Page 24 of Claimed By Shadows

A deep sigh rumbles from my chest as I take a deep breath. “I know.” I bring the glass up to my lips, swallowing a mouthful that barely burns anymore. I probably should cut back, but the past few weeks have been…intense. “I don’t like it, but it was the right call.”

“So, this job for the Knights,” Roman starts, and I know he’s not being callous by not talking about Iris. He needs the distraction, like we all do. “Run through the plan again, boss.”

My lips tilt up at his cheeky smirk. “You two will go there first thing tomorrow morning as part of the security detail that patrols the estate,” I tell them, running through the plan for a final time. “You will scout around, try and see if you can find her, and report anything to me as soon as you find it.”

“This shit is so fucked up,” Roman mutters, and I know he means Lilly and the fact it seems not only did her uncle kidnap her, but her father-in-law—Asher’s own fucking dad—seems to be in on it somehow according to the Knights.

“Yeah, family generally sucks,” I reply, knowing we all have had our demons when it comes to the people who were meant to take care of us. My gaze settles on Rowan, his jaw clenched hard. “You doing okay?”

After his confession to Iris, something that before now only the three of us have known, he’s been more quiet than usual. His amber eyes meet mine, darkness swirling inside them, then he gives me a sharp nod. “I’m going to check the feeds.” He places his glass on the table and heads to our office room. I don’t need to ask to know what feeds he’ll be checking. We have a camera in Iris’s bedroom, one Rowan set up when she wasn’t looking so we could make sure she’s alright. Serene Haven doesn’t install cameras in the bedrooms or bathrooms unless someone is high-risk of harming themselves.

“Best get to bed,” I instruct Roman, standing up and grabbing Rowan’s glass to take into the kitchen. “Early start in the morning.”

He follows me into the kitchen, passing me his own glass when I open the dishwasher.

“Are you okay, Daddy?” he questions, his voice soft like a caress.

Closing the dishwasher, I straighten up, locking eyes with him. His brows are wrinkled in concern, his gaze assessing.

“Sleep in my bed tonight?” I ask, and his shoulders lose some of their tension. “Just to sleep, anything else doesn’t feel…”

“Right. It doesn’t feel right without her now,” he adds, and I nod, relief making my knees weak. It’s not that I don’t want him. Christ, I’ve always wanted him, even when I shouldn’t have. “Let’s go to bed, Daddy.”

He holds his hand out, and I step towards him, sliding mine into his warm palm. It’s different to holding Iris’s hand. His is much larger for a start, and harder, but it sends the same butterflies fluttering around my stomach as when she takes my hand. He leads me out of the room, past Rowan in the office, whose face is lit up by the screen he’s staring intently at. There is no point in telling him to go to bed, he won’t take his eyes off her for a bit.

“How is she?” I ask, Roman pausing on the way to my room and looking back at his brother.

“Sleeping, but fitfully,” Rowan tells us, his eyes not leaving the screen.

My jaw clenches as lead fills my stomach. I hate not being there to hold her, to soothe her through her nightmares.

“Come on, Hunt,” Roman urges, and I look at him, tension lining his muscles. “We can’t do anything from here anyway.”

Huffing a breath, I nod, letting him lead me into my room. He lets go of my hand once we’re inside, gently stripping all my clothes, bar my boxers. He then takes his clothes off, leaving his boxer briefs on and dropping the rest all in a heap, which by his small smirk, he knows annoys the fuck out of me.

“Brat,” I mumble, his slight chuckle telling me my guess was right and it was intentional. “I’ll start a punishment tally for you too.”

“I look forward to it, as will Iris when she’s home,” he says, taking my hand and tugging me towards the bed. Pulling back the covers, he gives me a little nudge, so I climb in, lying on my side. He gets in after me, turning so his back is to my front, then scooting back until there’s not a breath of space between us. “Good night, Daddy.”

“Good night, Baby Boy,” I reply, placing a soft kiss on his shoulder and pulling him even closer.

Good night, Peaches.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“WE’LL BE FINE” BY LUZ

IRIS

I’d be lying if I said that last night was the best night’s sleep I’d had in a while. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the worst, but I spent more time tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position than I did sleeping. And when I slept, the usual nightmares plagued me, leaving my body on high alert and waiting for Sergi to walk in at any moment.

At around six in the morning, I give up, pulling myself out of the comfy bed with a groan and head to the bathroom with gritty eyes. After a quick shower, which was deliciously warm and full of my preferred products thanks to Rowan helping me pack, I throw on some soft cotton leggings and an oversized T-shirt that, by the smell, is Roman’s. I take a second to inhale him in, wrapping my arms around myself in a hug that I wish he could give me.

Tears sting my eyes, a wave of loneliness rushing over me and threatening to bring me to my knees for a moment.

“This is for the best, Iris, you know that, so don’t be a baby,” I scold myself, huffing a laugh at the words. I know I should be kinder to myself, but right now, I need a little push to start my first day.

Taking another deep inhale, I open my door, jumping, my hand flying to my chest when I see a tall man covered in tattoos waiting outside.

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