“Later, babe.’
“’Bye, Zano.”
I did not take it as a good sign that Hank’s jaw got tight when I said Ren’s name.
I shoved my phone in my pocket and held my brother’s eyes.
“What?” I asked when he said nothing.
“You think it’s a good idea, you standin’ out here on the sidewalk?”
I pointed across the street where Santo had eyes on me and a hand to his mouth, working his teeth with a toothpick.
“Fuck, Zano put his goon squad on you?” Hank asked, studying Santo with a look on his face that stated what I’d previously thought of Santo and Lucky, and that was that he wasn’t quite certain if they were idiots or brilliant at playing them.
“Apparently,” I answered.
Hank’s eyes tipped down to me. “How ‘bout you do your brother a favor and get your ass inside?”
“I’ll do you that favor, but only because you asked,” I answered magnanimously.
Hank looked to the sky.
I sashayed to the door.
I was caught just inside when Hank’s fingers curled around my bicep to stop me. But before I stopped, I saw that not only had Vance and Luke joined the party, Hector and Marcus were there as well.
No one looked happy.
Except Tod and Shirleen. And it appeared Roxie was fighting a smile. And I couldn’t tell because I had her profile, but it looked like Ava was giggling behind her hand.
I wondered what they’d think if they knew they were “coming soon.”
This thought exited my head when my brother said into my ear. “Dad wants a family meeting.”
This was not a surprise. When Ren and I made it official, I didn’t figure Dad would delay.
I pulled away, but not too far, and told Hank, “I’ll call him. Set it up.”
“He won’t want Zano there,” Hank told me.
“That might not be his choice,” I stated.
“Ally, you want this, you gotta play it smart,” he warned.
“Hank,” I leaned in and said quietly, “I want this and I don’t have to play at anything. You would no sooner ask for approval of the woman you chose to be in your bed than Lee would. Or Dad would. And I will not be happy if that’s expected of me. I get your concerns. Totally. What I will not get is if you make a decision before you give Ren a chance.”
“We know this guy, Ally, we know his family,” Hank replied.
“You don’t know how he is with me,” I returned. “And you all knew Darius and Shirleen. And when they turned to the dark side, not one of you turned your back on them. Deep down, you got exactly who they were and you accepted how they had to be. You didn’t like it. I know it, Hank. Especially you. But you didn’t wash your hands of people who mattered because you cast judgment on them. You may know Ren, but you don’t know him, and all I’ll ask of you and everyone is to give him the chance to get to know him. If that doesn’t swing my way, so be it. It’ll be then I’ll ask you to trust in the fact that I know him better than you and I know he matters.”
Hank held my gaze before he gave in (in a macho alpha way) by jerking up his chin.
Then he declared, “There’s more to talk about.”
“There is,” I agreed.
“We’re worried,” he stated.
He was talking about my soon-to-be legit business.
“You’ve no need to be,” I assured him.
“Ally—”
I leaned in further and got up on my toes to get (kind of) eye to eye (my brother was seriously tall; then again, so was everyone in our family). “Hank, babe, love you, you know it. And I love it that you’re worried. Says a lot. But we’ll talk about it later. Okay?”
Another macho alpha chin jerk, which meant okay.
Jeez. These guys.
“Now,” I continued, deciding to let that go and rocking back to my heels. “Tell me what’s happening with Rosie.”
This got me a clenched jaw, complete with muscle jumping in his cheek.
Not good.
“Hank?” I prompted.
