Page 16 of Problems

"Just about."

Sayge nodded. "Elio's impatient. As always."

Quickly, I adjusted my clothes and headed toward them. I turned back, but no one was around.Shit I'm drunk. What's wrong with me?

I jogged down the alley to the car. All three of them were in the back, so I took the passenger seat even if it put me on edge. I tucked myself against the door as best I could and stared out the window. Something caught my eye and I quickly turned to look back at the alley.

Who is that?

I could just make out a shadow, but as the car moved I lost it. Sighing, I leaned back against the seat and forced myself to get it together. I had to climb back into my window, get into bed, and probably hide a massive hangover the next day. I steered Elio in the right direction until we pulled up near my house.

"This is close enough," I said.

"No, I'm taking you all the way home," Elio said as he glanced around. "Where is it?"

I shivered. "No, I really will get yelled at if a strange car is outside our place. I better just--."

"Jack!"

I winced as I heard that familiar voice. Ronan. He marched over to the car, wrenched open the door, and yanked me out by my elbow.

"What the hell were you thinking?" He snapped.

"Ow, I'm fine," I said as I tried to get free, but he refused to let me go. "I'm home, so chill!"

"Chill? Chill!" He snapped. "Is that all you have to say for yourself? I nearly had a heart attack when we found your room empty! Thank God Cian reviewed the footage and saw you sneaking out, but I thought--." He shook his head as if he didn't want to say what he'd thought. "We're going home. Now."

"I can walk by myself!" I protested.

"No, you clearly can't. Finnian is going to kill us both," he muttered. He froze and gazed into the car. "Who are these people?"

"Those are my friends," I said as I jerked a thumb toward the backseat. "And that's their... boyfriend."

"Daddy," Sayge said helpfully as he climbed into the front seat with a grin on his face. "Hey. You must be one of Jack's Daddies. I'd know that bossy tone anywhere."

Elio clicked his tongue at Sayge. "Stop flirting before we don't even make it home."

Sayge pouted. "Bye Jack," he winked. "I'll talk to you real soon."

"That's it," Elio snapped.

I watched as the car peeled off. No doubt all three of them were going to get fucked stupid. Me? I was just going to get fucked.

"Come on," Ronan bit out.

I groaned. "I'm coming! It's not even that big of a deal," I muttered.

Ronan sucked in a sharp breath. "Anything could have happened to you. Do you know how worried I was?" When I didn't respond, he glanced back at me. "Jack... Don't you give a damn that we were all concerned?"

My chest tightened. No. I didn't give a fuck what Finnian or Cian thought, but I didn't like the look on Ronan's face. I stopped fighting as he dragged me back to the house. As soon as I was pushed inside Finnian stood in the hallway, arms crossed over his chest. Cian was right behind him.

I'm so screwed.

CHAPTER SIX

RONAN

My mind was cloudedwith hurt and confusion. I stood outside Jack's door frame. The actual wood door was gone; Finnian had stripped it off before he left. There was no longer any privacy for Jack, but he'd done it to himself. One of us needed to be with Jack at all times and another on watch for anyone around which meant our new rotation was two men on, one man off.

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