Page 96 of Lick

Lick spins around, his face blanching for a second as he approaches me. “I had no idea they were going to turn up here like this, I swear. Hell, I didn’t know they even knew where I lived. I don’t make that shit public.”

“I know. It’s okay.”

I put Knuckles on speakerphone as I step around Lick. Natalia looks visibly distressed. I look from her to a smug Tash, who was the ringleader in all this.

“My guess is Tash knew your address from your time with the band. I’m sure a lot of paperwork passed through her hands. Might want to check out what else she’s been up to. She doesn’t seem all that trustworthy to me.”

“Emma? Tell me what’s going on,” Knuckles demands as I feel Lick step up behind me and slide his hands over my hips, letting me take the lead.

“Tash turned up at our home unannounced.”

Lick jolts at me calling it our home. His grip on me tightens, and he bends down to kiss the side of my neck. “Fuck, I like hearing you call it our home.”

I grin before continuing. “She brought Natalia with her to stir shit up, but it seems to me Natalia just genuinely wanted to apologize. She knows she probably shouldn’t have let Tash get in her head, but she wasn’t looking for trouble. We accept her apology. I’d like her to leave us alone now, that’s all. No reason she should be penalized for having the courage to step up and admit she fucked up.”

Natalia looks shocked, then nods and smiles with gratitude. She mouths thank you to me, her eyes damp. Knuckles sighs. “Get back to the clubhouse, Nat. We’ll talk about this later.”

“You won’t fire her, though, right? This was as much Lick’s fault as it was hers because he was the one who put her in this position. Wait, can you even fire a club girl? That can’t be the right word. Terminate? No, sounds too much like offing them, and if you’re gonna do that, I’d rather you started with Tash,” I admit.

Everyone is silent for a second before Knuckles starts laughing loudly. I feel Lick chuckling too, though I’m not sure what I said that was so funny.

“I’m not gonna fire Nat, but I will give her a warning.”

“Okay, that seems fair,” I mutter as Natalia gives us an awkward wave and turns to leave just as a familiar car pulls up.

“Great. This is just freaking perfect.”

“Take them inside, and I’ll deal with Tash,” Lick offers as Danny and Sophie get out of Danny’s car.

“Nope. I’m not leaving you to deal with this lying viper alone. My kids are just gonna have to deal with it.”

“Your kids?” Tash’s eyes widen comically as she whirls around.

“Your kids are there?” Knuckles says. “When am I going to get to meet them?”

I roll my eyes. “I figured they should meet my man first before they meet his father.”

“That’s favouritism.”

“Are you pouting, Mr. President?” I tease as Sophie runs over and hugs me, ignoring bitchy Barbie throwing daggers her way.

“Hey, Mum. What’s with the strippergram?”

Lick chokes on air, making me grin as I cup her jaw. “Have I told you you’re my favourite daughter?”

“She’s your only daughter,” Danny huffs, tugging me free from both Sophie and Lick so he can wrap me up in his arms. “Missed you, Ma.”

“I missed you, too.” I swallow hard, keeping my emotions at bay for once. “Come on, I want you to meet someone.”

“Hey, I’m Knuckles,” Knuckles says from the phone I still have clutched in my hand.

“Not you, Knuckles.”

As I lead Danny over to Lick, he glances at Tash and frowns. “What’s the deal with the kid?”

Tash stomps her foot. “I’m not a child.”

“Right, the stomp was almost convincing. Question, though, if you’re not a kid, why are you shopping at Baby Gap? I’m pretty sure Sophie had that top when she was twelve.”