Page 71 of Problems

I dialed Declan.

"Is Jack okay?" Declan asked.

As if he could see me, I nodded. "Yes, he's fine. Taking a shower in the other room."

"Then what's wrong?" He growled. "It has to be something or you wouldn't be calling me."

"It's nothing major sir, but I had an incident this morning." I related it to him as I paced. "Is there any news from your end?"

"Yes," Declan said. "I've taken my side with the Vitale family. You need to be on the lookout for the triads. Qiang isn't happy with me. However, it made more sense to trust in the Vitale's. For now."

"Understandable sir," I said. "We'll keep Jack safe," I assured him as I glanced up at Cian and Ronan.

"I don't have to explain what will happen if anyone hurts my son, right?"

"No, sir."

"Good. Ditch this phone."

I hung up and smashed the phone against the counter. Pieces of it flew in different directions before I plucked out the SIM card. I tossed the whole, useless mess into the trash.

"He sided with the Vitales," I told them. "We need to keep a very close eye on Jack. The triads could be anywhere."

Ronan frowned. "How would they know he was here?"

I shrugged. "You never know what contacts they might have."

"What about those guys he was with?" Cian growled. "Where are they? I'll rip their faces off?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I doubt Elio would have anything to do with the triads. All we need to do is protect Jack." When they both nodded, I grabbed a bottle of water from the counter. "I need a shower. Cian, keep monitoring. Ronan, do a few neighborhood sweeps today. Casually. Be careful coming back home."

They both nodded once they knew their assignments and started to head off.

"Cian?" I called.

"Yeah?"

"Be careful. If you see anything out there, tell me. Don't go rushing into shit."

He looked me up and down. "You almost sound like you give a fuck about me."

I shrugged. "And what if I do?"

Cian's eyes widened for a split second before he turned around and shrugged on his way out. "Then you're crazy."

"As crazy as you are," I added. I shook my head as he ran away once more. There was definitely more to Cian than what met the eye. He was a hell of a lot more sensitive than I ever would have guessed.

I walked into the bathroom and stripped out of my clothes, tossing them into the hamper as I went. The curtain rattled as Jack poked his head out. Water rolled down his face as he looked at me, worry etched on every inch of him.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

"Yes, it's fine for now," I said as I climbed in with him. I carefully thought about my next words before I decided Jack should know. "He sided with the Italians. We have to be on the lookout for any triad blowback."

Jack frowned. "Is my father going to be okay?"

"Of course." I pulled him against my chest. "Declan knows how to handle himself."

"Unlike me," he muttered.

---