Page 13 of Hartley

“Of course not, sir.” His lips twitched. Raiden wasn’t mocking me. He was happy for me, and that was fucking worse. Asshole.

6

HARTLEY

Three days later, I was working in my studio with Forest kicked back at a table while on his laptop. He wasn’t in the way and while some might think he’d be a distraction; I found comfort in having my brother around. When Forest didn’t have meetings to attend, he drifted downstairs to socialize for a bit. Forest loved having his space here, but I thought he missed being near people sometimes.

And it just so happened Sheldon Copeland was on my guard detail today because Rory had the day off. I didn’t miss the way Sheldon’s eyes would track my brother when he got up for a drink or ran upstairs to his apartment if he needed something. My brother didn’t seem to notice.

The bell above the door rang, drawing my attention. Sheldon watched the person enter, but didn’t move, which meant he didn’t deem them a threat. Once I recognized who it was, I understood.

Xaiden Dremest walked into my studio for the very first time with a relaxed gait. I never thought I’d see Dexen’s brother in here. He didn’t like Jordan. More than that, one ofhis partners absolutely hated him. Val was JJ’s best friend, more like a brother to him. Since JJ had despised his father, it made sense Val did too. I had to wonder if Val knew about what happened to JJ as a child now. If JJ told him what he knew. They were close, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he did.

Tall with copper hair and eyes that matched his brother’s, Xaiden wasn’t dressed in a suit like Dexen often was. Xaiden wore jeans, a Henley, and a pair of sneakers. He had the sleeves pushed up, a tattoo partially showing on his arm. Not a small man, but not as muscular as his brother. Xaiden was dangerous, even if no part of him said he was here for a fight.

Since we’d never formally met, I smiled and asked, “How can I help you?”

“Hartley Weathers?”

“That’s me.”

Sheldon pushed off the wall and came closer.

Xaiden watched him from the corner of his eye. He held out his hand to me. “I’m Xaiden Dremest. You know my brother, Dexen.”

I shook his hand. “I do. It’s nice to meet you. Are you looking for new clothes?”

“No. I’m here about the recent addition to your family.” That got Forest to put his computer down and stand. “I’m not a threat,” Xaiden said.

“You’ll have to excuse us for being on alert,” Forest stated, stepping up to my side. “After the shit my brother and his partners have been through, it isn’t easy to let guards down.”

Sheldon casually walked around Xaiden until he was on my other side, where he stopped, not saying a word.

“I understand, believe me. Nothing is more important to me than my family. When I heard about Ava, it made me think of my daughter, Olivia. I’m not sure if you’ve heard what sheand her brother, Cody, have been through, but they lost their parents too. Not in the same way. Olivia overheard the conversation I had with my brother, JJ, and Greer about Ava. She wanted me to visit and offer her support. You have all of ours. We’re here for whatever you need. Going through losing a parent is nothing I’d wish on anyone. Olivia remembers what she dealt with after the loss of her parents.”

My eyebrows lifted. Sure, Greer mentioned Olivia possibly meeting Ava, but I didn’t think it would happen. I certainly didn’t expect Xaiden to drive into East Dremest to talk to me.

“You could have contacted Vail through Cody or Dexen,” I said, curiosity getting the better of me. Vail was friends with Cody and worked part time for Dexen. He would be the obvious one to speak to. “Why visit me?”

“Sending a text or placing a call doesn’t feel right in a situation like this. It doesn’t express the sincerity of the offer. I didn’t want you to think it was done as a throwaway comment. You’re more accessible than Vail. He’s been in the club less and less. And as far as Jordan goes…” He shook his head. “I’m not seeking him out. I might offer to help and understand what he did for his son, but I have no interest in forming a friendship with him.” So, Xaiden was aware of what happened.

“You know we’re a package deal, right? I get how Jordan has a bad reputation, but if Olivia spends time with Ava, it will most likely be in our home until they get to know each other, if Ava wants to talk to her.”

Xaiden sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Val didn’t want me to come here. Even after knowing…” He looked around. “Anyway, we let Olivia decide. She said anyone who would take in a child who didn’t have anywhere else to go, with no motive other than to provide them with a home and care, they’re okay with her. That doesn’t mean I won’t be there with her or Dex or JJ. They’d die for my daughter, but they have a relationship with Jordan. As much as it pains me to see her leave when I might not be with her, I wouldn’t want to make the situation more uncomfortable. I fear that’s what my presence would do.”

“Wow,” I said in surprise. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. Good for you for recognizing it might go sideways if you tried to go toe to toe with Jordan.”

“We’d fight very differently. I’d use my body, and he’d use weapons.”

“Don’t be so sure of that,” I heard from behind me. I was usually pretty good at sensing him or even hearing him, but nope. Jordan popped up like us talking about him drew him to my studio.

Xaiden stiffened, his hands pulling from his pockets and forming fists by his side.

“I’m not here to get into it with you, Xaiden,” Jordan said. Sheldon slipped from my side and Jordan took his place. “I was already on my way to visit Hartley when I was alerted to your arrival. Since you’re Dexen’s brother, I don’t deem you a threat, but don’t test me. There is no length I won’t go to for my family.”

“The same as I will for mine.”

Before things got heated, I interjected, “Xaiden came to talk about Ava. His daughter would like to meet her, if Ava wants to, when she’s ready.”

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