I was losing their attention. Something had caught it and several of the kids were looking toward the door.
I forged ahead to finish my point. “I’l say it one last time, not one of you goes on the streets looking for trouble. You do…” I hesitated, not used to badass threatening then I remembered what Vance said to me when I aimed at his Harley, “there’l be consequences.”
They weren’t paying attention at al anymore. Most of the kids were staring at the door, some with wide eyes, some with mouths hanging open.
“Sweet baby Jesus,” May breathed from beside me.
I looked at the door. Vance, Lee and Luke were al standing there.
Vance was wearing a black turtleneck, faded jeans, black cowboy boots and a black leather jacket that hung over his hips. His hair, as usual, was pul ed back in a ponytail at the base of his neck and, above al , he looked hot.
He also looked like he was about ready to burst out laughing.
Lee was standing next to him, wearing an olive drab v-necked sweater, a white t-shirt under it, jeans, boots and a clay-colored suede jacket.
Luke was next to Lee wearing head-to-toe black, a tight black t-shirt that you could see stretching across his pecs under his black motorcycle jacket, black cargo pants and black boots.
Lee and Luke also looked highly amused. It was clear they’d heard every word.
“God dammit,” I muttered under my breath.
The boys advanced into the room coming at me. The kids watched, mesmerized, their heads moving with the progress of the Nightingale Men.
“Hi boys,” I said when they arrived.
Luke half-grinned. Lee’s eyes crinkled. Vance smiled at me flat out.
“Law,” Vance said.
I rol ed my eyes at him for using my street name. If it could be believed, he looked even more amused at my eye rol .
“Hon,” May said from beside me, sounding slightly breathy. I looked to her and she was taking in the boys.
“Hon,” she repeated. “Oh my, hon. ” Now she was just looking at Crowe.
“May,” I said sharply to break through the Crowe Effect.
She blinked and looked at me. “What?”
“Snap out of it,” I whispered to her.
She shook her head. “Yeah, yeah, right.”
I introduced her. “Boys, this is May. May, this is Vance Crowe, Lee Nightingale and Luke Stark.”
They al turned amused looks to her.
She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times and then said in a breathy voice, “Hi ya’l .”
I looked at Vance and shook my head. He just gave me one of his grins. This made my bel y flutter, especial y when my mind took that unfortunate moment to fast forward to what was supposed to happen later that night. It was like he read my mind and his grin turned wicked. I frowned. When I did so, I wasn’t sure, but it looked like he was again trying hard not to laugh.
“We need to talk,” Lee cut in to Vance and my bizarre nonverbal exchange but he was looking around at al the kids watching us. “You have somewhere private?” he asked when he turned to me.
May threw up a hand. “I’l go check. See if one of the counseling rooms is open. Won’t be a minute.” Then she whirled and trotted off.
I looked back at The Boys. “What’s up?” I asked.
“Private,” Luke said and at this single word I sucked in my lips thinking this was not good.
“Hey Crowe,” Sniff greeted, as if Crowe was his best friend and they hung out al the time. He came up on one side of me.
Roam silently moved in at my other side.
“Sniff,” Crowe replied then he looked at Roam who was standing between Vance and I. “Roam,” he said.
Roam nodded his greeting.
“Throw rocks at any dealers lately?” Crowe asked.
Roam’s body jerked, not sure if Crowe was fucking with him in a good way or a bad way and I watched them both closely.
“No,” Roam answered hesitantly.
“Too bad,” Luke put in, “Shard won’t forget you anytime soon.”
Roam’s eyes swung to Luke and I saw hope fil them for a second, before he hid it. “Yeah?” Roam asked, trying to be cool.
“Yeah,” Luke answered. “Not sure that’s a good thing, kid. We let him go; he may come lookin’ for you.” Roam’s body went stiff, whether from fear or what he thought was an admonishment from Stark, I couldn’t tel .
“That won’t happen,” Crowe offered casual y but there was a fierce undercurrent to his words as if he would, personal y, be looking out for Roam.
Roams eyes skidded to Vance and the hope in them lasted longer this time. I felt what was becoming a familiar warmth start to spread through me as I looked between Vance and Roam.
“You studyin’?” Vance asked him.
Roam nodded.
“You are not, Roam,” Sniff put in, ever the big mouth.
“Shut up, Sniff,” Roam hissed then looked at Crowe. “I’m gonna get my diploma. Then I’l come lookin’ for you.” Vance’s eyes moved to me. “Likely you won’t have to come lookin’,” he said.
Oh my God.
What in the hell did that mean?
I stared at him, the warmth had turned to fire and I stopped breathing.