Yes, please, Sacha shamefully agreed when she knew very well she shouldn’t.
ELEVEN
Alek hit the button to lower the garage door before he and Anton entered the Old Westbury house through the entrance leading to a short corridor off the front foyer.
“Hey! Settle the fuck down,” Vincente’s voice boomed. “You deaf, boy? Sit! He jumps. Seriously, what the fuck, babe? I’m telling you, this dog has a fuckin’ hearing problem. Nika! You hearing me? Come and get your dog.”
Anton ducked back out into the garage with his finger going in a back and forth motion. “Let them know I am here. I do not need some Italian putting a hole in me because he is startled by my presence.” He shut the door as Nika’s voice rang out.
“One sec! I almost have him. Or her. Do you think it’s a girl? I think it’s a girl. Eva! Hurry with the milk!”
“Jesus Christ,” V grunted with an edge of humor in his voice that only those who knew him well would recognize. “Trisko, I swear to fuck, if the view wasn’t so good, I’d boot you in the ass for this.”
Alek came around the corner to see two Moretti soldiers stationed at the door. Vito had recently returned from some time off after having taken a blade to the eye during an altercation a while back. Bobby T had finally made it back from Seattle. He’d been with Gabriel during his self-imposed exile that had lasted five years.
Gabriel was lounging in the only chair in the foyer, legs extended, fingers locked together over his middle. He tipped his chin up in greeting then went back to watching the show. He looked thoroughly entertained.
One of his security team, Jakson Trisko, a former Navy SEAL, was a few feet away, his shoulder leaning into the wall, a beer in his hand. Jak gave him a lazy salute, his gaze going beyond Alek to prove he’d heard Anton’s unfamiliar voice. His wide grin that puckered the jagged scar running from his right ear to the corner of his mouth dimmed slightly. None of them liked new faces.
The only guy not lounging was Vincente. He was sitting against the far wall with a Tasmanian Devil shoved between his legs. Oh. It was Charlie, his and Nika’s five-month-old Rottweiler. Going. Wild.
V’s attention was on Nika, who was across the way. She, too, was on the floor, wearing a classic business suit in a pale green. The four-inch matching heels she had on likely put her over six feet in height. Her ass was in the air, her chest on the floor, and she was reaching under the table that held a few of her man’s Harley models that cost almost as much as the real thing.
Eva’s voice came from the hallway that led to the kitchen. “I won’t kick your ass, Jak. But I might plant a sloppy kiss on your cheek because you’re such a softie.”
“She doesn’t mean that,” G muttered with a smirk.
“Oh! I think I—shit. I thought I—oh, come on, you little bugger.” Nika went lower and reached farther under the table.
“You show anymore leg; I’ll fuckin’ shoot that cat and drag it out of there myself,” Vincente growled.
That had his woman straightening with a snap. Her mane of hair flew around, the colors looking like autumn leaves. Her face was flushed, eyes bright. Beautiful girl. “Really? Really, Vincente? I’m trying to help a terrified baby, and you’re staring at my ass?”
“Uh, yeah.” Tone said it was a no-brainer. “I can see your goddamn stockings. Pull your skirt down and call for Samnang to bring a broom.”
Nika’s gasp mingled with Eva’s as she came down the hall—also in business attire, though hers was maternity. She was balancing a small bowl of what must be the milk. V looked over at Alek and winked. Eva smiled a greeting at him.
“Did you hear that?” Nika said to Eva. “Looks like I’ll be the only one playing with a kitty tonight.” Jak and Gabriel laughed as she waved Eva down next to her. “Bring it here. You.” She pointed to Vincente. “Hold your dog for two seconds. How hard can it be?”
Charlie barked three times and started scraping the tile trying to get to his mistress.
“Oh, settle down,” she cooed, smiling. “You’re all talk. You know you’re going to love her. Or him. Which do you think she is?”
“Don’t know. But let me at it and I’ll find out.” Eva went to take the same position Nika had been in but paused when G knocked his knuckles on the table at his elbow.
“Don’t even think about it.”
She tilted her head as her eyes flicked up in a quick roll. “You’re worried someone’s going to glance at my quickly growing ass?”
“No. I’m worried a fleabag from the woods will be the cause of my son having a crooked head if you start rolling around on the floor with your friend.”