Page 28 of Blood & Loyalties
“He’s good; don’t get me wrong there. Did you see him leave?” I couldn’t help the deep pang of disappointment when I woke up to an empty, cold bed. While I was more than willing for another go around, what I missed most was his strong arms around me. Protecting me and making me feel safer than I’ve felt with bodyguards around me my whole life. That was an eerie realization that I tried to shake off.
She chuckled evilly. “Hell no. He’s meeting in the rush.”
I gasped in shock. No one met in the rush except for Dad and Uncle Vino, not even my brothers. The rush was a private and very secure spot in our home. Kiera and I never used the room, but it was there if we needed it.
“What in the hell is he doing in there?” I barked, part of me wanting to rush down there, barge in, and ask him myself.
She shrugged. “Asked if he could go somewhere to talk. He used that tough guy way of saying it. I had Dune show them to the rush, and they’ve been in there for about an hour now.”
“You have any idea what Jag does for our dads?” I had done my best over the years to stay out of Daddy’s business dealings, but I wanted to know what Jag did. I didn’t know if it was the mystery of not knowing or the fact that I knew it wasn’t a good thing he did, but the curiosity was getting to me.
“Nope. Never asked.”
“I did, and he didn’t fully answer.”
When the buzzer on the main door of the house chimed, I checked the screen above the cabinet in the kitchen. This damn place was like Fort Knox, but there was one great thing about security: we knew who was coming and going all the damn time.
Val’s face was staring up at the camera. The deep scowl on his face meant this would not be a fun conversation. Great. What awonderfulway to start my day.
“I’ve got it.” I walked to the door and swung it open.
“Where the fuck is he?” he growled, pushing his way through the door.
“Good afternoon. It’s so nice of you to come and see me, Val. Oh, how I love you so!” I warped back to myCluelessdays and started talking like Alicia Silverstone on crack. Why? It was fun and annoyed the shit out of Val.
“Cut the shit. Bring him to me.”
I pushed past him and walked toward the kitchen. “First of all, I am not at your beck and call. Second,he’sin the rush. If you want to talk to him, go there.” I pointed in the direction of the room then headed over to the coffee pot, pouring me a cup of toxic brew. God, I loved this stuff. I added cream and sugar before putting the mug to my lips.
Val pounded his hand down on the countertop, making me jump.
“Shit!” Hot liquid splayed down my hand, burning me on contact. “You shithead!” I yelled at him, darting to the sink where I drowned my hand in water. Shit, that hurt, the burn seeping and growing.
“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here!” Jag’s voice boomed furiously from the other side of the room, and a shiver crept through me.
The room became electrified, but not from lust; it was from power. Something had changed, something big.
I turned slowly. Jag’s arms were dropped to his sides, his hands clenched into fists. His breathing was erratic as his chest rapidly rose and fell. His face was no longer the sensual melt-my-panties-off-my-body face. Instead, it was hard, furrowed, and a bit fucking scary. I had this overwhelming feeling that, no matter what, he would never hurt me, but scary, yes. And every bit of the anger he was feeling was directed toward my brother.
“Everything’s fine. I got a bit jumpy and spilled my coffee. No big deal.”
He moved quickly to my side and inspected my hand, flipping it back and forth. After his evaluation, he looked up at me, and I gave him a tight smile.
“Want to tell me what really happened and not lie even if it is to protect your brother?”
I stood in front of him and looked into his eyes, searching for the care I had seen just a while before. It was still there; only, the fire was burning a bit brighter in anger.
“Leave her the fuck alone,” my brother growled.
I immediately reached for Jag’s face, pressing it between my hands so his sole focus was on me. I wasn’t sure why I felt the urge to do this, but it felt like the right thing to do.
Jag’s face stayed glued to mine, but I could feel my idiot brother getting closer to us, and part of me was pissed he didn’t back the hell down.
“Val, step back. Kiera!” I yelled, knowing that for some reason, he listened to her most of the time.
“Come on, big guy, come sit down,” is all I heard before I felt my brother retreating.
“Jag, I’m perfectly fine. My brother made a loud noise that startled me and I jumped. It’s all good.”
