Page 88 of Serpent & Saviors

Not only was the shift in conversation whiplash-inducing, but the way Alek’s entire expression twisted into something bordering on murderous made me freeze. He looked like he wanted to leap across the table and strangle his brother.

Andrew, on the other hand, only grinned. “I was under the impression that was next week,” he mused. “And I’m pretty sure she’d have shared if condom week wasn’t going down anymore. She may love you all, but she tells me everything. Our last conversation didn’t include babies, so tread carefully, Reaper.”

Alek mimicked him under his breath, his voice laced with irritation. “‘Tread carefully. Our last conversation didn’t include babies.’” Then, with a sharp exhale, he threw his napkin down. His brow furrowed, forehead creased deep with frustration. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was…pouting.

I’d seen that look before. On Declan.

“Okay,” I said, shifting in my chair. “But what does ‘away’ mean?” My voice was tight as I turned. “Andrew?”

Sebastian, who seemed to be extremely observant, picked up on my discomfort before Andrew could respond. He waved a hand dismissively. “Tiny tot is probably getting ready for a day of shopping with these fools’ mother. In Paris, of all places.”

I sighed in relief. France. That hardly seemed like a punishment. I went to thank Sebastian for answering when he rolled his eyes and smirked at Alek.

“Fix your face, Reaper. You look like a toddler who didn’t get a cookie.” His grin turned wicked. “Oh, wait. Last night was your night, wasn’t it? Guess you didn’t get one after all.”

Alek scowled. “Yeah, rub it in. Why don’t you?”

“Anytime. That’s what I’m here for.” Sebastian turned to me. “Now, the other troublemaker? None other than my sister. If she wasn’t throwing a hissy fit and staying at our parents’ for the week, you could meet her first.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “Little warning—don’t follow the two of them. They’ll lead you straight off the cliff. No rope tethering you, either. Just free-falling all the way down.”

“Angel, don’t listen to any of them.” Andrew’s voice cut through the teasing, drawing my attention back to him. “The girls were meddling in crew business.”

I blinked. “Oh. Crew business?”

He nodded. “Yes. And now that it’s over, things will go back to normal.”

Sebastian outright laughed at that. “Yeah right. And normal? Nah, we haven’t seen that since we brought tiny tot home.”

Andrew shook his head and turned to me with softer eyes. “How about you eat something for me? Could you do that?”

I nodded and reached for some fruit and a muffin, deliberately avoiding the croissants. Having almost choked the last time, I wasn’t about to repeat that here. Not in front of these men. As I picked at my food, I let myself absorb the scene around me.

The conversations overlapped, their words weaving together in a fast, chaotic rhythm that was hard to follow. It was overwhelming—this energy, this effortless friendship. They spoke in inside jokes, traded jabs like it was second nature, and fell into easy banter without hesitation. It should have felt alien to me, like I didn’t belong.

But somehow, it didn’t.

There was something warm about it. Something…sweet. Despite their bickering, it was clear—these men were a family. Something I longed for with every breath in my body.

Andrew interlaced his fingers with mine and gave my hand a squeeze, as if he were reading my mind and reassuring me at the same time. The quiet, confident side of him was intoxicating, and I loved that with a single touch, he could make me feel desired and cherished. And calm.

Hope—the one thing I’d never been able to completely shake—bloomed that morning sitting with these rowdy men. With each moment in Andrew’s presence, I was falling harder and harder.

And for the first time in forever, I realized if their girls accepted me, this warmth and love would be mine daily. Andrew set his napkin down, the quiet scrape of fabric against the table drawing my eyes to him.

“I scheduled something special for you today,” he said, his voice low, threaded with that mix of calm and command. My insides fluttered in response.

“Oh. What about Declan?” I blinked, and a sense of uncertainty rushed over me.

The question slipped out before I could stop it. The thought of leaving him, even for a little while, tugged at something protective and uneasy inside me.

A slow smile curved his lips, the light catching the blue in his eyes. “The guys already called dibs. They’re taking him to the park, something about testing their skills at becoming his favorite.”

The image of these grown men trying to impress a child pulled a giggle from me. Heat spread through my cheeks as Nikolai looked my way.

“Yup, and I already know who will win.” He winked. “Got something up my sleeve already. A little one-on-one training from a certain goalkeeper.”

Declan’s head shot up so fast, and his eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Goalkeeper?”

“Yes, little man. We go back a ways. Season tickets aren’t the only thing I have access to.”