After all, his entrance into the house was telling enough.
What feels like an eternity later, Thane and Rebecca Storm step into the room, a dangerous air surrounding them both. Thane looks around unimpressed—which for him is usual—and Rebecca gasps the moment sees me. She rushes forward and pulls me into her embrace, and I sink into the most motherly hug I’ve had in, shit…years.
She pulls back and cups my face, checking me over for any injuries. “God, I’ve missed having you and Haylee at the house.” She grimaces and drops her voice. “Don’t tell Thane, but he can be rather annoying when you guys aren’t around.”
A loud guffaw escapes me, garnering Thane’s attention. I cut it off quickly, choking it back before he can even ask. I’d only repeat that if I had a death wish. “Thank you so much for being here, Mom. I wish it were under different circumstances, but…” I shrug my shoulders. None of us expected something like this to happen.
But we should have known better, and that’s something we all have to live with.
Thane finishes his quiet conversation with Vinny and comes over to me. Any other time, I would be intimidated as fuck just being in his presence, but since Haylee and I got together and the incident with Bianca where we almost lost her, we’ve gotten a lot closer.
As a family.
“Son.” That one word means more to me than he will ever know. He pulls me into a tight hug, and I relish the contact. “We’ll find her. I promise.”
I snort a laugh. “Isn’t that what I should be saying to you?”
“We’ll do this together.” He pulls back and looks over everyone in the vicinity. His eyes lock on Hunter, and a calculating look shines in his orbs, then his gaze shifts to Arden. Thane is no doubt trying to figure out who Haylee’s other mates are. And he’s spot on.
“Mom, Dad, let me introduce you to the rest of the guys.” I move over, making room for them both. “This is Arden; he’s Vinny’s second-in-command.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Storm.” Arden reaches out and clasps Thane’s hand.
“Likewise, son. Nice to finally put a face to the voice.” I know they’ve spoken before. Back when things were still hell in this house, and Arden called the Storms to inquire about moving to the Storm Empire. “And if you call me Mr. Storm again, I’ll take you out back and beat it out of you.”
Hunter barks out a laugh when the color drains from Arden’s face. That’s one thing he’ll have to learn about Thane. As soon as he views you as family, you better knock off using the title, or he’ll beat it into you until you do.
Thane’s attention shifts to Hunter, and he fights to smother his laugh with a cough. Which he fails miserably at. Then Hunter smirks, and I just know he’s about to say or do something ridiculous. You never know with him.
“Dad!” Hunter bellows and swoops Thane up in his arms, shaking him back and forth as he squeezes him tight. I clench my jaw to keep from cracking up at the situation. Both men are about the same size. Though Hunter has a bit more muscle in comparison, he still struggles to lift Thane off his feet.
But fuck, the man has a death wish.
Rebecca giggles, grabbing my arm to keep from falling on the floor in her fit of laughter. Thane doesn’t say a word, just keeps a straight face until Hunter finally puts him down. Hunter steps back, a wide smile on his face. The fucker is proud as shit at what he just did.
Every one of our guys has their hands on their weapons, ready to defend Hunter if his actions cause things to go sideways. They’ve heard Thane’s name whispered through various connections, but I don’t think they fully comprehend exactly what he is to us.
Thane glances briefly at Byron, who’s at my side, and they have a wordless conversation. Those two have been around each other for so long one look is enough to convey a whole message.
Thane slowly steps forward, and everybody holds their breath, wondering which way this is going to go. If only they knew Thane is just as ridiculous as Hunter is.
“My boy!” Thane roars, wrapping his arms around Hunter’s waist and hoisting him in the air. He yelps as he flails in his arms. Byron quickly disappears from my side, and then he’s at Hunter’s back, enveloping him in a hug, too. They both jump up and down, jostling Hunter as they spin in a circle.
Those three are absolutely absurd.
Hunter whoops an excited yell as every person completely loses their shit at the ensuing antics. Haylee’s going to be so upset she missed their first meeting.
A high-pitched ringtone splits the air, the room going completely silent at the sound. Team one must be at the scouting point, ready to check-in.
Thane and Byron lower Hunter back to the ground just as Vinny answers.
“Go,” he barks, the phone at his ear.
Our guys back away from the table as Vinny takes a position in front of the map. We all crowd around, Thane, Arden, and Byron taking up the spots on either side of Vincenzo. Rebecca wraps her arm around my waist as I sling my arm over her shoulder, both of us holding tightly to hope that they have good news for us.
The last thing we need is for them to tell us there’s a body at the spot or that there’s nothing around, and Haylee’s tracker has been cut out. If that happens, we are right back at square one. And my girl can’t afford for us to be starting over.
“Where the fuck is my bestie?!” a high-pitch scream comes from behind the dining room door, and I groan, knowing this will lead to a fucking disaster. Hopefully, Kali can keep her shit together without going off on everyone in the room. If she didn’t know who Haylee was, she sure as shit won’t know who Thane and Rebecca are.