Page 43 of Hartley

“You’ll find out when I lay into him.”

I put the few things I had out away and made sure everything was tidied up. Jordan waited for me at the elevator, a thundercloud of emotion on his face, while Raiden stood by his side. Jordan’s hands kept clenching and unclenching intofists on the ride up. Whatever Hartley did must have been awful. Jordan didn’t get angry at us often.

Tahoe was by my side all day. With the kitchen in good shape, there was no risk of him hurting his paws being down there.

The moment the doors opened, Jordan started seeking Hartley out, eventually heading up the stairs. I told Tahoe to stay downstairs. Raiden let me know he’d make sure he did.

I came to a stop the moment I entered our bedroom. There, lying on his back, was Hartley, completely naked with his dick in his hand as he lazily stroked it.

“That’s not going to work,” Jordan growled. He hadn’t moved more than a few feet into the room. “What were you thinking?”

“I’m horny and want to get off,” Hartley replied in a raspy voice. Just seeing him like this had my dick stirring.

Jordan’s anger didn’t frighten me. He’d never hurt us, no matter how pissed he was, unless we betrayed him, which we would never. Even then, I didn’t think he’d be able to do it.

“I want the whole story,” Jordan bit out. “Every fucking detail. I don’t care if you stroke yourself to orgasm. I’m not moving until you tell me your reasoning. And make sure you speak loud enough for Vail to hear it. This isn’t only about you, Hartley. Whatever your reasons, you could have put Vail in danger.”

That had Hartley’s hand slowing. “I didn’t do anything to put anyone in danger, especially not Vail. Don’t try to make me feel guilty for doing something just because I didn’t have your approval.” Hartley’s defiant tone was coming out. He let go of his dick and sat up.

“Tell. Me.”

“There was a paper left in my grandfather’s house. It hadmoney owed written on it, including late fees. Together, they equaled a lot of money. There was nothing to signify why it was owed, but it was clear Pop was the one in debt. What was also clear was the name signed at the bottom. E. Everhart.”

“Son of a bitch,” Jordan seethed. “Why didn’t you tell me? More than that, when the fuck did you have time to go through the house and grab the paper? You didn’t leave my side.”

“Would you believe me if I told you I did so when I was there for the funeral?” He gave a lopsided grin, trying to be cute.

“Hart,” I said, drawing his attention to me. “How did you get the paper? If you had it before, you would have said something, been even more stressed about what was left behind and you would have tried to figure out who that was. But you didn’t. Where did you get it?”

“Before I say it, Vail, will you please stand in the doorway so Jordan can’t leave?” Hartley’s eyes met mine, silently begging me to do as he asked.

I did because I trusted him with my life. Hartley was going to say something that would cause Jordan to storm out of here. I couldn’t let that happen. I was also very curious about who gave it to him.

Another growl tore from Jordan. “Hartley.”

“Okay. Forest gave it to me but…”

“Goddammit, just fucking say it.”

“Sheldon gave it to him. He and Ollie found it when they were there scoping out the home the first time but decided not to grab it until after we met Lane.”

A deadly calm settled over Jordan. He reached into his pocket and dug out his phone. Before he could put it to hisear, Hartley was out of the bed, racing across the room naked to slap it out of Jordan’s hand where it tumbled to the floor.

“Don’t,” Hartley told him. “You can’t fire him. If you do, I’ll… I’ll leave.”

I didn’t think I’d ever seen Jordan turn that pale, like all the blood drained from him and he was about to pass out.

“I don’t say that lightly. Sheldon did nothing wrong. You know he feels something for Forest. This was him showing my brother he could be trusted. I want to protect Sheldon and Ollie. You can’t fire them. They are two of the best guards you have.”

“You said you’d leave,” Jordan whispered.

“Because like we have to trust you, you have to trust us. I didn’t do anything dangerous. I didn’t talk to Lane by myself. Forest was there as well as Sheldon and Ollie. I just wanted to do this on my own, so I knew what I was dealing with before I came to you. And I was going to come to you, but I also knew the moment you found out I went to see Lane, that I was allowed in to talk to him, you’d race here to put a stop to it.”

“That’s why you’re naked,” I said.

“I thought maybe I could be a pleasurable distraction, and we could talk once Jordan had come.” He shrugged like he wasn’t the least bit sorry. Maybe he wasn’t.

I understood what he meant by wanting to take care of this himself. Jordan had to trust us. Not that he didn’t. He wanted to protect us and do anything he could to keep us out of harm.

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