Chapter Eleven

We've got a plan…

Meg

"Who would have thought King, Fox, Wrecker, and Snapper were considered girls?" Greta's voice floated over from the RV steps as she made her way down to the table where breakfast was spread out.

Jonas lounged comfortably in the chair Greta usually claimed, with Lennox on his lap. He gave her a teasing grin. "You're just mad because Bear didn't want to come."

Greta shot him a look that could cut steel and grabbed a plate, flipping him off without missing a beat. "My man is actually hunting a fugitive in Ohio right now, thank you very much. I'm pretty sure that's a little more important." She snagged a sausage and took a hefty bite, speaking around her mouthful. "And August is having the time of his life with his Aunt Royal."

I couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Greta tearing into breakfast like a hungry lioness. "Living it up at Windemere, huh? You might never get your baby back."

Greta rolled her eyes dramatically and began piling her plate high with pancakes, eggs, and more sausage. It was clear she wasn't going to starve, even if the guys decided to eat everything in sight.

"What's Windemere?" Alice asked, curiosity piqued as usual.

I chuckled and gave her the short version. "Long story short, we've got mafia in the family. Windemere is their big ol' house on the outskirts of town. Royal lives there with Marco along with Kitty, Princeton, and her dad. Plus Leo, Murphy, Creed, Tatum, and Jada."

Alice narrowed her eyes, looking like a cat about to pounce on something. "I know you said long story short, but I'm going to need a bit more information than that."

Wrecker's voice came from behind her, laden with warning. "Babe."

Alice turned to him with a mock whine. "Wrecker, she just said the word ‘mafia,' and I'm not supposed to ask questions? That's like dangling a carrot in front of a rabbit and expecting it not to eat it."

Wrecker shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips, but he wasn't going to give in.

With a dramatic sigh, Alice threw her hands in the air and grabbed a plate. "Fine, fine. I'll corner Greta later and make her tell me everything." She bumped her hip against Greta's playfully as she said it.

Greta, not missing a beat, nodded towards the two empty chairs on the other side of the campsite. "Step into my office, and I'll tell you everything you need to know."

"Greta," King called out, a warning of his own laced in his tone.

Greta sauntered over to one of the chairs and plopped down, completely unconcerned. "Don't worry, King, I won't tell her all of the Devil's Knights' secrets."

Lo settled next to me, draping his arm over my shoulders in a familiar, comforting gesture. "I'm more worried about all the shit she's going to make up."

I patted his leg, knowing full well he had a point. Greta was a storyteller through and through, and if you gave her an inch, she'd give you a mile—whether it was fact or fiction was anyone's guess.

Alice happily filled her plate and practically skipped over to Greta, eager for a story.

"This place has everything," Fox said as he walked into the campsite, a grin splitting his face. He looked so much like a younger version of Wrecker, minus the signature beard.

"You should have brought Bay with you," Wendy suggested, glancing at him with a knowing look. "You guys could have hung out by the lake."

Fox shook his head, his smile dimming a little. "She's visiting her boyfriend."

Raven, who had been quietly sipping her coffee, rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Still can't believe she's dating Douchebag McTool."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I'm hoping that's not really his name."

Raven smirked, shrugging one shoulder. "No, but it should be."

Fox piled his plate with food, seemingly unbothered by the conversation. "She seems to like him," he shrugged. "Can't really say much to her about him."

Raven shot him a pointed look. "Uh, yeah, you can. You're her best friend. You can tell her that she's dating Douchebag McTool."

"Is he Irish?" I asked, unable to resist jumping into the banter.

Nikki giggled next to me. "Not at all. Raven just has a way with nicknames."

Before I could comment further, Alice's loud exclamation of disbelief rang out. "You're kidding me!"

"Greta!" Lo called out, his voice tinged with both amusement and caution. "Don't be spinning some story to Alice."

Greta glanced over with a smirk that told me Lo had every reason to be wary. "I would never."

"Yeah, we're going to need to break those two up," Wrecker chuckled, shaking his head at the scene.

Reva decided to bring us back on track. "What are the plans for today?" she asked, glancing around at the unexpected company. "Seeing as we now have four extra people."

Lo gave a nod in Jonas's direction, signaling him to take the lead.

"I thought we could head to the pool," Jonas suggested, his tone casual, but there was something more beneath it.

I tipped my head to the side, suspicion creeping in. There was a plan brewing, and it wasn't mine.

"Sounds good to me," Lo agreed, his voice smooth and easy, but I knew him too well. Something was up.

"But I—" Lennox started, looking unsure, but Jonas quickly silenced her with a kiss, soft and sweet, and way too distracting.

"Trust me, baby," he murmured against her lips.

Oh boy. It seemed like Alice and I weren't the only ones with plans and schemes. Whatever was going on, it was clear that Jonas and Lo were in charge.

Lo stood up, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "Everyone finish eating, and let's head to the pool!"

I narrowed my eyes at him, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm the one who's supposed to be calling the shots this weekend," I reminded him, my voice firm.

Lo leaned down, pressing a kiss to my lips, his touch gentle but persuasive. "I promise you'll like this."

I gave him a look that said I wasn't so sure, but he just grinned, his charm working its usual magic.

Breakfast was a blur after that, everyone bustling around, finishing their food and getting ready for whatever was coming next. I tried to relax, to let go of the reins just a little, but it wasn't easy. I was used to being the one with the plan, even if it was crazy and half-cocked.

But today, it seemed, I was going to have to trust Lo—and maybe even enjoy the surprise.

Alice

We had been lounging by the pool for the past two hours, soaking up the sun and enjoying the day. But there was something in the air, a tension that had nothing to do with the bright, cloudless sky or the cold drinks we'd been sipping. It started when I noticed King sitting at the outdoor bar by himself across the road from where we were sitting.

"Why is King sitting at the bar by himself?" I asked, squinting through my sunglasses at the distant figure of King.

Meg craned her neck to look at King. "I don't know. I told him I would come with him to get this round of drinks, but he told me he got it."

I scrunched up my nose. "Something is afoot, Meg."

"I know," she muttered, her voice low with suspicion.

We were both on edge, not just because King was acting strange, but because five minutes ago, the woman who had called Lennox trash showed up at the other end of the pool. She had taken a table with a few of her friends, but notably, she didn't have her daughter with her. The woman had been shooting dirty looks at Lennox, who was floating with Snapper, the entire time, and it was taking all of my strength not to march over there and gouge her eyes out. Meg was struggling, too; I could see the tightness in her jaw, the way her hands clenched at her sides.

We turned back in our seats, my gaze locked on the woman from behind my sunglasses. "She doesn't have her daughter with her."

"Alice," Wrecker growled, sensing my thoughts as if he could read my mind. "You are not going to do anything to that woman just because she doesn't have her kid with her."

I tilted my head back, pushing my sunglasses down my nose to look up at him. "What if Meg and I just talk to her?" I suggested, trying to sound reasonable.

"Yeah," Meg chimed in, "just talk."

Wrecker put his arms around my shoulders, pulling me close. "Stay, babe."

"I don't want to," I replied, my tone sulky. I trusted Wrecker with my life, but the urge to go over there and tell that woman off was almost too strong to resist.

He shook his head and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. "Trust me."

I sighed, leaning into his kiss, but the anger simmered just below the surface. All I needed was one more reason, one more sideways glance from that woman, and I'd be up and out of my chair in a heartbeat.

"She's getting up," Meg hissed, drawing my attention back to the scene unfolding across the pool.

The skinny blonde woman in her yellow bikini was rising from the table with her friends, her every movement deliberate and confident. My heart started to pound as I watched her strut across the pool area, hips swaying, head held high. She was heading straight for the outdoor bar where King was sitting alone.

"Fuck me," I muttered, watching her take a seat right next to King. And then, to my utter disbelief, she turned toward him and started talking to him like they were old friends.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me," Meg seethed beside me, her hands gripping the edge of the lounge chair as though she might spring up at any moment.

"Relax," Wrecker called from behind me, his voice calm and unbothered.

Meg whipped around to face him, her eyes blazing. "Why?"

He nodded in the direction of King and the woman. "Because this is all part of the plan."

"What plan?" I demanded, turning to look at him.

Wrecker gave me one of those infuriatingly calm smiles, the kind that told me he knew exactly what was going on and wasn't about to share the details with me just yet. "Just watch," he said, nodding back to the bar.

I turned back to see King leaning back in his chair, looking completely relaxed as the woman prattled on next to him. He wasn't flirting with her—thank God—but he also wasn't telling her to get lost, which I would have preferred.

"What is he doing?" Meg whispered, her voice tight with frustration.

Wrecker's arms tightened around me. "Sticking to the plan."

I watched as the woman leaned closer to King, her hand brushing against his arm. My teeth clenched so hard I was sure I'd crack a molar. "And what if she tries to do more than talk?"

"She won't," Wrecker said confidently. "King's got it under control."

I didn't like it, but I stayed where I was, my muscles tense, ready to pounce if things went sideways. The whole scene was making my blood boil, and I knew Meg was feeling the same. We'd been prepared for a relaxing day by the pool, not this soap opera drama.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, my eyes never leaving the blonde.

"Trust me, babe," Wrecker repeated. "Just trust me."