“Fuckin’ starved,” Hook replied, then lifted his hand in an apologetic gesture and grinned. “’Scuse my French.”

Jian-Li smiled and replied, “Don’t mention it, I’ve raised all boys.” This got an approving smile from Hook, but when Abel looked to his brothers, the older two were rolling their eyes and Chen was grinning at his feet. This because the only one of them she let get away with cursing (sometimes) was Abel. “Now, let’s start with drinks,” Jian-Li went on. “What can we get you?”

“Beer,” Hook said.

“All around,” Moose grunted from behind.

“Any preference?” Jian-Li asked.

“Knock us out,” Hook stated. “You got something exciting that’ll trip our triggers, we’ll drink it. Just as long as it’s wet and cold. Got a long length of road down my throat and that always tastes good, but it’s time to wash it away.”

“This we can do,” Jian-Li murmured through grinning lips.

Her grin became a smile when she turned, her eyes lighting on Abel and Delilah before she bustled out.

Wei followed her.

Xun motioned to a big table in the middle of the room that was set for serving. The rest of the tables were minimally set in preparation for business when they opened again.

After Delilah gave hugs to all her father’s men (something Abel didn’t like very much, but he had no choice but to allow), everyone took their seats, Delilah next to him, her father across from them. Beers were brought in. Jian-Li’s food was brought in. And conversation was free-flowing, not even close to stilted or awkward, which gave Abel a sense of why his mate so easily fitted into his family’s fold.

These people did not judge. These people did not hold themselves back and wait for someone to earn their sociability. These people were who they were. You took them as they came, and if you didn’t, they didn’t give a fuck. If you did, they let you in right off the bat.

This didn’t mean that if trust was broken or wrongs were done, that shit couldn’t turn in a flash in a way that would be messy. It was just that they offered themselves up without any walls to tear down to get in there. If you built the wall, that was your issue.

They lived their lives free.

They were also big eaters.

The platters of food and bowls of rice were nearly decimated before Hooker turned his eyes to his daughter and stated, “Right. Good beer, great food, excellent company. Hate to do it, but”—his gaze shifted to Abel—“we gotta get down to business.”

Everyone came alert, including Hooker’s boys, all their attention shifting to Abel.