“Got it,” Nova says.
“Good.” Cash bangs the gavel down, then he gives me a chin lift. “She wantin’ a cut?”
Nova turns to him. “Of course.”
“See Jas, she’ll sort it out for you,” he says.
All of a sudden, Brew, Haze and Logan are crowded around us as the others get up to leave.
“So, you think you’re worthy of our little cousin?” Haze slaps me on the back hard.
“I don’t know about that,” I say with a cough. “But I’m damned sure gonna keep tryin’.”
“Yes, he is,” Nova puts in, her arms moving to wrap around my waist. “And don’t even think about any more threats. We’re adults and we can think for ourselves. Neither I, nor Sawyer, need your permission to date each other. You all need to get a grip.”
“Is that what we’re callin’ it?” Logan mutters.
Nova gives him a thump on the arm for his trouble. “I’m serious.”
“I’m growin’ to like the idea,” Haze tells us. “I mean, we know he’ll protect you, and we do like the guy, so it’s win-win.”
“So glad I’ve met with your approval.” I smile.
“We’ve known each other a while, and we’ve worked together on some pretty rough shit,” Brew says. “I’ve seen Nova change since she got here. She’s become her own woman — thinkin’ for herself and makin’ a new life here, one she can be proud of. I don’t want to see that flame go out because you broke her heart.”
We all gape at him. I don’t think Brew has said more than a few sentences his entire life. Well, maybe more to Erica, but he mainly just grunts.
“I won’t do that,” I promise. “You know me by now. You know I don’t fuck around with anyone. Maybe subconsciously I always knew it was Nova. I’ve never felt this way about anyone and I’m not gonna do anything except hope and pray every day I can be the man she always wanted.”
“You already are,” Nova coos, leaning her head on my chest.
“Pass me a bucket,” Haze laughs, running a hand over his face.
Logan squeezes my shoulder. “I told you they’d come around.”
“What do you mean by that?” Brew says, his attention suddenly on the eldest Dawon.
He gives me a wink. “Oh, nothin’.”
I think we may have had our first win.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
Nova
Queens of the MC group chat
Manny
Something went down today, anyone got a heads up?
I smile to myself. Here we go. Of course, it says ‘Queens of the MC’ and Manny is the only man allowed in the girls chat.
Deanna
Cash was shady all afternoon, didn’t have time to find out why, wish I’d paid more attention now