Chapter 12
Chaos
I can't stop staring at her. Rowan sits next to me at the breakfast table, fork hovering over her plate.
She belongs here, with me, at my side. Last night still burns in my memory—her soft sighs, the way she came apart under my tongue, how perfectly her body fit against mine when she finally fell asleep.
"More coffee?" I hold the pot, watching as she wraps those delicate fingers around her mug.
"Thanks." She smiles up at me, a hint of pink still coloring her cheeks when our eyes meet.
Mine. The word pounds through my blood with each heartbeat.
Mama Pat definitely approves. The way she placed her hand on Rowan’s shoulder this morning before heading out, then offered to give her a tour of the place—that's Mama Pat's stamp of approval.
She's been on all our asses for years to settle down, find good women, and build families. Never thought I'd be the first to cave.
Across the room, a door opens, and Zeus and Demon stride in. The set of Demon's jaw tells me something's wrong before he even opens his mouth.
"We got a problem," he announces without preamble.
I straighten. "What kind of problem?"
"Just got word. Los Cuervos sent teams to every pharmacy in the city." Demon's gaze shifts briefly to Rowan and then back to me. “Looking for a female pharmacy tech who disappeared two days ago. Showing her ID photo to everyone."
Rowan lets out a small gasp, and my hand instinctively finds her knee under the table, squeezing gently.
“They found her workplace. Manager confirmed she's employed there.” Zeus begins filling his plate. “But now they're showing it all over town. Gas stations, convenience stores, grocery marts."
Rowan's face drains of color. "Oh god. My grandmother." Her fingers clutch mine with desperate strength. "If they know my name, they can find out everything about me online. They'll know about her, where she lives—"
The most ruthless cartel we’ve ever seen in these parts is actively hunting her, and of course, my girl’s first concern is about someone else.
The brothers glance at me, waiting. I hadn't planned on breaking this news yet, not until everything was set, but the fear in Rowan's eyes leaves me no choice.
"We're moving your grandmother today." I keep my voice steady, reassuring. "To a more secure location."
Her eyes widen. "What? No. I mean, you can't just uproot her like that. Alzheimer's patients need consistency, familiar surroundings. Moving her could trigger a major episode. She needs—"
"A better facility." I cut her off gently.
"You said it yourself. Shady Pines isn't the best place.
It was what you could afford at the time.
Now you can afford better. Not just better, the best. The new place is only fifteen minutes away, and it's one of the top memory care facilities in Michigan. "
Her mouth opens, then closes. I can see the war behind her eyes—worry for her grandmother fighting with the knowledge that I'm right.
"But the cost..." she whispers, looking down at her plate. "Those places run thousands per month. I can't possibly—"
“I’ll be paying for it." I tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes. "I got it covered. Trust me.”
The other brothers suddenly find the ceiling and walls fascinating, pretending they're not listening to every word.
“You no longer have rent or bills to pay." I reach into my back pocket, pull out my wallet, and slide a black credit card across the table. "You're my ol' lady now. Your job is to focus on school, which I'm also paying for. This card is for clothes, books, incidentals, whatever you need or want.”
She stares at the card like it might bite her.
I can practically see the arguments forming behind those beautiful eyes, her pride and independence rising up.
But to her credit, she remembers what I told her about challenging me in front of the brothers.
Her lips press together until they're almost white, but she doesn’t contradict or argue with me.
Good girl.
"I'll be with your grandmother during the transfer." Zeus’s easy smile breaks the tension. "I'll make sure she's comfortable every step of the way."
Rowan's shoulders relax slightly, but I can tell she's still struggling.
"I visited her yesterday.” Zeus leans forward, elbows on the table. " We had a blast. Stayed almost two hours. She’s an awesome lady.”
Rowan smiles so wide I can see her molars. And I’m struck with a twinge of jealousy.
“Yep, we played bingo and shuffleboard. And I won a pudding cup." Zeus acts like he just won an Oscar.
A giggle bursts from Rowan's lips. Fucker made her giggle.
"She calls me Robert.” Zeus sits back in a cocky pose, arms crossed over his chest, chin held high. "Said I look like Robert Redford.”
“I don’t see it,” I growl, mean-muggin’ Zeus, who better shut his damn mouth.
“Anyhow, this new place has a big band event coming up, and Eleanor promised to show me how to swing dance.”
Rowan's eyes fill with tears, but she's smiling now, the tension bleeding from her posture.
Zeus launches into an impression of an elderly lady calling him Robert while she bats her eyelashes coquettishly and explains the footwork of the jitterbug. Rowan laughs so hard, she holds her sides, which only serves to encourage Zeus.
I love to hear my girl laugh, but not at Zeus’s stupid antics. A hot possessiveness flares in my chest. Irrational, fierce, and burning.
"Church." I push up from the table, the chair legs scraping against the floor. The word silences the room immediately.
"Now?" Zeus’s eyebrows shoot up. “I haven’t eaten yet.”
“Now.” I stare him down until he nods.
Rowan’s gaze flicks between me and the brothers, sensing the sudden tension but not understanding it. "Is everything okay?”
I bend down, brushing my lips against her temple, letting my hand slip possessively to the nape of her neck. "Everything's fine, sweetheart. Just club business."
She nods, rising from her chair.
“Mama Pat’ll show you around today. Then you can study, lounge around, or do whatever you want.” I can't resist pulling her against me in front of the club and all my brothers, claiming her mouth in a hard, possessive kiss that leaves her breathless.
"Jace," she whispers against my lips when I finally release her.
"Mine," I growl loud enough that all my brothers can hear. "Don't you fuckers forget it."