grin.

“It’s only fitting since Reina’s asking Lacey to be her maid of honor,” I mumble.

Blackie leans over, places his arm on my back and gives me a firm pat.

“I’ve got you, brother,” he says sincerely.

“I object, I mean I get it, he’s your VP and all that, but best man? Just tell me…was I even in the running?” Riggs questions.

The door opens and Bianci strolls through, leaving it open behind him.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite brother-in-law,” Riggs cheers, turning his attention to Anthony. I think the little fucker has ADD or some shit.

“Don’t recall you marrying my sister,” Bianci growls.

“Made her my Kitten, Bianci, that shit is worth more than my given name,” Riggs shoots back.

“You’re late,” I accuse, glancing over his shoulder at the open door. “Any particular reason?”

Bianci turns around as a suit comes through the door, not just any suit but Rocco Spinelli, the newest gangster wannabe to hit the streets.

For fuck’s sake, these mob folk are fucked, as Riggs would say.

And they always fucking wind up on my doorstep.

“What’s he doing here?”

“Parrish,” Rocco greets before diverting his eyes to my brothers. “Gentlemen,” he adds.

“That’s a first,” Wolf grunts. “Don’t recall the last time anyone called any of us a gentleman.”

“Your mother called me one last night when I bent her over,” Pipe retorts.

“My mother’s been dead ten years.”

“I’m not above it, man,” Pipe says matter-of-factly.

“Oh fuck, that’s wrong,” Deuce declares.

“Enough!” I shout, slamming my hand against the table, fixing Bianci with a hard stare. “Start talking,” I order.

Bianci shakes his head, blowing out a ragged breath as he runs his fingers through his hair roughly before turning back to Rocco.

“What’s the matter, Bianci? Cat got your tongue?” Blackie queries from beside me. His voice thick with agitation and suspicion.

“Apparently,” Rocco mutters, standing tall as his gaze falls onto me. “From this point forward I am the boss of the Pastore organization. I will handle all prior and future endeavors that carry my uncle’s name.”