Page 62 of Hartley

“Really? God, why do I like you?” I punched him in the arm just to put some distance between us and because he was being a dick.

“You love me, Hart.” He put his arm around me, pulling me into a tight embrace while I pushed at him. With his free hand, he squeezed my cheeks, pursing my lips in the process. “Look at this face, Lane? You can’t resist him.”

I twisted out of my brother’s grip and shoved him away. “Let me go, fucker.” In the process of trying to put distance between my brother and me, I accidentally elbowed Lane, who let out a little yelp. Turning, I saw him holding his arm.What was more interesting was the way Raiden rushed over to make sure he was okay.

“Oooohhh,” I said with a smile. “Now I get it.”

Raiden didn’t acknowledge me, but he did clench his jaw, a move he learned from his boss. So, Raiden had a thing for Lane. I wondered what Alton would think about that.

29

VAIL

After seeing the photograph of Hartley’s grandfather when he was younger next to Lane, I knew they had to be related. Until they read the results, it was a strong hunch.

Jordan and I didn’t blame Hartley for wanting to open the envelope with Forest or for going to Lane after instead of us. Hartley would tell us when he was through.

We waited for him to enter our home and were there with open arms. The confirmation was what we already knew. It was a matter of Hartley and Forest coming to terms with the situation and that their grandfather hid it from them for so long. Knowing him like I used to, he did it for a reason. It was most likely so Hartley and Forest didn’t seek Lane out, or ask questions their grandfather wasn’t ready to answer.

He loved his wife with his whole heart by the way he used to speak about her. Did he care for Lane’s mother or was it just a one-night fling? A moment to get lost in one another and forget the rest of the world?

For Jordan’s part, he didn’t need to be asked to lighten thesecurity around Lane. No, Lane still couldn’t go anywhere on his own, but he was free to go out now. His father and brother were out there somewhere, waiting, biding their time. Jordan didn’t think Lane was the target. While Edison would be pissed his son was in Jordan’s building, he had bigger people to go after, namely Jordan. And to get to Jordan, he would try to harm Hartley or me. So, Lane got more freedom while Hartley and I never left the building with less than two guards on us.

Jordan’s men were searching day and night trying to find where Edison and Noel were hiding with no luck or leads. No one had seen them; just heard murmurs they were around. It wasn’t ominous at all.

The thing was, I’d been down this road before with Gil. I was constantly afraid while we didn’t know where he was. I wasn’t about to let that fear ride me again. The guards would protect us. Besides, if I wasn’t in Jordan’s building, I was at Untouchable. I’d stopped private lessons for now. Jordan didn’t ask me to. He didn’t have to. I could see the look on his face, the worry etched into every line and the clench of his jaw. Whatever I could do to alleviate some of that, I would.

Today, I was going to have fun with Ava and my sister.

Nudging Ava where she sat between Cat and me, I said, “Thanks for coming with me.”

“It’s nice to do something different. You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”

I shook my head. “Nope. It’s a surprise for you and my sister.”

“I didn’t sign up for this,” Cat said grumpily with her arms crossed.

Dana had called me a couple days ago to say Cat had beendoing better and was more comfortable at home, thanks to her therapy sessions, but she needed to get out more. At least Dana thought so. An idea formed so I put the wheels in motion. The only two who didn’t know what I was up to were Cat and Ava.

“If I wanted to look at farmland, I’d go for a drive,” Cat said.

“God, you’re miserable. Did you sleep?”

“Yes. I was comfortable. I don’t need you dragging me out of the house. We could have stayed there, had some of the strawberry shortcake Dana made and talked. We didn’t need to go for a drive.”

“Smile, Cat,” Oleander said from the front seat. He grinned at her in the rearview.

My sister’s lips twitched. She wanted to smile, and she loved Oleander like family.

“I see it,” he teased. “It’s little but it’s there.”

“Hush, you.”

“You’re lucky Shel is in the vehicle behind us, or he’d tease you too.” Cat wouldn’t admit it, but having Oleander and Julia with us in this SUV and Sheldon and Vincent behind us made her more at ease. I hated seeing her hurting. It ate at me. Hopefully this afternoon would pull that smile of hers into full bloom.

Ava was still in the jeans and T-shirt she wore to school, not having time to change when she got home. I asked if she wanted to join me, and she jumped at the chance. Hartley and Jordan were both working. Hartley down at his studio and Jordan off with Albert and Reghan somewhere I didn’t want to know about.

“Hey, Cat?” I asked. I’d already filled her in about Lane.Ava knew since we tried not to keep important things from her. She said she liked Lane and was glad he’d be around more. She also knew what I was about to tell my sister.

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