Page 33 of Jordan

They could be with each other.

The revelation that they knew one another still floored me. When I had their backgrounds looked into, I didn’t dig as deep as I could have. The connection between them wasn’t unearthed. Them maintaining a bit of their privacy was important. That had me sucking in a breath when I first thought about it.

They meant something to me. A lot if I was honest with myself, which I usually was. That was how I ended up in the situations I did. With my wife, with Malik, I didn’t turn away from what they were doing. It was the opposite. I couldn’t let them get away with deceiving me. With them and with Vail and Hartley, I was drawn to them from the start.

Now I was pacing my office like a damn caged bear, not sure what the fuck to do with myself. If I didn’t feel jealousy rise in me every time they touched one another in a friendly way, I’d suggest they be together. I might as well tear my heart out if that were the case. Fucking obliterate it. They were supposed to be with me.

“Goddammit,” I growled.

There was business to tend to, which I kept doing from here instead of going out into East Dremest and handling it myself. The truck of guns finally came in from Leeland. They were already off to my buyer. But Leeland was as persistent as a fucking mosquito who kept at it until he drew blood. He wanted in with the senator’s daughter. The only way was through the senator.

I’d called him like I said I would. I was a man of my word. The senator’s daughter was currently in Italy. She’d return next week. I’d told Leeland this and arranged for a meeting when she returned, but he wanted to fly there and drop to his knees in front of her. I understood his obsession to a degree. She was attractive, had more connections than him, and she liked to get dirty too.

The senator promised me once she returned, they would meet. Then it was up to Leeland. It was worth the shipment of guns.

Leeland wasn’t a high-volume dealer. What he had were connections to high-end, more difficult to get my hands on, weapons. That was why I hadn’t killed him yet for being the annoying insect he was. We needed what the other could provide.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see Barry’s name on the screen.

“What?” I barked. I was close to tipping over the edge of my sanity.

“Leeland’s here, sir.”

“In the building?” I growled.

“He got past the men outside by talking a bit too loudly about a shipment you had coming in. They don’t know Leeland’s full of shit and he doesn’t owe you any more weapons. They ushered him in and are holding him on the third floor.”

“You know me too well.” I grinned wickedly. Barry put Leeland in a room where I had access to all kinds of weapons.

“He’s pushed too many times. I’ve never met a man so hard up.”

“He has his eyes on a prize and won’t settle until he gets it.”

“Obsessive personality.”

“It’s not a terrible trait unless he keeps showing up here.” After all, my need to keep Vail and Hartley close was why they were still here, even though they were getting better. The antiviral worked wonders.

“Send Sheldon to the room. Have him wait for me outside.”

“Will do.” He hung up.

Now I had something to occupy my time and take my aggression out on. I pocketed my phone and cracked my knuckles. The day was looking up.

In my desk, I withdrew one of my handguns and put it in the holster under my jacket. When I exited my office, I heard Vail and Hartley talking. I followed their voices to the kitchen where Vail was teaching Hartley how to bake. Their heads lifted when they heard my shoes clap on the floor.

“Are you leaving?” Hartley asked.

I hadn’t gone anywhere since they’d arrived, not even leaving my home to go to another floor. They were safer with me here. Yes, I had my guards, men who would die for me. They knew Hartley and Vail were to be protected. But would they die for them too? I would, so this was where I stayed. With Leeland in the building, my hackles were up. He shouldn’t be here while they were. He shouldn’t be here at all.

“Just downstairs. I have business to handle.”

Vail dropped his gaze while Hartley held mine. Neither of them liked violence. With Vail, I could understand why after what he’d been through. He didn’t criticize me or tell me I shouldn’t do what I did, which I appreciated. The look on his face… I hated it.

Hartley nodded, then gently elbowed Vail to get him to focus on the food again. I turned on my heel and strode toward the elevator.

“Stay here,” I told Raiden.

“Yes, sir.” As long as Hartley and Vail were in my home, Raiden and Reghan were on rotating twelve-hour shifts. I didn’t trust anyone else to be up here besides Barry, who had to run security. And Sheldon, but he didn’t come up here often.

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