“Okay, Momma. Love you big.”

Emmie’s face softened. “Love you bigger.”

Dallas

I doubt there was a more beautiful woman when she was pissed.

Emmie Armstrong was magnificent when she was raging. Long, auburn hair flying. Cute little nose flaring. Breasts heaving. Very pregnant stomach trembling under the force of her son’s kicking feet as she paced back and forth in front of the five rockers standing lined up as if she were a drill sergeant and they were her troops.

Her voice shook as she spoke. “I’m seriously not in the mood to deal with children, but that’s exactly what some of you have been acting like.” Her blazing green gaze went to Zander who was at one end of the line, then to Devlin who was at the other end. “Do you know how pissed off I am right now? Do you honestly think I signed up for this shit? I’ll gladly drop OtherWorld’s contract right now and you can go back to Rich Fucking Branson since he apparently put up with your childishness.”

My gaze went to Axton who was lined up with his bandmates. When Emmie mentioned Branson’s name I saw his face grow stormy. I’d heard through Harper that when Demon’s Wings had refused to resign Rich Branson as their manager, the creep had gone after Emmie. If Nik hadn’t stepped in between them and punched the douchebag, the man might have actually hit Emmie. After hearing that, Axton had convinced the band to drop Branson as soon as their own contract was up. From what Harper had said, it hadn’t taken much to get the rest of OtherWorld to agree.

“That’s bullshit,” Devlin grumbled. “You wouldn’t send a dead dog back to Branson.”

Devlin Cutter was well over six feet tall, maybe six three if not taller. Emmie, however was considerably smaller. Even with her belly sticking out like it was, Devlin probably outweighed her by over a hundred and twenty pounds. That didn’t seem to deter Emmie as she stepped closer to the drummer and poked him in the chest with her finger. “Try me. I don’t work with immature dickheads. And you and your buddy? Biggest dickheads I’ve ever met. You know what, Dev? I thought for sure it was going to be Liam who would make this tour so difficult…”

“Hey!” Liam pouted.

“…but he’s been a fucking saint.” Emmie went on as if Liam hadn’t said a word, and honestly I doubted she had heard him she was so focused on Devlin. “I expected better out of you, Devlin. You have your son with you this time, so I figured out of everyone you would be the responsible one. The one setting an example. Instead you…” She broke off and turned away from him. After a moment of deep breathing to calm herself she finally turned back and faced the five huge men. “Play time is officially over. The buses will be rearranged, the schedule will be adjusted, and things will be run my way or I will crack some skulls together.”

Zander opened his mouth, but as if she had expected him to run his mouth, Emmie shot him a chilling glare that had him quickly snapping his mouth shut. “Axton and Devlin, grab your shit. Wroth and Liam, you too.”

“Me?” Liam frowned. “But-”

“But nothing. You have a fucking boot over your cast. I’m seven months pregnant with a toddler along for the ride. We get the bedroom.” She softened her tone as she stepped closer to him. “And I just wanted to say… I’m proud of you, Liam. You’ve been doing so great.”

Liam swallowed hard, nodded his head sharply once, but otherwise didn’t say a word. Emmie’s praise had affected him enormously because it happened so rarely. Liam really had been doing a great job. Sure, he had his moments when he wanted to give up, but Linc had been helping him with that with more physical therapy exercises. According to Linc, exercise increased endorphins that helped with addiction cravings. Liam wasn’t even taking his pain meds any more. Just a few Tylenol when his pain level got intense.

“I want Marissa on my bus if I’m switching,” Wroth told Emmie.

“Sure. I don’t care. I assume Harris will move onto the other bus as well, so there will be plenty of room for her.” She sighed and stepped back. “Okay, fuckers. Let’s get going. We have to be in New Jersey tomorrow for the next show. Oh, and Zander? You have merchandise duty. You’ll be signing from five to seven thirty at our booth.” A groan came from Zander that sounded like it had been forced from him through torture. “Devlin, you take over after the show until two. I will be checking to make sure that you both show up and are there the entire time. Don’t make me hunt your asses down. I will make you sorry.”

I pushed away from the wall where I had been standing shamelessly watching the ball busting show Emmie had just put on for my enjoyment. Everyone but Axton left to do as Emmie had instructed. Axton wrapped his arm around Emmie’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “You look exhausted. Go lie down.”

Seeing how gentle Axton was with Emmie made my already soft heart start to melt all over again. Sure, I’d heard the gossip and the rumors about Axton and Emmie. How Axton was in love with her and how Emmie would probably be with Ax if it weren’t for her getting pregnant with Mia out of the blue. The former one I could see why people would think that and speculate. It was obvious that he cared about her, but I saw nothing more than affection and adoration that was more for a family member than a lover. As for the latter? I didn’t believe that one. At all. Emmie and Nik had something that I would admit only to myself that I wanted from my own relationship with Axton. Mia or no Mia, I was sure that Nik and Emmie would have always been together. They had the kind of love that would stand the test of time.

Besides, it wasn’t like Axton had inked Emmie’s name on his skin. I gritted my teeth, trying to fight back the wave of jealously the thought of Gabriella’s name on my man’s wrist caused. It ate at my soul like a cancer. I tried to fight it, but that evil bitch jealousy kept hitting back. Right where it hurt the most. My heart.

As I reached the two I saw Emmie’s shoulders droop, and with a small smile in my direction she nodded her head. “Okay. I wanted to call Nik too. Mia’s probably asleep so I can talk to him without her throwing a tantrum.”

“It’s only for a few weeks, Em. Nik will be back from the UK and able to join us before we get to Ohio.”

Her chin trembled for a moment before she clenched her jaw and nodded again. “Yeah. I’ll see you two later.” She hugged him tightly for a moment then headed toward the buses.