Page 41 of Tico

Ember stiffens slightly beside me. From the look she gives me, I know we’ll be having a talk when it’s just the two of us. I just don’t know how I feel about involving her that much, even though she made the offer before.

We both watch Taco and Daemon drag Bug away. When they disappear into the shack, Ember steps out of my grasp and quickly strides back to the SUV. She opens the back door and her shoulders slump with relief.

“I-Is it over?” Rochelle asks quietly, and even I can hear the tremble in her voice.

I step up behind Ember, noting that Rochelle is still hunkered down on the floor. “Yeah, it’s over. Let’s get you inside,” I respond.

I help Rochelle out of the back and the three of us head through the back door of the clubhouse.

“Mijo(my son).”

My head snaps up and I breathe a sigh of relief when I see her standing in the kitchen next to Pyper, both of them unharmed.

“Mamá(Mom), I’d like you to meetmi mujer(my woman), Ember, and her stepmom, Rochelle. I see you’ve already met Pyper, Ember’s younger sister. Ember and Rochelle, this ismi mamá(my mom), Sofia.”

Next to me, Ember stiffens slightly but ifMamá(Mom) notices, she doesn’t say anything.Mamá(Mom) crosses the room and pulls Ember in for a hug. Ember’s eyes are wide as she gives me a startled look and hesitantly, she reaches up, returning the hug before wincing.

Internally, I curse myself for not warning her earlier. “Cuidadosa(Careful),Mamá(Mom),” I say, worried that she’ll inadvertently hurt Ember further. “Ember had a fighttonight. She stepped in for Ice since Ice will be away from the circuit for a while”

WhenMamá(Mom) pulls back, she looks over Ember and it doesn’t take long for her to spot the bruises already blooming on her pale skin.

“No wonder you caughtla atención de mi hijo(my son’s attention),” she says as she winks at me. “I always said it would take a strong woman to make him settle down.”

I shake my head, and when Ember steps back, I wrap my arm around her waist. ThenMamá(Mom) straightens as she takes in Rochelle and her bruises before returning her gaze to mine.

“I got what you asked for,mijo(my son) and set up a room next to Pyper’s for Rochelle,” she pauses and turns to Rochelle, smiling softly. “If you ever need anything, feel free to let me know. I’ll be staying for a while. My room is next to Taco’s. I’ll show you where it is and tomorrow morning after breakfast, I’ll give you a tour.”

“T-Thank you,” Rochelle replies and ducks her head.

Mamá(Mom) gives me a look that I read all too well. She’s going to go ‘mother hen’ on these three. I just hope that she doesn’t go overboard.

Chapter 22

Tico

Walkingdownthehallway,I stop at the door that leads to the two rooms we’d modified and converted to make one large workspace for when Chief needs to work on one of us. Cobra, Psycho, Gorgon, Corvus and Jesse are lined up along the wall while Liam’s lying on the medical bed with Chief leaning over him. Taco leans against the opposite wall and he tilts his head in my direction when he sees us, silently telling me he has thingscovered. In turn, I look at each of them, giving them a dip of my chin in thanks.

I’m about to step back when Ember enters the room, and I freeze as she walks over to Liam so that she’s on the opposite side of Chief. Liam looks up at her, confused, and then winces in pain as Chief pulls the bullet out of his arm. Ember steps closer and rests her hand on his shoulder before leaning down, whispering something in his ear too low for me to hear. His eyes widen slightly and then his face softens as he dips his chin and answers her quietly. Then she walks up to everyone that was hurt, hugs them, and whispers something to each of them. Whatever she says to them, they all seem to stand taller, prouder afterwards. Then, she stops at Taco, and surprisingly, she talks to him the longest.

“Always, Queenie. We’ll always have your back, our vicious little Queen.”

Ember stares at him, stunned, for a moment, and then smiles softly. “And I’ll always have your guys’ backs.”

Taco looks down at her with pride. Then his gaze lifts to meet mine as she crosses the room back to my side. His lips quirk a little as he nods with a look of approval.

I snake my arm around Ember’s waist, pulling her into me, but her worried gaze still sweeps the room.

“Don’t worry about the guys, Queenie,” Chief tells her, adopting Taco’s apparently new nickname for her, as he cleans up Liam’s arm, prepping him for his stitches. “I’ll have them patched up in no time.” He pauses, his assessing gaze roaming over her, noting each visible bruise. Though there isn’t much skin showing since she’s wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans. “Since you fought tonight, let me know if anything feels off or if you are suddenly in a lot of pain.”

She gives him a soft smile and nods. “I will, Chief.”

We head upstairs and as I shut and lock the door behind us, I see the exact moment when the adrenaline crash happens. I step forward quickly, thankfully able to catch her before she falls in a heap on the floor.

“I…I’m sorry,” she whispers as her head rests on my shoulder.

“Don’t be, Vicious. This whole day has been eventful, but especially the last couple of hours. What all do you need to do before bed?”

She hesitates for a moment. “Just use the bathroom, take my hair down, and change. I already did the rest in the locker room. I wasn’t sure if I’d be on the back of your bike on the way back, otherwise I would have already taken my hair down earlier.”