Page 69 of Vicious King

“Hooo-ooot,” Scarlett sing-songs, making Lulu snort.

Carson scowls.

“What?”

“Men with babies are sexy,” Natasha says slowly, and I have to hide my smile behind my hand. “And you guys? All of you big, tattooed, mean-looking, sexy Mafia men? Holy moly.”

“It even makes me want a baby, and I don’t want kids,” Scarlett says with a laugh.

Carson’s eyes move to mine, and his lips tip up on one side.

“Does this do it for you, Sunshine?”

“You have no idea,” I confirm. “Can we have more?”

“We can have as many as you want.”

“Score.”

“Maybe don’t start right this second. With us watching,” Lulu says and then seems to think about it. “Actually, aside from the kids in attendance, do what makes you happy. I forget sometimes that my husband owns a . . . club, and doing that in front of others is not foreign to all of you.”

I blink at her and then look over at Carson.

He and I didn’t fuck in front of other people, even at the club.

So, that means⁠—

“Later,” he says softly just as the back door opens and Mateo steps outside, his eyes moving over the area, and when he sees me he grins.

They all got better looking, which I didn’t think was possible.

“Hey,” I say as I stand and move to him, and he simply opens his arms and hugs me tight.

These guys were as close to me as brothers, and seeing them again is everything. So much emotion washes through me, it makes my chest tight and my eyes sting.

“Welcome home,” Mateo says. “I know you were the most excited to see me.”

I laugh and step back as Charlie joins me.

“This is Charlie,” I tell him.

“Hi,” my boy says. “I’m your nephew.”

Mateo’s lips quirk into a smile.

“Oh, the things I’m going to teach you.”

“Hey.” I narrow my eyes at him, and Mateo laughs, then gestures behind him, and I notice that he brought several people with him. “This is my wife, Violet.”

The woman, with long red hair and gorgeous tattoos that run down her arm, steps forward with a smile.

“Hi. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Same here—” I stop cold and see that the woman with Violet is Rose. “Oh my God.”

“Hi,” she whispers, her lips quivering.

“Oh my God.” I move to her quickly, ignoring the ache in my leg, and pull her into me, hugging her fiercely. “Oh, sweetheart. Thank you. Thank you so, so much.”