Page 119 of The Price of Forever

“All right,” Legs said, flipping on his blinker to merge into a different lane. “Where we going?”

I gave him the address, compulsively checking my phone as we crept closer. No word from Harry, but Chico occasionally updated me on their distance. Two blocks away. Pulling toward the house. When his message read Pulling off to park, I had the brownstone in sight. But Harry parked first. I saw a flash of blue sequins as Legs pulled up. I had my door open before he’d even slowed to a stop, hitting the ground running.

Jordan was halfway to the door when I spotted her, Chico close behind. I quickened my pace, easily doubling her stride.

“Jordan,” I barked.

She slowed to a stop about five feet from the door. A sky-blue sequined dress hugged her in all the right ways; her calves shimmered and flexed as she walked in black heels. If I weren’t determined to get her in line, I’d take a moment to let her know how stunning she looked. She turned slightly toward me, her mouth a thin line.

“Chico, you can wait for me in the car,” I told him. Once he’d slid into the backseat, I turned my attention to Jordan. “Do you really fucking think you’re going in there without me?” I filled the space in front of her, using every inch of my height. She didn’t even flinch.

“I waited, didn’t I?”

“You snuck off without saying a goddamn word.”

“You said Chico would be my tagalong,” she retorted.

“That was before I knew your fucking plan,” I spat. “You’re not going in there with anyone but me. Got it?”

Her brow lifted. “Oh. So you do care.”

“I do. Deeply. When did you get the impression that I didn’t?”

She didn’t say anything to that, but she held my gaze, the challenge still in the air.

“I need to go talk to Chico. Wait for me here. Do not move a fucking inch. We’ll go in together.”

“Fine.” She crossed her arms, her gaze drifting away.

I headed for the car she’d come in, pulling open the back door. “Hey.” I nodded at Harry too. “Can we talk out here?”

Chico slid out of the back seat. I shut the door behind him, frazzled from the way this situation had ballooned. I was now consuming all of the Fairchild personal driver resources, which meant I’d need to add an additional driver to my new hire roster. And now I had to cover my ass yet again with the new hire.

“Sorry for the confusion today. Can you stick around here? I’ll be accompanying her in, since this is a high-risk situation that she informed me of at the last-possible second. But I’d like you to be on hand in case anything escalates.”

“Of course.” Chico straightened his back, his curious gaze flitting over my shoulder to the brownstone.

“And we don’t need to mention this to the Fairchilds, if it comes up,” I added. I planned on sharing a similar note with Harry and Legs. They didn’t need to know that their little sister was heading to Eli’s brownstone. Even if they didn’t put two and two together, I didn’t want anything to jeopardize the blossoming relationship between Jordan and her brothers.

“Got it,” Chico said, crossing his hands behind his back.

“Great. I’ll let you know if we need you.” I returned to Jordan, who looked bored as she watched me approach.

“All set, Daddy?” she deadpanned.

“Don’t call me Daddy,” I warned.

“Well you’re certainly acting like one.”

“Whatever. Let’s get this over with.” I gestured toward the front door. Each step closer to Eli’s party my stomach clenched harder. “After you, brat.”

“There’s the sassy Seven I remember,” she murmured. We strode up to the front door in step. I smoothed down the front of my shirt as we approached the door.

“Anything else you need to tell me in advance of tonight’s plans?” I snapped.

“He knows this is work. I told him I’m not his girlfriend, and that I’d be bringing a guard. That’s it.”

“How long do you plan on staying?”

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