Page 67 of Jordan

“Yeah, fine. I… I haven’t held a child in over five years. I had a daughter once. She didn’t survive long after her birth. My marriage crumbled within the year.” He held my niece close while she reached up to touch his face. Tears ran down Oleander’s cheeks. God, it was breaking my heart.

When I looked at my sister, she was crying too. She wrapped her arms around them and put her head on Oleander’s shoulder. “You come here any time you want to hold my babies. Any. Time. I’ll make Dana cook for you too.”

That was my sister. She would welcome anyone into her home who needed it. While Oleander didn’t need a place to stay, he could use the caring support from my sister.

I could only imagine what she’d do with Jordan and Hartley in her home. Although I’d witnessed how Jordan was with Irene. I wasn’t worried about him being cruel to my sister. If anything, I’d learned Jordan had a kind side he didn’t show to many.

While I watched Oleander with my niece, it made me want to get to know the guards on Jordan’s staff better. I was sure he did an extensive check on each one before bringing them on. But did Jordan know about their pasts to this extent? Did he know Oleander was still mourning the loss of a child?Add in all the shit they probably saw working for Jordan, and it made me wonder if they should have a therapist on staff to help them.

The thought of bringing that up to Jordan had me fighting a smile. He’d probably look at me like I had three heads. And yet, I couldn’t wait to go home to him and Hartley tonight.

30

JORDAN

Vail was at work. Hartley was at his studio. And I decided to visit Romeo. I’d already seen him once since they returned home, but the visit was shorter than I’d have liked. This also brought Tristan home and Caius. Dash too, but he wasn’t my concern.

As Albert drove me down the block—yes, I knew how that sounded, but I couldn’t be too careful when visiting Romeo—I had a gift sitting next to me on the seat for Pepper. I also missed Latte. I didn’t think the day would come when I’d miss having her fur everywhere and her overly excited puppy demeanor, but I did. Tahoe did as well. He was happy as long as he had Vail though. That didn’t stop him from rushing to the elevator to greet whoever came to our home.

Albert parked along the curb around the back of the building so I wouldn’t draw suspicion. I quickly got out, taking my gift with me, rolled up under my arm. Raiden was with me today and followed me inside. With Caius back, he was already outside the front of the building. He’d stay on Romeo for now. When Tristan ventured out, he had a different guard on him. Dash could fend for himself or hire his own personal security. After hiring Pepper as his assistant, I disliked him even more.

I didn’t bother knocking. I had a key and a code to get into the home. While many didn’t like my need to be overbearing, Romeo took it in stride. Most of the time, anyway.

My shoes tapped along the deep gray tiles. They were in a chevron pattern and ran from the back hallway through the kitchen and living room. Romeo’s home was four stories and located on a corner. It was once an industrial building where a small clothing brand had operated. Too bad he didn’t have any of the old machinery. Hartley would have loved it.

Once I was through the hallway, the room opened and was two stories high. A black metal staircase curved upward to my right while my eyes went to the front of the space. There was a wide window that arched at the top, with multiple panes in it. Smaller windows adorned the side of the building. What mattered was that while light got in, there was a reflective film so no one walking or driving by could see inside.

The kitchen opened to a living room where I found Romeo relaxing on a couch with the recliner back and a gaming controller in his hand. He loved that couch and while it wasn’t my taste; I wondered if it was something Vail and Hartley would appreciate. It was leather with recliners, cup holders, and consoles.

“Why are you staring at my couch?” Romeo asked, without taking his eyes off his game. He was killing people on the screen. Whatever made him happy.

His nearly black hair was pulled back into a bun, something Dash liked to do as well. The difference was, Romeo reminded me of his father. Not fully in appearance. Malik’s jaw had a harder edge, and he was bigger than Romeo. The resemblance was there though.

I waited for the guilt to surface. For the pain to erupt in my chest at what I’d done to Malik and how I took him from Romeo. He wasn’t a true father figure to his son, but that didn’t make it easier.

The pain didn’t come.

Absently, I rubbed my chest. Was it because of Vail and Hartley? Was I changing, no longer guilt-ridden? Maybe they pushed it out when they entered my life.

As I watched Romeo, I wasn’t so sure.

“Why do you like it?” I asked to get my mind off Malik, the guilt, and anything else I’d rather not think about.

“The couch? It’s comfortable and can hold my drink while I game. I can sit here for hours. If I’m going to do that, my ass should feel good.”

“Vail and Hartley might like it.”

“Hartley would appreciate the leather and stitching,” Tristan said as he padded into the room. He was clean-shaven like usual, showing off his angular cheekbones. His light brown hair must have gotten a cut recently. It wasn’t as wild as I’d seen it in the past. Brown eyes crinkled at the corners while a smile lifted his lips. “You can’t stay away, can you?”

Tristan was a kind man who didn’t deserve any of the hell he’d been through. When the opportunity arose for him to be my personal stylist, I jumped on it. Or rather, I quit his job for him and told him he worked for me. I gave him more leeway than most. There used to be a time when he was afraid of me. He wasn’t any longer, although I didn’t need him turning into a smart-ass like Dash.

“How does it feel to be home?” I asked.

“Good in some ways. I like sleeping in our bed again. I like Pep dropping off home-cooked meals, and that we got Latte back.”

“Where is she?” If she were here, she would have greeted me.

“Dash took her to the farm to play with the other dogs,” Romeo said.

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