Page 8 of Double the Redemption

“Taz, I’m going to fucking kill you!” Karissa yelled as she stalked down the stairs into the common room. Ink burst out laughing the moment he saw her hair. Her hair was a bright orange, and so were her eyebrows.

“Why do you always assume it’s me?” Taz demanded, but the glee in his eyes couldn’t be hidden. “I was on protection duty last night, remember?”

“You were on opposite times as me, and we both know that you’re a fucking ninja when you want to be,” Karissa spat. Her dark eyes blazed with fury, even as Razor came up behind her, looking like he was trying to swallow a laugh, but the grin on his face didn’t really help things. Karissa rounded on her man, shooting him a look that promised retribution. “And you! What kind of biker doesn’t fucking hear when someone is breaking into his room to mess with his Old Lady?”

“The kind that was exhausted after his Old Lady wore him out,” Razor said, wearing a smug grin.

Ink snorted as a chorus of groans sounded behind him. He turned to see the twins walking in, their lips curled in disgust. The girls were identical, with honey-blonde hair and green eyes, but Wren had a slightly sharper edge than her sister. However, at that moment, they looked exactly the same, right down to their clothes.

That was usually a sign they were up to shit. Glancing around, he didn’t see Rogue or Scarlett anywhere, but he was sure they’d arrive soon to get the girls to school. He almost pitied whoever was on the receiving end of their shenanigans, but as long as it wasn’t him, he didn’t care.

“Then you’d better have enjoyed it because until this shit is gone, you’re getting nothing,” Karissa snapped. She turned and pinned Taz with a glare. “Your ass is mine the next time you’re here. I’m going to wipe the floor with you, shave that beard, and buzz your head.”

Taz’s face went white. The man was obsessed with his beard and head of hair. “Xena, I know you’re obsessed with me, but even that’s a little too far.”

Her wicked smile lingered, and she didn’t reply. She turned on her heel and headed back upstairs, leaving them staring after her, wondering what the hell she would do next.

“You know she’s going to fuck with your shit now, right?” Simba warned him, his exasperation clear. “When are you guys going to outgrow this stupid shit?”

“Probably not until he finds a woman he can annoy,” Ink offered. “If there’s one out there who can put up with him.”

Taz smirked. “There are plenty of ladies out there who love me. I can give you a list. But why settle with one when you have so many to piss off? Besides, we both know Xena and Glitch miss me when I’m not here brightening up their lives.”

“Yeah, like a hemorrhoid.”

Everyone turned to see Glitch walking in. Right behind her was a very tired-looking Naomi carrying a bright-eyed Asher.

Ink perked up. Her dark-purple leggings hugged her slim legs and hips, along with a black workout tank that revealed the swell of her breasts and the pallor of her skin. Her hair was in a high ponytail, accentuating the tired lines around her eyes and the tight set of her jaw.

She was stunning. He had a strange urge to grab Asher from her to offer her some reprieve.

Since he valued his balls, he stayed in place, having no interest in setting off her mama-bear instincts. He didn’t like seeing her so tired, though. Had Asher kept her up all night? Or had she not slept well?

“Hemmoid,” Asher repeated, and Ink laughed along with everyone else. Even Taz grinned, unoffended.

Naomi, on the other hand, looked horrified.

“That’s right, honey, he is a hemmoid,” Glitch agreed with a bright grin. She looked back at Taz. “Karissa already sent me a picture. You’re dead, you know that? She’s going to bury you in the middle of the desert and surround you with cottonmouths.”

“Snakes love me, we’ve already tested that theory.” He winked at Naomi. “Don’t worry, darlin’, they’re just trying to get their last few licks in before we leave.”

“Licks!” Asher exclaimed.

More chuckles, and Naomi relaxed slightly, but she bit her lip as she looked at her son. He clearly liked to repeat things.

“Did you have breakfast?” Simba asked Naomi. She nodded and glanced around the room nervously. Ink gave her a reassuring smile when her gaze landed on his, but she quickly looked away.

He hoped she soon wouldn’t see any of them as a possible threat, but that wouldn’t happen today.

“Excellent, then, let me introduce you to the other ladies,” Glitch said. “We can start with the twins before they head to school.”

Wren and Winter hurried over, big smiles on their faces. They grinned at Asher, and Asher looked at them with wide eyes.

“He’s never seen twins before,” Naomi muttered, almost like she was worried he would offend them somehow.

“Hi Asher,” Win said, waving at him. “I’m Win.”

Wren introduced herself, and Asher just looked back and forth between them, like he couldn’t comprehend they were two different people.