Page 66 of Jordan

I shrugged one shoulder.

“You only have eyes for Hart and Jordan. I’m so happy you’re doing well, Vail. All jokes aside, if he makes you smile, hold on to him.”

“I couldn’t let him go if I tried. He moved Hart in because he had no heat. Didn’t even ask him, just said he was moving in.”

“The whole alpha thing can be a turn-on.”

“In moderation and in certain situations. I don’t need someone trying to rule my life again.”

“Has he done that?”

“No.”

“Then it’s a turn-on.”

We sat in silence for a bit, not feeling the need to talk. I could have drifted off to sleep had it not been for my sister’s phone softly ringing. The ringtone was a very familiar song.

“Really?” I asked.

“What? You know the band, Vail. I’m doing my part to support Ruined and Relinquished.”

“It has nothing to do with the fact that you’ve been lusting after Dash Meadows for over a decade?”

“He threw his shirt to me at a concert. I’m a man magnet. I can’t help it. Nor can I help that his sweat landed on me. Or that his shirt smelled so fucking good.”

“Groupie,” I muttered.

She stuck her tongue out at me then reached for her phone to answer it before going into the other room. I had to introduce Cat to Dash. She would love meeting him in person. Dana might get jealous, but he’d live. Besides, Dash was very taken by Romeo and Tristan. I didn’t think anyone could come between them.

The band and their partners arrived home late this morning. Jordan was downright antsy to see Romeo and Tristan. Jordan knew he’d have to wait until Pepper was done visiting them before he could see for himself that they were fine and healthy. Plus, he had to drop Latte off at Romeo’s house. Tahoe wasn’t going to take missing his friend well. I’d have to set up playdates for them.

Cat returned with her phone in hand. “That was Dana. He wanted to know why Ollie was still standing outside. I told him Ollie’s inhuman, and the cold doesn’t affect him.” They had security cameras on their home.

“You could be right.”

Oleander wasn’t the same size as other guards of Jordan’s, but I was assured he was just as deadly. Apparently, he had worked his way up in the organization after being recommended by Sheldon. When I agreed to move in with Jordan, he said that meant there had to be a man on me at all times and not the one who followed me around I already knew about. This one would always be with me. I understood Jordan was targeted sometimes, though I had yet to see it and didn’t want to. He said that was due to him killing Leeland. It sent a message to others he wasn’t to be fucked with. I didn’t want to know the details, but I’d heard rumblings the stage they set for Leeland’s fake suicide was very realistic. That was about all I wanted to know.

The front door opened, and Oleander entered. His dark hair was pulled back into a bun. As tall as me but leaner, I could see how he could be intimidating. His face was hard as he swept the room, always looking for danger, but it quickly softened when his eyes landed on Ivy in my arms.

“Mind if I use your bathroom?” he asked.

“You’re immune to the cold, but you still have to pee?” Cat asked. “Maybe you’re not completely inhuman after all.”

His lips twitched like he had a retort that wanted to break free, but he held it in. “I’m very human.”

Cat gave him a head-to-toe assessment. “I’ll let you use the bathroom if you stay inside. My husband’s on my ass about you freezing to death on our porch.”

He nodded.

Pointing to the hallway, Cat said, “Second door on the right.”

They lived in a suburb of Dremest in a large ranch home with a lot of land. Dana had a garden out back he brought to life every spring and summer, growing plenty of vegetables to feed not only his family but his neighbors as well.

Ivy stirred in my arms. First, it was a soft whimper that quickly grew into a cry. That was when Oleander returned and asked if he could hold her. I made sure it was okay with Cat first, then handed Ivy to him.

A smile bloomed on Oleander’s lips the moment she was in his arms. A few seconds later, tears filled his eyes.

“Are you okay?” Cat asked and got to her feet.

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