Page 37 of Hartley

“Maybe going back home triggered him, and he’s still working through it.”

“Maybe. Whatever. I’m home with the people I love, and Irene is putting out a spread fit for a king.”

Releasing Vail, I turned to face Hartley. “Did you skip lunch again?” He didn’t do it often. If he got caught up in what he was working on, he’d forget to eat. By the time he remembered, he’d eat whatever was in the snack basket in the break room.

I made a mental note to ask Irene to stock up on healthier, protein-enriched snacks, so at least if he skipped a meal, he’d have something of substance in him instead of chips and cookies.

Hartley sighed. “I did, but I had an order I wanted to finish today. On the bright side, I hired someone new. They’re going to run my errands for me and do the shit I don’t have time to, like delivering orders, picking up materials, whatever I need.”

“Good,” I said and placed a kiss on the tip of his nose. “You need more help. You run yourself ragged without realizing you’re doing it.”

“Rory reminds me to take breaks.”

“Rory should be handing you food, so you eat.”

Hartley cupped my cheek. “Rory isn’t my mother. He doesn’t need to remind me to take a few minutes to myself, yet he does. He’s a friend, always looking out for me. Don’t you dare give him shit.”

I wouldn’t, because Hartley was right. Rory was there tokeep him safe, not feed him. Though it endeared Rory further to me, since he was checking in with Hartley when he saw him working too long.

“I need to change,” I said.

“Why?” Vail asked. “Did you get something on your suit?”

“No, I had to escape Irene and her… kindness.”

“The horror!” Hartley gasped. “How dare she be nice to the mafia boss of East Dremest? The nerve of her.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. Of course, it had no effect. Hartley laughed and kissed me, so it hadaneffect, just not the desired one. Hartley was still a smart-ass sometimes, but I loved him more for it.

With these two men, I never got away with anything. They saw through my moods and gestures. They knew me better than anyone else did.

So what if there was a hint of a smile on my lips as I changed into fucking jeans and a goddamn T-shirt. On top of softening, I was happy. Outwardly happy. It was one thing to do that in front of my men, but I wasn’t walking around cheerily with my guards or anyone who worked for me. I had a reputation to uphold, after all.

18

HARTLEY

“If you don’t settle somewhere, you’re going to have to leave,” I said to my brother.

His relentless restlessness was maddening. First, he was sitting, then he stood, then he paced before sitting again and bouncing his leg up and down. I’d asked him repeatedly what was bothering him, but he said nothing, even though he remained shifty-eyed, like at any moment something was going to jump out and bite him. Maybe Rory would, because by the look on his face, he was about to throttle him.

“That’s it.” Hazel put her hands up. “I can’t handle this. I’m taking lunch. I know you like us to do it in shifts, but you need to fix him or make him leave before I get back.” Hazel dealt with a lot around here. She didn’t need to add my brother to the list. She shouldn’t have to be interrupted by him.

“I’ll take care of it.” I glanced over and saw Forest looking out the front window. Rory was outside, glaring at him through the glass.

I waited for Hazel to grab her things and leave out the back. The door closing was my signal to speak to my brother.

“Forest, we’re alone. Talk.”

He shook his head as he came over to me. “I don’t know if I can. I mean, I need to, but what the fuck, Hart? I shouldn’t even have this.” He pulled a wrinkled, folded up piece of paper out of his pocket and held it up.

“What is it?”

“Evidence,” he whispered.

“Dear god, have you been watching those spy movies again?” For a solid year, Forest was hooked on them. He’d call me from California and talk about the shit he saw, asking if any of it could be real. I had to talk him off the ledge every time.

“No, this is legit. And it has Pop’s name on it.” I reached for it, but he pulled it back. “Once you see it, there’s no going back. You’ll be looking over your shoulder, waiting for someone to jump you.”

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