Changing Lanes (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation Book 4), page 11
I dropped my spatula into the sink and turned on the water. “Do you think there is anything I can do? Maybe make some food and bring it to the hospital?” I didn’t know what else I could do. Cooking and baking was what I did, and while a double chocolate muffin wouldn’t make this all go away, it would bring a little comfort.
Murphy nodded and grabbed one of the bacon roses. He smiled and held it up. “I’m sure they would appreciate some meals, but you can leave the bacon roses out.”
I rolled my eyes. “I saw it on Pinterest, and I figured I had the time, so I tried it.” Not sleeping left a lot of time to make new things I hadn’t been able to try before.
Murphy chuckled. “Only you, Bristol.” He popped the bacon rose into his mouth and smiled. “Fucking delicious.”
“It smells like heaven in here.” Royal walked into the kitchen with Kane in her arms. “I was hoping you would make breakfast.” A soft smile crossed her lips. “And coffee.”
“Marco sleeping?” Murphy asked.
I moved to the cupboard and grabbed a coffee cup. “Coffee coming right up,” I called.
Royal nodded. “We got home two hours ago. I fell asleep right away, but I think it took Marco a little bit. Kane started fussing so I grabbed him and decided to let Marco sleep.” Royal slid onto one of the stools and sighed. “Are those bacon roses?”
I filled the cup with coffee, and set it in front of Royal.
“Never been a fan of flowers, but I gotta say I’m a fan of these.” Murphy took another bacon rose and sighed after he put it on his mouth. “I don’t know how the hell you make everything you make taste so good.”
I shrugged and plugged the sink to start cleaning up. “Cooking and baking help to keep my mind occupied.” If I didn’t have cooking to keep me busy, I would have been a nervous wreck. More so than I already was.
Royal laughed. “Well, my stomach thanks you.” She cradled Kane in her arm. “Do you think you could make me a plate?” She cringed. “Lord, I sound stuck up. You already brought me coffee,” she sighed. “I can’t even make my own plate anymore.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed a plate. “No, you sound like a mom who was up most of the night and just needs a warm meal.” I loaded the plate up with a little bit of everything and set it in front of her. “There is plenty more if you want seconds.”
Apollo walked into the kitchen with his hand over his mouth as he yawned. “I was trying to sleep, but all I could smell was bacon.”
Murphy grabbed a bacon rose and tossed it at Apollo. “They’re fucking roses.”
Apollo snatched it out of the air and looked it over. “I’ll be fucking damned. It is a rose.” He popped it into his mouth and smiled. “A delicious rose.”
I set the syrup in front of Royal. “Uh, I was talking to Murphy, and I think I’m going to make a bunch of meals and food to take over to the clubhouse and the hospital. I know they have a lot going on, and they shouldn’t have to worry about cooking.” They needed to eat, but they didn’t need to worry about making food.
Royal grabbed the syrup. “That sounds like a really good idea. I can help if you want,” she offered.
“If you’re up to it. I figure I can run to the store after I clean up all of these dishes. You can come with, but maybe you might want to try to take a nap.” I grabbed the griddle and unplugged it. I had already started making a list in my head of things to buy and make.
Royal waved her hand. “Nonsense. I’m up, and I’m ready to go. I’m sure about nine o’clock tonight I’ll be wiped, but for now, I’m good.” She struggled to cut her waffle and laughed. “I think I need to grow a third arm.” Kane fussed in her arms and she smiled down at him.
“I’ll take him while you eat,” Apollo offered. “I’m a pro at eating with one hand. When Grace was a baby, she refused to be set down. Even when she needed to sleep. Always had to be held.” He lifted Kane from Royal and cradled him to his chest. “Like riding a bicycle,” he chuckled. “How about you come with Uncle Apollo, and we can check the security cameras?”
Royal shook her head and took a sip of her coffee.. “Kane is going to be a mafia boss in training.”
“Damn straight,” Murphy agreed.
While Royal ate her breakfast, I made a dent in the mountain of dishes. I started the dishwasher and dumped the last of the pots into the sink. Murphy had wandered after Apollo with three more bacon roses and a cinnamon muffin.
“Bristol,” Royal called.
“You need some more?” I asked. I wiped my hands on the dishtowel and leaned against the counter.
Royal sat back and pushed her plate away. “I can’t eat another bite.” She glanced at the cinnamon muffins. “But save me one of those muffins for when we get back from the store.”
I laughed and grabbed her empty plate. “Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.”
“Go where?” Marco asked. He walked into the kitchen with dark blue jogging pants hanging off his hips and no shirt.
“Do you think you could put clothes on?” Royal asked. She folded her arms over her chest and laughed.
Marco ran his fingers through his hair. “No, because this is my home,” he replied simply.
I turned back to the sink of dishes and laughed. I was supposed to be invisible, and Marco was right. This was his house, and he could do whatever he wanted.
“Maybe Bristol doesn’t want to see you walking around half-naked,” Royal argued. “Or maybe I don’t want you walking around advertising all your goods.”
“My goods?” Marco chuckled. “And as if Bristol cares. She’s like a sister.”
That was true. Marco was a handsome man, but I was not interested in him at all. “Is there anything you want for meals for the next couple of days?” I didn’t want to continue to talk about Marco’s goods.
Marco grunted. “I always tell you the same thing when you ask me that, Bristol.”
“Good food?” I laughed.
Marco clicked his tongue. “Bingo.”
I heard the stool move back, and then Royal let out a moan.
Yeah, I was not about to turn around. I wasn’t interested in seeing Marco and Royal make out.
“Bristol is going to make a bunch of food for the club, and I’m going to help her,” Royal announced a minute later.
I glanced over my shoulder at Royal and smiled. “Girl, you are more than going to help. You’re gonna be measuring, stirring, and baking right next to me.” If I was going to make meals for Wyndemere and the Devil’s Knights, I was going to need all of the help that Royal wanted to give me.
“Is it wrong that I’m excited right now even though we don’t know what is going to happen to King?” Royal asked.
Marco pressed a kiss to her forehead. “No, amore mio. There’s nothing wrong with being happy. King is going to recover; it’s just going to take some time,” he reassured her.
“Are you sure?” Royal asked. “I know everyone says he’s tough, but a stroke has nothing to do with his toughness.”
I had an uncle who had a stroke when I was younger, and I remembered that it was months before he was somewhat back to his normal self. I wanted to believe Marco when he said that King was going to all right, but time would be the thing that would prove it.
“I just know, Royal. King isn’t mean to leave this world yet.” Marco snagged a pancake from the platter and folded it in half. “And I also talked with his doctors. I’ve made sure he had the best team of professionals working to get him on the road to recovery.” He took s huge bite of the pancake and sat down next to Royal.
“How did you get to talk to his doctors?” Royal asked. “I was with you the whole time at the hospital.”
“Yes, you were, but you knocked out like a light when we got home. I was able to make a couple of phone calls.”
Royal leaned against Marco and sighed. “You’re a good man, Marco,” she sighed.
“Only for the people I love, amore mio.”
I finished the dishes and hung the dishtowel on the stove. “Ready?” I asked Royal.
Royal laughed and looked down at her clothes. “Uh, give me two minutes. I don’t think I can go into public looking like this.” She jumped off her stool and ran out of the kitchen.
I grabbed the wash rag and gave the counters another wipe.
“How are you, Bristol?” Marco asked.
I shrugged. “I’m okay. Worried about King.”
Marco nodded. “Apollo told me how we found out about King.”
I cringed and turned my back to Marco. “Oh, really?”
“Be careful, Bristol,” he said gently.
I closed my eyes and sighed. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I did not want to talk about Pie with Marco. There were more important things to talk about right now.
Marco laughed. “You’re a grown woman who can more than make her own choices. I just want you to be careful.”
“Didn’t you grow up with Pie?” I asked. It seemed odd that he was telling me to be careful with someone who was basically his family.
Marco shrugged. “Not exactly. By the time all of the babies started to come, I was basically grown. I was more of a babysitter to them than a cousin. They were all pretty wild. There are about a hundred stories I could tell you that involve at least two or three of my cousins.”
“I think I’ve heard some of them before.” I dropped the washcloth in the sink. “They were pretty colorful and funny.” And most of them involved Zig and Zag.
“So you can understand why I want you to be careful with Pie.” Marco shook his head. “This was not the type of conversation I thought I would have with you.” He chuckled and folded his arms over his chest.
“Because I’m not one of your cousin’s types?” I asked.
Marco tipped his head to the side. “Uh, no. That didn’t cross my mind at all. I was just referring to how I never imagined you thinking one of my tattooed, dumbass cousins would be your type. I pictured maybe you hooking up with Murphy.” Marco shrugged. “Smart, and he’s more than capable to keep you safe.”
Now it was my turn to tip my head to the side. “Murphy?” I laughed. “Are you serious? You guys are like my brothers. There is no way I could ever think of Murphy in…that way.” I visibly shivered. “And, newsflash, while being smart and able to keep me safe, women tend to have more on their list of things they like in a man.”
Murphy walked into the kitchen and rested his hands on his hips. “Think of me in what way?”
“Nope!” I called. There was no way I could ever think of Murphy as someone who I would want to share my bed with. As with Marco, I could tell you Murphy was a handsome man, but he was just not the one for me. Murphy was meant for someone else that was not me.
“I think I missed something,” Murphy laughed.
“Marco thought you and I were going to hook up,” I blurted. I scrunched up my nose and shook my head. “As if.”
“Well, I don’t think so, but I have to say the fact that you are so offended by the idea of you and me together hurts just a little bit.” Murphy rubbed his chest. “Damn dagger to my heart, Bri.”
I grabbed the washcloth and tossed it at Murphy. “I’m sure you can find someone to help you heal the wound.”
“I’m ready!” Royal called.
“Hey,” Marco replied. “Where is my boy?”
Royal breezed into the kitchen and laughed. “Apollo has him. They were checking the security cameras. Do you want me to take him with me?”
Marco scoffed. “That would be a no, amore mio. Leave my boy with me.”
Again, another example that Marco really was one of the good ones.
“Okay,” Royal called. “I love you.” She smiled wide and headed to the front door.
Marco slid off his stool and wiped his hands on his pants. “I hope you don’t think you are going to leave without kissing me goodbye,” he growled. He prowled out of the kitchen to the front door where Royal had scurried to.
“Aren’t you going with?” Murphy asked.
I held up my hands. “I am, but I’m going to give those two a good minute to say goodbye.” I did not want to be an audience to Marco and Royal’s PDA.
Murphy tapped his nose. “Good thinking, doll.”
I grabbed my keys from my room and slowly made my way to the front door.
“You’re a naughty boy, Marco.” Royal laughed lightly and had her face buried in Marco’s chest.
Yeah, I was going to have to give these two more than a minute to say goodbye from now on.
I cleared my throat. “Um, ready?”
Royal pulled out of Marco’s hold and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Be good while I’m gone,” she warned.
Marco scoffed. “I’m going to feed Kane and then more than likely take a nap in my office with him.”
Royal moved to the front door and glanced at Marco over her shoulder. “Sounds like a pretty wild time. You mafia guys sure do know how to spend your day.”
“About as wild as going to the grocery store,” Marco chuckled.
Royal opened the front door and laughed. “Living the dream, baby.”
Fifteen minutes later, Royal and I pulled into the parking lot of Buy More Mart.
Royal sighed and looked up at the store through the windshield. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but part of the reason I wanted to come to the store with you was because it's normal.”
I reached back and grabbed my purse off the backseat. “Um, normal?” I laughed. I was pretty sure Princeton had followed us to the store and was more than likely going to follow us while we shopped.
“Yeah,” Royal sighed. “I’ve been in a whirlwind falling into Marco’s world, and it’s nice to do something normal like go to the grocery store.”
Hopefully Princeton kept his distance and Royal wouldn’t notice him.
I glanced at Royal, and she was dead serious. “In that case, I am more than happy to give you a dose of normal.” I opened my door. “I mean, I do this every week, and you’re always welcome to come with me.” I pulled out my phone and sent off a text to Princeton to tell him to keep his distance from us. Hopefully he could keep an eye on us without having to be right on top of us. Though I was pretty sure he was more concerned about keeping Royal safe, and not about whether or not she knew he was there.
Royal gave me a broad smile. “Fun!”
Princeton texted back a thumbs up and I sighed. Thank God.
“Then, let’s go have some fun.” I also thought grocery shopping was fun, but I knew I was a little different.
*
Chapter Sixteen
Ice cream tonight…
Pie
“Food is here.”
I lifted my head from my pillow. “What?”
Zag held up a plate of food. “Marco’s chef brought a shit-ton of food over for us.”
“Bristol?” I scrubbed my hand down my face and sat up. My eyes were barely open and I couldn’t tell you what day of the week it was.
I had gotten home from the hospital around noon and had promptly passed out. Things were stable with King, and the doctors were being optimistic that with therapy, he should recover. While they had been repairing the carotid dissection, the doctor said he checked out the rest of his arteries, and they were all in good condition. Now King was going to be on the long road to recovery.
“Yeah, the hot chef brought some bomb-ass food.” Zag lifted a forkful of food to his mouth. “Fucking ravioli in some sauce I would lick off the floor.” He shoved the fork into his mouth and moaned.
I cringed. “I sometimes worry about you, brother.”
Zag laughed. “You and everyone else. Better get your ass up if you want anything to eat,” he warned.
“Is she still here?” I asked.
Zag shrugged. “She was, but I heard Royal saying they were headed to the hospital to drop some meals off to Meg. I don’t know if they left yet.”
I swung my legs onto the floor and stood. I shrugged on my cut and stepped around Zag.
“Whoa,” Zag chuckled. “You must be starving.”
Starving was right. I wanted to see Bristol.
I stalked down the hallway to the main room and glanced around, hoping to spot Bristol, but she wasn’t anywhere.
Yesterday, half of the club girls had been moved to a few apartments close to Sultry Knights, and things had cleared out a bit. Now there were only about ten girls still at the clubhouse, and they were going to be moved to another house tomorrow.
It was nice to have the clubhouse back to what it used to be, not a hostel for strippers and waitresses.
“Dude,” Hero called. “Make sure you get some food.” He pointed to one of the poker tables that was covered in casserole dishes and a large cake. “Bristol and Royal dropped off some food.”
Some food was an understatement.
“Are they still here?” I asked.
Hero shook his head. “No, you just missed them. They were wanting to get over to the hospital with food for Meg before it got too late.”
I nodded and sighed.
I guess I wasn’t going to see Bristol today. I would have to settle for her delicious cooking and hope I got to see her soon. Things were crazy at the clubhouse, but making time for her had just been moved to the top of my list.
*
Bristol
“Oh, my God,” Meg moaned. “I don’t know how you make this sauce, but you know I’m going to need the recipe.” She scraped the last of the ravioli sauce off her plate and grinned. “You guys are lifesavers. I was afraid to eat breakfast in the morning. Today was not good, and I didn’t think things would get better tomorrow.”
I nodded to the cooler I had set by the window. “Well, as long as you have access to a microwave, you’ll be eating good for the next four days.” Royal and I had cooked the ravioli Meg just ate, and also meatloaf, tator tot casserole, Tuscan chicken pasta, chicken enchiladas, and breakfast burritos with steak and eggs inside them. Meg would be eating good for the next week or so.
Meg had come out of King’s room when we came in, and she had sat with us while she ate a late dinner from the meals Royal and I had made.
