Page 78 of Under Kid’s Protection

Now they had to get a deal done with the Colombians. If for no other reason than to establish themselves as their own men—their independent organization. They weren’t under the thumb of the jackasses in the suits just because Paul had been screwing Harper.

Personal lives were one thing. They’d have Thanksgiving together or Christmas. Whatever, but that was merely to play nice for the sake of the ladies. Kid wouldn’t piss on Paul if he was on fire. He had to know that.

“Kid!” Kevlar called, causing the two men to turn in his direction.

“Paul, are you ready to go?” Harper asked, eyeing the two of them warily.

“I’ll be sure to bring your concerns to the table the next time we have church,” Kid said. Which wasn’t a lie. He’d mention it, but only to bolster his case for accepting the deal with the Colombians.

The two men joined Kevlar and Harper, taking opposite sides. Harper flicked her gaze between them and narrowed her eyes. “What are you two plotting?”

Oh, his sweet innocent sister thought they were in cahoots. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her today. In a few months? That might be another story. However, Kid and Kevlar would cross that bridge if they came to it.

Paul glared at Kid.

Kid winked at him before flicking his attention to his sister. “I thought you wanted to be kept out of business.”

Frowning, she turned to her boyfriend and punched him in the arm. “Are you fucking serious right now? This is for charity! For the kids. You couldn’t have brought this up any other time?”

“Relax,” Paul groaned. “It’s not like that. I only offered advice.”

Advice no one would be taking. Kid would make damn sure of it.

Kid and Kevlar snickered. As they waved goodbye, Harper continued to berate the man beside her. Though, her distinct yelp could be heard when the two got to the end of the lot. Paul had scooped her up to toss her over his shoulder.

“Those two are fucking weird,” Kevlar commented.

Turning from them and scanning the crowd for his own lady, Kid sighed. “I have no desire to witness it. As long as she’s safe and happy, that’s all I care about.”

As much as Kid and Kevlar despised the Dixie Mafia in general, and Paul specifically, they had to respect him. He’d taken care of Harper when they weren’t able to. He protected her when her family couldn’t. The brothers would forever be in his debt.

So, while they didn’t answer to the Dixie Mafia, they would at least play nice.

Something red caught Kid’s attention, and he stepped away from Kevlar as he leaned to the right, trying to get a better view around Bushie talking to a scantily clad woman in a nurse’s costume.

There she was.

Fluffy orange and yellow feathers were wrapped around her neck in a boa. She had the glorious red, long-sleeved leotard thing with the black fishnets and black thigh-high boots. With a silver belt around her waist, the attachment appeared as though she had a train or maybe a tail. He couldn’t be sure. Though, she had a headdress that reminded him of the showgirls in old-timey Vegas. Between the fabulous makeup and the yellow plastic beak, no one could mistake her for anyone but the phoenix that she was.

Carrie was heart-stopping when she wore sweats, but this outfit was a completely different story. Kid already had to show massive restraint with the amount of men who had eyeballed her. Thankfully, they knew well enough to leave her the fuck alone because Kid didn’t really want to ruin an event by putting a bullet in the head of some kid’s dad.

When she met his gaze, she stopped, raised her arm, and waved toward him.

Before he could take a step, Kevlar slapped his arm. “Hey, you ready for church?”

Mother-fuck-cock-sucking-dammit. Could he not catch a break? Kid glanced back at him and frowned.

“Bushie and the women will clear out the kids and get the party set up for when we’re done,” Kevlar said.

He peered past him and must have spotted Carrie trotting toward them. He grinned widely before flicking his attention to Kid.

“She’ll be alright.”

“I just want to double-check something. I’ll meet you inside,” Kid said without waiting for a response. Instead, he practically skipped to Carrie.

When they met, they shared an all-too-brief kiss. “You look amazing,” he commented as he drank in her costume.

She radiated with pride as she fluffed her feathers. “You don’t think it’s too much?”