Page 32 of Jasper

JASPER

I’m in my office, eyes glued to the monitor in front of me. The screen is displaying the playroom camera, where Rowie, Ember, and Ariana are sprawled out on the plush rug, coloring like they don’t have a care in the world.

My gaze flicks to Ariana every few seconds. Watching her smile. Watching her laugh.

Watching her start to let her guard down.

The door swings open, and two of my brothers walk in, uncaring if I might be right in the middle of something. This is why we all have our own houses. At least I can lock them out of that one if I really want to.

“What are you doing?” Cage asks.

“Watching the girls color,” I mutter.

There’s a pause.

Cassian sits in a chair opposite my desk. “You eavesdropping now?”

I scoff. “Of course I am. I want to know what kind of questions Ariana’s asking—and what those brats are telling her.”

Cage chuckles and bumps Cassian with his elbow. “Told you.”

I glance back at them. “Told him what?”

Cassian shrugs, amused. “Cage said the second you walked into the house with her that you were a goner. He said you’ll be more out of control than he ever was with Ember.”

“Fuck off,” I mutter, turning back to the screen.

They both laugh.

“She’s good for you,” Cassian says after a beat. “You’re different around her. You’ve been different for a couple of weeks, actually. Probably since you first met her at that coffee shop.”

Jesus. Do they all know? Fucking Ghost. He might be a pro at being invisible when he needs to be, but the guy can’t keep his damn mouth shut.

I don’t respond. Because he’s not wrong. And I don’t have the energy to lie about it.

Instead, I lean back in my chair and look at them. “I need you both to come with me into town later.”

Cassian raises an eyebrow. “Why?”

I sip my coffee and set it down. “It’s time to teach someone some manners.”

Cage grins slowly. “Now this sounds like fun.”

Cassian cracks his knuckles. “Just say when.”

* * *

We leave the girls at home under Theo’s watchful eye, along with Koda, Elias, and a few of the others. I know they’ll be safe. Safer than the asshole we’re about to confront. I still hated leaving Ariana. My brothers won’t let her leave our property, and she seemed completely content hanging out with the other girls, but still. I want to be close to her.

Cassian, Cage, Ghost, Dom, and I climb into two trucks and head into town. The ride is mostly quiet, tension hanging thick in the air. Before we left the house, I told them what that dick did to Ariana outside the bar. Like me, my brothers hate abusive men—some of us more than others.

When we step into The Rusty Pine, the place is dimly lit and smells like stale beer and wood. A couple of pool tables are in the back, country music low over the speakers, and just enough people inside to make the place feel alive.

I head straight to the bar. The bartender—a stocky guy in his late thirties—looks up as I approach.

“I want to see your surveillance footage from last night,” I tell him.

He raises a brow, unimpressed by me. A mistake on his part.

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