something odd about the man and Shadow obviously distrusted him as much as Choo-Choo seemed to adore him. It made no sense.
Granny P. shuffled into the room and sat at the head of the scarred oak table and cleared her throat. Josie had gotten in the habit of saying grace before her meals since living with Granny P, but she could see that Valentine had forgotten. He looked sheepish as he swallowed the mouthful of boiling soup and bowed his head.
Granny P led a simple prayer as she always did, but the weight in the room felt heavier than Josie had ever felt. Shadow picked up his spoon and ate with manners that would have made the Queen of England envious.
Josie couldn’t help but watch him.
Choo-Choo and Valentine minded their manners, but as they quenched the best part of their hunger they began to exchange glances that told Josie the two had been close since childhood.
A stab of longing hit her. All of her friends were lost to her, not that she’d had very many growing up, but she’d had one or two that she wished she had kept in contact with.
Granny P. interrupted her thoughts when she cleared her throat and laid her napkin on the table.
“Thank you Josie for a lovely lunch. I’m sorry for springing it on you the way I did, but it couldn’t be helped when no one thinks it’s necessary to pick up a phone and let me know I’m about to need enough food to feed a regiment of fighting men who haven’t eaten in a month.”
Choo-Choo looked sheepish and mumbled an apology right along with Valentine.
“Accepted. Now, I think there are a few things that need to be cleared out of the way so we can get to the real questions. First, I don’t believe in coincidence, so there is a reason I have three men around my table right now, two who obviously do not care for each other and one who looks like he’s been hit by a tractor trailer. We will get to that. I’ll begin. I am Granny P. I raised Anthony. He, his uncle and the raggedy son of my eldest daughter are the only family I have left. I’m not ashamed to say I wouldn’t mind a certain young woman joining that family if my blessing is sought it is given. I’m not one who enjoys danger and intrigue. I prefer a simple and quiet life right here at home so I would appreciate it if that stays the same. That being said, Marcus was right when he said we are all family.”
Josie frowned before she realized that Granny P. referred to Shadow.
“Anthony decided to bind himself to this club and call them brothers and while I may not understand it, that makes them family to me as well and I haven’t been fair in turning my back on them and asking him to keep us out of that part of his life. I am sorry for that. I can’t say that I know what you have pledged yourself to Nicholas, but I am willing to listen without judgment if you are willing to share with me.”
Josie wanted to laugh. The big, intimidating man looked like a sheepish child that had been caught in a lie.
“I don’t think now…”
Granny P’s raised brows silenced him.
“I’m a bounty hunter Granny. I hunt down anybody that needs finding for the right price.”
Shadow’s stare was so dark that Josie wanted to turn on more lights in the room.
“I do side jobs…”
“You’re a mercenary.” She finished for him.
He didn’t answer.
“I said I wouldn’t judge so I’ll keep my opinions to myself, but my advice is, if what you do keeps you from the ones who love you for years without a word and if you can’t hold your head high then you should find something that makes you proud and that let’s your granny see you at least twice a year because she isn’t getting any younger.”
Valentine met Granny P’s eyes and Josie saw the regret written on his face.
“And don’t beat the hell out of your cousin!”
Chuckles broke the somber mood in the room as Choo-Choo raised his glass to second that notion with a grin.
“Now then. Marcus has
Granny P. shuffled into the room and sat at the head of the scarred oak table and cleared her throat. Josie had gotten in the habit of saying grace before her meals since living with Granny P, but she could see that Valentine had forgotten. He looked sheepish as he swallowed the mouthful of boiling soup and bowed his head.
Granny P led a simple prayer as she always did, but the weight in the room felt heavier than Josie had ever felt. Shadow picked up his spoon and ate with manners that would have made the Queen of England envious.
Josie couldn’t help but watch him.
Choo-Choo and Valentine minded their manners, but as they quenched the best part of their hunger they began to exchange glances that told Josie the two had been close since childhood.
A stab of longing hit her. All of her friends were lost to her, not that she’d had very many growing up, but she’d had one or two that she wished she had kept in contact with.
Granny P. interrupted her thoughts when she cleared her throat and laid her napkin on the table.
“Thank you Josie for a lovely lunch. I’m sorry for springing it on you the way I did, but it couldn’t be helped when no one thinks it’s necessary to pick up a phone and let me know I’m about to need enough food to feed a regiment of fighting men who haven’t eaten in a month.”
Choo-Choo looked sheepish and mumbled an apology right along with Valentine.
“Accepted. Now, I think there are a few things that need to be cleared out of the way so we can get to the real questions. First, I don’t believe in coincidence, so there is a reason I have three men around my table right now, two who obviously do not care for each other and one who looks like he’s been hit by a tractor trailer. We will get to that. I’ll begin. I am Granny P. I raised Anthony. He, his uncle and the raggedy son of my eldest daughter are the only family I have left. I’m not ashamed to say I wouldn’t mind a certain young woman joining that family if my blessing is sought it is given. I’m not one who enjoys danger and intrigue. I prefer a simple and quiet life right here at home so I would appreciate it if that stays the same. That being said, Marcus was right when he said we are all family.”
Josie frowned before she realized that Granny P. referred to Shadow.
“Anthony decided to bind himself to this club and call them brothers and while I may not understand it, that makes them family to me as well and I haven’t been fair in turning my back on them and asking him to keep us out of that part of his life. I am sorry for that. I can’t say that I know what you have pledged yourself to Nicholas, but I am willing to listen without judgment if you are willing to share with me.”
Josie wanted to laugh. The big, intimidating man looked like a sheepish child that had been caught in a lie.
“I don’t think now…”
Granny P’s raised brows silenced him.
“I’m a bounty hunter Granny. I hunt down anybody that needs finding for the right price.”
Shadow’s stare was so dark that Josie wanted to turn on more lights in the room.
“I do side jobs…”
“You’re a mercenary.” She finished for him.
He didn’t answer.
“I said I wouldn’t judge so I’ll keep my opinions to myself, but my advice is, if what you do keeps you from the ones who love you for years without a word and if you can’t hold your head high then you should find something that makes you proud and that let’s your granny see you at least twice a year because she isn’t getting any younger.”
Valentine met Granny P’s eyes and Josie saw the regret written on his face.
“And don’t beat the hell out of your cousin!”
Chuckles broke the somber mood in the room as Choo-Choo raised his glass to second that notion with a grin.
“Now then. Marcus has
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