Page 32 of Mine to Keep

I pulled out my own mail, shoving it into my bag without a glance. “Very. Have a good day, James.”

“Same to you, Matt.”

There was no note on my car, and I hated how I’d found myself holding my breath just before my car had come into view. I shook it off and drove to JJ’s, listening to some Tom Petty and getting into a positive headspace.

When I arrived, I rang the doorbell and a minute later, it opened to JJ’s smiling face.

“Matt. Hey, come in.”

Like every other time I’d entered the house, I waltzed in and went to put my bag on the ground—only this time, it was different. The living room was full of people.

“Uh, did you cancel today?”

JJ blinked owlishly. “Don’t be mad at me.” He shut the door, and I didn’t miss that he locked it.

“And why would I be upset?” I eyed the faces, all of them familiar, but never since I’d worked here had I seen them together at the same time. Even on family nights, I hadn’t joined in—I’d tried to get home when I could to gather mail and such,and those nights were the best since they had their thing. I was never gone longer than a few hours since I’d been a live-in therapist.

“We’d like to talk to you.” He swept his arm out, indicating that the brothers, their partners, and Four were to whom he was referring.

“Why is that?” I finally dropped my bag but didn’t move.

Nick stepped forward. “Mattie, I told my family what’s been going on with you. I told them everything, from the first night at The Alibi, up to you getting a note Sunday on your car in your garage…yes, I hacked the cameras. You can be angry with me, but please wait until you hear us out.”

I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, to be honest. I faced JJ. “I didn’t want anyone involved. I contacted the police. Officer Mendez is on it, I have patrols, and a friend staying with me. I’m taking precautions. The police will figure out who’s doing this.”

“I admire that you’re taking this seriously, Matt.” JJ grabbed my hands. “But, well, you see, my family, we’ve seen things. Dark, dark things.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, why do you make it sound like this is some paranormal horror fest up in here?” Nick groaned. “Tone it down.”

Everyone chuckled, and JJ continued. “Look, what I’m about to tell you can’t leave this room, Matt. If it does, it could put my entire family in danger.”

“And now it’s some Mission Impossible bullshit,” Noel muttered, earning a glare from JJ.

“I don’t know what’s going on here, but you’re sort of terrifying me, JJ.” I slipped my hands free of JJ’s grasp.

“Can I, please?” Nick asked, brows raised as he stared at JJ.

“Fine, but don’t be weird about it.”

“Me?” Nick pointed to himself. “You’re the one that went all, ‘It was a cold, dark night’ on the guy.”

“Mmhmm,” Angel hummed. “Don’t tell kids bedtime stories.”

“Oh, whatever.” JJ stepped away, and I watched as he sauntered to where Shep sat and dropped onto the big man’s lap.

I faced Nick; his expression was serene, and he eased the tension that had formed upon my arrival.

“I’m going to info-dump on you.”

I chuckled. “Okay…”

“Me and my brothers, everyone in here, we help those who need it most. It started many years ago when our sister, Scarlett, was murdered, followed by our foster parents and Mason’s parents. As we demolished the ring of powerful and dangerous people, Mason got kidnapped and hurt. After we succeeded, we moved here. We couldn’t stay in that town, or even near that state. We made a deal with the mayor that after we cleaned it all up, we’d leave and never return. We moved here and decided to open a bakery, Saintly Sweets.

“While it really is a business, it’s also a front. We decided to help people, like I said. Almost a year ago, JJ found Four.” He motioned to Four, who looked at me, expressionless.

“Long story short there, Four was taken as a child and raised to be an assassin. Girls were adopted and raised to be the perfect arm candy for powerful and influential people.

“JJ wanted to help Four, and so he brought it to a family meeting, where we voted to help him. In doing so JJ was taken and tortured, which is why you help him now.”

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