Jax (Titan #9)(54)

He chortled. "Person. I have one favorite, and that's you, Baby Cakes."

Sugar preened.

"I like his voice." Seven dropped hers low. "It sounds like this. My name is Jared Westin."

They laughed.

"Do you have any more advice for us, Jared Westin?" she asked in the deep faux-baritone.

Boss Man winked. "Take what life dishes you, like two drunk beauties dancing in the hall."

Jax chewed on the inside of his cheek. That was the advice he hated, like there were tragedies he was supposed to handle and keep trucking. "Yeah, yeah. Let's party it up between gang parties."

Seven and Sugar both scowled. Seven pulled her hair under her nose like a pink mustache and said in her Boss Man voice, "You're such a dick."

"Isn't he, though?" Sugar added. "But don't give Jared ideas about mustaches. I'm digging the beard. Goatee? No. Scruff? Yeah. Mustache? Nope."

Seven giggled after the laundry list of facial hair options had been laid out as both she and Jared muttered that they did what they wanted.

"What do you think?" Sugar sidled next to Jax, changing the subject. "Should I trust him?"

"Man, all the true feelings are coming out tonight," he grumbled. "Your hatred of the 'stashe and how you won't let me near your stupid-ass trust circle."

Jared failed to keep his jaw from falling open. He didn't stop laughing as he repeated Jax's words, dropping his head back with a belly-laughing, "Damn."

Seven was on Team Sugar and hadn't found the trust circle anywhere near as hilarious as he and Boss Man. She crept closer like Sugar until she edged him back a step. "I'm still figuring that out myself."

"They're turning against you, brother." Jared still hadn't stopped laughing.

"No," he corrected, wrapping an arm around Seven. "This one liked me just fine before that one—"

"It's hard to trust a man who sounds like he's picking you out of a catalog."

Sugar was on fire. Jax had to give her that. "For fuck's sake." But he wouldn't let her win. "This mama liked me just fine before that mama pointed her talons at me. Or how about, this business owner liked me just fine before that business owner said I was inconsistent—and you know what? Straight out of a catalog, Sugar. This beauty liked me before you—who are a beauty too, babe—wondered if she should trust me."

Sugar put her hands on her hips, cocking her head. "That was good… Too good?"

Jax laughed. "Obviously."

Jared pulled Sugar to him. "At least the right woman makes life interesting. That's what I was saying."

"What are you talking about?" Sugar turned to her husband. "You're not the life-advice giver in this family. I am."

Jax was trying to follow both who, he'd figured out by now, had as much to drink as he and Seven had. Not too much… but maybe a little bit too much.

Jared didn't engage Sugar, and that was likely the safest bet. "No joke, Jax. You're off the clock 'til tomorrow. Go have fun."

Sugar walked her fingers up Jared's bicep. "What do you know about fun?"

"I had a leather-clad ballerina spinning circles for me, Baby Cakes. I know a little something."

Sugar rolled her eyes with so much gusto, Jax almost threw out an arm to catch her. "Like he never had leather-clad ballerinas in bed before."

Jared's smile cracked. "Go have fun tonight."

"Have fun is code for get naked," Sugar added. "In case you couldn't read between—"

"Got it." Seven's crimson face surprised him. "Thanks for the explanation."

"My job here is done." Sugar whirled around and walked down the hall. "Catch up with me when you're done chatting. I'll be naked in bed." She swayed her hips down the hall, singing to herself. "Maybe I'll keep the shoes on."

Jared's eyes lingered before he swung back to them.

"I'm going this way," Seven said, turning the opposite way. "Maybe I'll keep the boots on."

Hadn't her face just been bright red? What was it with these two? Jax shook his head, sure Boss Man was ready to bid good night, but his face had sobered.

Jax had no idea what was on his mind, but the awkwardness required he say something. "If you're worried I'm not getting in my… extracurriculars, I promise, it's covered. Appreciate Titan looking out."

Jared worked his jaw side to side then cracked his knuckles. "Sugar doesn't trust you."

"She's told me. Several times." Jax gestured. "Including tonight."

"Because of Deacon Lanes. Did you know that?"

All the lights in Vegas went out—or it seemed that way. The simple reminder of one name made his cold heart return and any humor that had crept into his body run for cover.

"No. I didn't." And he didn't want to, either. Sugar knew Deacon?

"For the last couple years, she's—"

"Years?" As in how long he's been with Titan?

Jared nodded slowly. "Deacon's CIA."

"I know who that motherfucker is."

Boss Man's eyebrows slowly lifted. "You have something to say that I should know about?"