Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,2

everyone else. Not that it mattered, Maia always prepared enough for an army because they never knew who all was coming over, and Riley considered himself a BBQ Pit Master so he never complained about how much meat Maia brought out for him to cook.

“It’s the best part of New Year’s. The days of bowl games that follow!” Lazarus agreed.

“Somebody needed some grated cheese on her fries before they were just right to eat, so if there’s a mess in there, it’s not my fault,” Lucas said, following Cristie back into the living room.

He stopped walking when the front door opened and his mouth fell open in surprise. “What the hell did you do?” he asked.

“Daddy got a haircut,” Darcie said proudly as she walked in carrying a pizza box.

“I see that!” Lucas said. “And you weren’t playing either. You cut it all off!”

Roman closed the door behind himself and grinned as he walked into the living room to the surprise of all the curious eyes waiting to catch a look of his new ‘do. “I’m styling,” he said with a grin as he smoothed a hand across the side toward the back of his head.

“Damn! Look at you!” Riley exclaimed.

“Damn, boy. Who you tryin’ to impress?” Lazarus teased.

“Hmpf, looking pretty damn hot to me. I had no idea how much sexy was hiding under all that beautiful hair, Roman. You look good!” Maia said emphatically.

“Hey!” Riley immediately called out with a smirk. “I look good, too!”

“What gives, dude? Why you cut all your hair off. Ain’t nobody gonna know who you are anymore,” Lucas asked.

“Leaving tomorrow morning for that meeting with Base’s lawyers. Want to look the part. Gotta demand respect and present myself in a way that lets them know what I’m about. I ain’t leaving there without Talie. Or at least a promise of when I go back to pick her up.”

“Maybe I need to get a cut, too,” Lazarus said. “Naw, I’m good. I always look like I’m taking care of business,” he said.

“What kind of business you’re taking care of is the issue,” Lucas teased. “Black market business or something wouldn’t be surprising.”

“Hey, now!” Lazarus said with a sly smile.

“It’s not too late for me to go, too,” Lucas offered, focusing on Roman.

“It’s just a meeting with them, and a hearing the next day. We got this,” Roman said. “But thanks.”

“And you’re not going to…” Lucas hesitated, throwing a glance over at Darcie who was now sitting with Cristie and watching her paint between bites of cheese fries, “investigate anything that might help the situation?” he ended.

“Oh, yeah, we definitely are,” Lazarus said.

“Then I’m coming.”

“You just don’t want to miss out on the fun,” Riley said. “But, you’ll be needed here, Lucas.”

“I will?” Lucas asked.

“You will. I’ve decided I’m going along with Roman and Lazarus. I need you here to watch over things with Richie while I’m gone. Scotty’s gonna come help out as needed, too. You alright with that?”

“Absolutely. We got this,” Lucas said.

“I want you to stay here in the house with Maia and the kids,” Riley said.

“You got it. No problem,” Lucas answered. “And don’t give it another thought. With the holidays over if I need an extra hand I can always give Travis a call, too.”

“Sounds good. We should only be three or four days if even that. Darcie is going to stay here with Maia. I already talked to Richie. He said Yvette should still have another couple of weeks before she’s supposed to have the baby so they’re staying put and will be nearby. Moe usually stays the night at Constance’s, so you should be set on both sides of the highway. We’re only opening the diner for breakfast and lunch until school lets in again and that’s at least the 12th, so there won’t be much to do. Just keep an eye on things and whatever Maia asks to have taken care of,” Riley said.

“I got you,” Lucas said, giving a firm nod.

“Ya’ll gonna bring a suit, too?” Roman asked.

“I will, but Lazarus won’t be seen. While we’re seeing to Talie and lawyers and such, we’ve got some things to check on and Laz is going to see what he can find,” Riley said.

“You find something, or somebody, I call first blood,” Roman said with an underlying growl.

“We’ll see. It’ll be pretty obvious if anybody in particular disappears while you happen to be in town, you know? But we’ll see what we can work out,” Riley said. “Besides,