Page 97 of Chase

“For once,” she whispers, “someone was saving you.”

Chapter thirty-six

The Level Boardroom

Samantha

Russell holds my hand as we take the elevator down to the lower floor. We step out to find Connor waiting for us. He’s dressed casually in his gray sweats, as he has been since we brought him home from the hospital a week ago.

“Could you not put a fucking suit on?” Russell says angrily as his brother takes me in his arms and kisses my forehead briefly. “You’re milking this patient shit.”

“I have the best nurse,” he replies, squeezing me close. “Her bed baths are awesome. There are a lot of extras to be enjoyed. I especially like…”

I place my finger on his lips and shake my head. He grins back, and then his eyes flick to his brother. Russell is standing, arms folded across his chest, emitting a silent growl.

“Don’t aggravate him,” I tell Connor. “He’s had a complex morning.”

“Oh, do tell me, what could have gone so wrong?” Connor, who seems to have found a passion for being a nuisance since being told to stay home and recover from the delirium he suffered due to the anesthetic and the botched surgery, rearranges his face into one of nonchalance.

“You know damn fine,” Russell snarls. “I’ll be taking my key card off you.”

Connor shrugs, unconcerned. When Russell was at the office late yesterday, he snuck up to the penthouse and set various traps around the place. As his brother carried out his morning routine today, he was met with many inconveniences. “What the fuck did you put in my shampoo?” Russell holds out his hands, which are stained with streaks of red.

“Fabric dye,” Connor says bluntly, and Russell’s mouth drops open. “My research concluded that it would stain your hands but wash straight out of your hair. I thought the results would be comical, but overall more manageable.”

“Manageable!”

“Well, yeah, you tend to always wear something with pockets.” He rummages in his sweatpants and pulls out a piece of folded-up paper. “Here, I printed this off the internet. Seemingly, lemon juice helps.”

“Great, so now I’ll have patchy red hands and smell like fucking toilet bleach. Come on, Trouble. Everyone is waiting.” He stalks off toward the door of the boardroom, Connor and myself wandering behind. Russell pushes the door hard. It swings open and bounces off the wall.

“Be fucking careful,” Harrison yells, and when we enter the room, I see him standing at the table, hands on his hips, glaring at my other boyfriend. Russell ignores him then throws himself down on a chair. I wander over to sit beside him, and Connor plops down beside me.

The door swings open again, hammering the same spot it did moments ago. Mrs. D appears with a tray of freshly baked goods in her hands. Harrison drops his face into his hands. “My wall,” he mumbles. “I’ll need to get it painted again.”

“Who’s hungry?” Mrs. D says with a huge smile. She looks around the room at us all. “I love the fact you’re all here. Where are my girls?” She places the tray on the sideboard as Annie scampers over to her, arms wide. She picks the little girl up and swings her around. Evie, who is sitting on Violet’s knee, claps her hands with the older girl's antics.

“We’re going to have our hands full with these two, Violet,” Emma says, and the two women exchange a knowing look. “Never mind the one in your belly.”

“About that…” Everyone falls silent, waiting for news, a nervous energy taking hold. “There are actually two new recruits in my belly.”

Hunter jumps to his feet, running over to Harrison and wrapping his arms around his neck. “Well done, my friend,” he yells. “Those swimmers of yours are strong!” Harrison laughs but shakes his head at our crazy friend. So dangerous, so deadly, but with the people he loves, one hundred percent present.

“Congratulations,” Damon says with a sincere smile.

Violet’s eyes move to me and her brothers sitting on the opposite side of the table. She flashes them a wary smile, and they both stand before rounding the furniture and pulling her into a hug. Connor takes Evie into his arms.

“We will be the best uncles we can be,” Connor tells her. “To you and your little brothers.”

“They might be two more girls. Nothing is guaranteed,” his sister warns.

“We have enough girls.” Connor’s focus moves between Evie and Annie. “Little ones and fully grown, all of whom cause chaos.”

“But we wouldn’t have it any other way. These ladies won’t want for anything,” Russell adds, and the three siblings beam at one another. I move to join them, but the boys step away and Violet embraces me.

“I can’t believe it,” she whispers.

“You deserve all the happiness,” I tell her. “When are you due?”

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