Night Hack: A forced proximity alpha hero hacker romantic suspense (Nightshade Book 4)

Chapter 26

Brycen

When I’d calledEloise this morning, I wasn’t sure if she’d accept my mother’s invitation to have her and Jana’s brother join us for Sunday night dinner—but she had. Jason had decided to work, putting in some overtime, and so he’d begged off, citing that he’d join us for the next one.

“Are you sure it won’t be too much for you, Mom?” Jana asked, turning toward the back seat of my car.

“Not at all.” She winked at me when our gazes connected through the rearview mirror. “I’m just surprised it was Brycen who asked first.”

I chuckled. “Seems your daughter had a little too much liquid fun last night. It wore her out so much she needed a midday siesta,” I teased as I grabbed her hand, kissing her knuckle to soften the subtle jab.

“For that, I’m making your mother break out all of the baby pictures,” she rebutted, and I groaned while Eloise simply giggled. I didn’t really care in the grand scheme of things—I’d share all that I was with her if she let me, she just didn’t know that factoid yet.

As soon as we’d pulled up the drive, Mom was already out the front door, heading for my car before I’d helped Eloise out.

“Eloise?” Mom’s eyes were rounded in surprise, reflecting recognition, but the upward tilt to her lips denoted that it was a welcome development.

“Helena?” Inspecting Eloise’s expression, it became clear that both women knew each other from somewhere.

“Jeeze, Eloise, how long has it been?” Mom asked her before approaching her for a hug the other woman returned easily.

“It’s got to be at least four by now. How’s Pat?” Eloise asked.

“Still the love of my life.” Mom laughed, grabbing on to Jana’s mother’s elbow, and started leading us toward the front door. “Just you wait until he sees who’s come to dinner. What a small world.”

Pulling Jana along with me as we followed our mothers into the house, I asked her, “Any clue how this happened?”

“Seeing as Mom used to be out more often than she was home before…you know, anything is possible.” She studied the two women, her brows furrowing as her lips pinched. “It’s weird. This feels weird. I’m not the only one who thinks it’s weird, right?” she rambled.

“Oh, honey,” Eloise interrupted us. “Let’s sit down and we’ll tell you all about the three of us.”

“Mom!” Jana exclaimed, and our expressions must have been close to the same when both women burst out laughing, and Mom cupped the side of Jana’s face tenderly before she lifted her other hand to cup mine.

“Oh hell, Brycen Matthews, I realize we’re an open family that talks about pretty much everything, but it’s not like that, so get that damn freaked-out look off of your face right now, mister.” She patted at my cheek, then dropped her hands before she turned back to wrap her arm around Eloise’s waist to escort her through the front door.

“Well, you did say the three of us, Mom,” Jana stated, a deep blush spreading beyond simply her face.

“Sorry, ladies, but my mind went there too,” I confessed.

“Well,” Mom started, a teasing glint in her eyes as she turned to look at us over her shoulder.

“Mom!” I scolded. “I just can’t. No! I don’t want to hear about?—”

“What in the world is going on out here?” Dad walked toward us from the living room, then came to a sudden halt. “Eloise?” he sputtered in disbelief.

“Pat,” Eloise greeted, heading straight for his open arms, burrowing into his chest as if they were long lost family.

Again, Jana and I exchanged one of those what the fuck looks.

“Pat, I’d like for you to meet my daughter, Jana,” she introduced.

“As in Brycen’s Jana?” he said, peering over at me.

“That would be me,” Jana laughed, her hand tightening around mine.

“Well hell,” Dad said, releasing Eloise, who went straight to Mom’s side, as my father reached for Jana’s proffered hand, taking it only to pull her into his arms. “It’s so good to finally meet you. Your mom’s talked about nothing else but you and your brother over the years.”

Years?

Jana

Turned out there was nothing untoward with how Brycen’s parents and my mother had known each other. It shouldn’t have surprised me that Mom would make friends in the most unlikely of places—least of all—one she’d volunteered at before she’d gotten sick.

“We miss your sassiness during our shifts.” Helena leaned forward and grabbed on to my mother’s hand. “Gourmet Gateway hasn’t been the same since you left us. You have to admit, it was all kind of sudden.”

Mom’s palm landed on top of the other woman’s hand. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t ready to talk about what was going on,” Mom said, giving Helena’s hand a squeeze as she looked at their joined hands. “It’s been a rough go over the last four years.” Her eyes met mine as she forced a smile. “And I’m afraid it might get bumpier before…before?—”

“Mom.” I grabbed her free hand. “You don’t have to?—”

A look of determination entered her eyes. “Oh, but I do, honey. We’re amongst friends here, and as much as I’ve been hurting, it’s time I make amends after hurting Pat and Helena.”

“All is forgiven, E,” Pat said softly. “We knew there’d have to be a good reason behind you going MIA so suddenly.”

Mom nodded somberly, taking a deep breath before letting it all out. “I’m sick. It’s cancer—breast to be more specific, and it’s my second go at it.”

A deep gasp escaped Pat while Helena threw herself at my mother. Brycen wrapped an arm around my shoulders, holding me tighter to him as I struggled to swallow the lump in my throat, staving off the tears that threatened to break the banks. Mom had never told a single soul except for our aunts and uncles, and even they knew so little of what was currently going on. This was a massive step for her. “Damn, Eloise, I’m so sorry.”

“What can we do?” Brycen’s father added as he leaned forward, supporting his wife with a hand on her shoulder.

“Whatever we can do is already being done,” Mom explained, then sighed. “The kids have been wonderful, even though I’m taking up all of their extra time…and their space.” Her shimmering eyes narrowed on me.

“You know that’s not true, Mom,” I argued. “I don’t begrudge you and Jason living with me one bit, and you know he wouldn’t have it any other way either, so get that out of your thick skull. We’re family. We help each other out, and I wouldn’t trade the time we’ve had together for anything in the world.”

Mom turned to face me a bit more once Helena released her and cupped my cheek. “I love you, baby girl.”

My vision blurred as I returned a, “I love you too, Mom,” just as chaos ensued in the form of two little human tornadoes barging into the room.

“Uncle Bryce!” Two little terrors who looked almost identical and around the age of four came barreling down on us, pinning Brycen—and thus me—to the back of the couch.

“Hey guys!” He tickled first one, then the other, as both kids’ bellowed delighted giggles. “I want you to meet someone.” The boys paused to listen to the man at my side, eyes filled with worship. “This”—he edged his head toward me—“is Jana, my girlfriend.” The boys’ eyes went wide, and I swear my ovaries popped as soon as thrice the Matthews dimpled grins turned to face me.

“Hiya.” I smiled at the two future heartthrobs.

“Tyson. Tyler. How many times do we have to tell you that we don’t simply barge in on—” A short woman I’d never met before came to a halt in the living room’s entry, an attractive man, with what I presumed was from native ancestry coming to a stop, towering above her and throwing a grin my way as he set his hands on the woman’s shoulders.

“Mom,” Tyler, or was it Tyson, said, as the other finished, “Uncle Bryce has a girlfriend!”

I couldn’t help the giggle, nor could Brycen prevent the chuckle that came out when the second one who’d spoken made googly eyes and clutched at his chest on the word girlfriend.

Considering the resemblance between Brycen and this woman, this had to have been the remaining sister I’d yet to meet—Savannah.

“Savvy.” Brycen scooted his sister’s boys off his lap, got up, then held out his hand for me. “I’d like for you to meet?—”

“Jana,” she interrupted his introduction. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t know about the one who stole your heart, baby brother?” The woman stepped forward, stopping in front of me, then presented her hand. “I’m Savannah. Savvy to my friends and family. This big lug”—she nudged her head in the direction of the man at her back—“is my husband, Cooper. I’m so excited to meet you.”

Giggling, I shook my head, then pulled her forward for a quick hug. “I know you’re holding back and that y’all are huggers.” Pulling away, I snuggled into Brycen’s side. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

After dinner, I escaped to the bathroom, the excitement and din of a happy family feeling otherworldly and a tad overwhelming, if I was being honest. Between Brycen’s sisters, there were five children and three husbands. I wasn’t used to large family affairs unless it was a planned family reunion. Brycen’s family was about the size of mine when we were all in the same room, but that hadn’t happened in half a decade at this point.

Once my hands were dry, I chose to take a few extra minutes to check my phone, spotting a message from an anonymous source.

Unknown:

There’s nowhere you can go where I won’t find you.

My stomach churned, my heart beat erratically, and I struggled to keep calm.

I’ll be seeing you soon.

“Fuck,” I mumbled to the small powder room, peering into the mirror in front of me as I braced myself and the ensuing dizziness threatening my equilibrium.

Just then, another message came through.

It would be a shame if I had to destroy that beautiful family, but for you, I would. You took what was mine, which makes you mine, Jana. Mine.

And my worst fear was slowly becoming reality—leaving me with only one thing to do.