Page 50 of Smoke

“Of course, daddy.” I give him another peck on the cheek before heading outside.

Hawk stalks out behind me holding the bottle of rosé. “You’re welcome. Now drink up so I can top you off.”

I down the whole glass. “Fill me up, please. Thank you.”

“Don’t let him rile you up, mama. You’re a queen,” Omen whispers in my ear.

My belly flutters. “My daddy or Hawk?”

“Both.” He chuckles. “Don’t give up control so easily. Make him earn it.”

I smirk and feel a blush on my cheeks. To think the first time I met this man he wanted to throttle me. Well, he still does, but in a hot way. “Oh, yeah? You gonna let me take control, Om?”

“Only if I get to make you cum first.” He winks and clinks his beer bottle to my glass.

I smile so wide it hurts my cheeks. “Deal.”

Scarrow barrels over and throws an arm around my shoulders. “What are you two whispering about?” he teases.

All the tension leaves my body as soon as I lean against him. “I was just telling him how big his—”

“Careful, Cherry,” Hawk warns as he points the grill tongs at me. “Preacher is watching from the kitchen window, believe that. And he can read body language like a military interrogator.”

Scarrow snort-laughs. “I think I truly understand the meaning behind God fearing now. Because that old man may just be a holy instrument, but he is one tough motherfucker I don’t want to piss off.” He quickly lurches away from me as if whatever sins I have are contagious.

I laugh out loud. “The three of you are in rare form today. Who would’ve thought that the scariest criminals in Crimson Valley would be deathly afraid of the town preacher.”

Hawk smirks. “We’re just being respectable that’s all.”

“You heard that part?” I fidget with the stem of my glass as my shame rears its ugly head at me.

He looks at me with so much love and tenderness I could cry. The same way he did the day of my momma’s funeral. “Cherinne Rose Bradley, you are the most respectable woman I know.”

My belly flutters and my cheeks heat again. “Well, that ain’t saying much, Hawk, You don’t know too many women,” I tease.

He laughs as he shakes his head. “And you got nothing to be ashamed of. I got you. We all do. You can let that onery old man do what he does to keep the peace. But just know that his word is not final.”

“We love you just the way you are, mama,” Omen adds.

Scarrow flashes me a sloppy grin. “See, we got money, freedom, each other, and we’re about to grub down on the second-best burgers in Crimson Valley. Yours being the best, of course. What more do we need?”

I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Which is something I haven’t felt often in my life. But these boys have pulled me out of the fucking hellscape. They cleaned up my mess again. But this time the only thing they want in return is me. And all I want is them. So it works out.

I beam back at them. “I better go in and set the table before my daddy threatens me with the belt again.”

Omen’s eyes darken. He places a protective hand on my back. “Not in this lifetime, mama. Come on. I’ll walk you in.”

My stomach knots as I let him pull me into the house. “Om, wait. Don’t do anything stupid.”

My daddy tenses when he sees Om’s hand interlocked in mine. “She giving you trouble, son?”

“Not at all… Respectfully, I’m no one’s son. Not anymore.” Om bows his head slightly to lessen the offense, but the insult has been flung.

My daddy glares at me in response. “The table’s not gonna set itself, Cherinne.”

“Yes, sir.” As I pull away from Omen, he snaps me back.

“Make sure to set yourself up next to me tonight, mama.” He plants a kiss on my cheek.