Page 70 of Problems

"Okay!"

Gotta hand it to him, the wee brat knows how to pull it together when he needs to.

I glanced around before I moved a huge stone out of my way. After I dug down, I yanked out the bag and dumped one of my guns into my lap. After I checked it and the clip, I clicked off the safety. Jack was safe. That meant I could hunt in peace.

I made my way back out of the network of alleys before I was deposited onto the street. The black car rolled down the block as if they were looking for something.Or someone.Fire raced through my veins. Jack. What if they wanted my boy?

Then I'll send them back to New York in pieces.

It had to be one of the factions back home. The triads or the Italians. Whichever side Declan had chosen, the other was on our asses. My spine prickled with anxiety. I turned and glanced behind me. The car slowed before it sped off. My finger twitched on the trigger. Shooting through the window wasn't an option. One gunshot and every neighbor on the block would be on the phone to the cops. I couldn't protect Jack if I was hauled off to jail.

I loosened my grip as the car drove away. Carefully, I tucked my gun into my shorts as I glanced around. The neighborhood settled back into that eerie, too quiet calmness that I should have gotten used to by now, but hated. It was worth being crammed into a bed with three other men on nights when the silence became too loud.

"Finn!"

Jack threw himself at me as soon as I stepped inside. He wrapped his arms around my neck and held on so tight I thought I'd get choked out and end up passing out. I wrapped my arms around him as well and held him tight.

"I'm okay," I muttered. "I'm fine."

"You scared the crap out of me!"

"What happened?" Ronan asked.

They'd both walked up on us without me even realizing it. We'd gotten closer, all of us. I was always aware of my surroundings, but around them I was relaxed. Even their footsteps were familiar now.

"Nothing," I said matter-of-factly. "Jack, why don't you run into my room and get me a shower ready. I need clothes too."

He gazed up at me. "I can handle it," he pleaded. "Don't push me out."

"I'm not." I pushed my fingers through his soft, dark hair. "I really need that shower though. Want to join me?"

Jack looked apprehensive, but he lit up a bit too. Finally, he nodded. I smiled as I ruffled his hair.

"Go on, wee one. I'll be in shortly."

He sighed. "Okay, Daddy."

The moment he was gone we all stood still, like statues. Finally, the shower turned on. Collectively, we all heaved a sigh of relief.

"So, what really happened?" Cian asked.

"Possibly nothing." I rolled my shoulders as I tried to disperse the tension I still felt in my muscles. "Or maybe something. A car, it followed us. They seemed to slow down when I was with Jack, but I can't be sure. It could have just been a neighbor minding their own business."

Cian frowned. "Was it?"

"I don't know. They drove away. Didn't run, didn't get out. Like I said, it could be all in my head. Someone looking for an address or setting up the GPS on their phone."

"But?" Ronan interjected.

"Something didn't feel right about it."

Cian crossed his arms over his chest. "Trust your instincts," he said, quoting our old mentor. "If you think shit might be going down, then we fall into high alert status."

"No more leaving the house," Ronan added. "Jack will have to stay inside for the time being."

I shook my head. "I agree. He's going to hate that." We all stayed silent until I broke it. "I'll break it to him. After I call Declan."

The phone that I'd stashed away weeks ago was still taped underneath the kitchen seat, buried under a mountain of cleaning products, sponges, and plastic bags. I crouched down, removed the duct tape and turned it on only the second time since I’d purchased it.

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