Chapter Twenty-Five
Rowan
“You’re gonna be in so much trouble,” Thalia sings as she sips on her whiskey. We’re seated at a table at Dale’s, and Alana and Connor are across from us, giving me disappointed stares as they nurse their drinks.
Addison is beside me, leaning close as she sips on her mixed drink with a smirk. She’s eating this up. My friends aren’t pleased with me, and she’s been milking it for all it’s worth.
“Lox is going to be pissed,” she agrees.
Alana leans forward, a hand cupping her mouth. “Blink twice if you need help.”
I scowl at her as Addison giggles.
“I still can’t believe you did this, Row.” Alana shakes her head. “What happened to dating like a normal person?”
“To be fair, I did think he was an asshole.” Addison cuts in.
“Have your thoughts changed?” Connor asks.
“No.” She smiles.
Thalia bursts out laughing. “I like you! No wonder dick head locked you away.”
“Alright,” I hold up a hand. “That’s enough. What I did was wrong, and I shouldn’t have held Addison against her will. Are we done with this now?”
“Nope,” Thalia laughs. “I can’t wait to watch you get your ass handed to you by Loxley!”
Murmurs of agreement go round the table as I simmer in my shame.
The door to the bar opens, and I turn to see my sister-in-law standing in the doorway.
She’s still dressed in her pink Sweet Haven t-shirt and jeans as she takes her coat off.
Behind her, my brother towers over her with the same shirt covering him like a second skin.
The words across the front of it are stretched thin, and he looks ridiculous as our eyes meet, and he slashes a hand across his throat.
“My bet is on Loxley punching him,” Thalia throws a twenty on the table.
“My bet is that she’s going to scream in his face,” Addison throws a twenty on top of the pile, and I blink.
“Is that from my wallet?”
“Yes,” she beams.
“My bet is on her dragging Atlas out of here by his ear when she finds out he knew,” Alana slaps a twenty on the steadily growing pile.
“Fuck it,” Connor shrugs before digging his wallet out and tossing another bill on top. “Mine is that she’s going to throw something at you.”
“Seriously?” I deadpan.
“Absolutely.” Alana nods.
“One-hundred percent.” Connor agrees.
“You’re fucked,” Thalia chips.
“She’s going to kick your ass,” Addison muses as she places her chin in her hand.
Fuck me.
Addison pushes her chair out, standing as my brother and his wife near our table.
“Addison?” Loxley’s disbelief reaches my ears before the two friends launch themselves at each other in a tight hug.
I stand, guilt eating me alive as Atlas watches his wife with a small smile.
Loxley pulls back, cupping Addison’s cheeks as her eyes bounce around her face. “You’re okay! Where have you been? What happened?!”
Slowly, every eye strays to me, and I clear my throat. “Um, what happened was—”
“Yeah, Rowan.” Thalia purrs. “Tell her what happened.”
I cut my sister a look that could kill before rubbing a hand across the back of my neck. I did the crime, now I have to do the time. “I drugged and kidnapped her.”
Loxley blinks. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
Atlas places a hand on Addison’s shoulder before motioning for her to step aside as he wraps an arm around his wife’s waist.
“You heard right, Short Stack,” my brother whispers to her. There’s a pause before she tries to launch herself at me, but Atlas holds her back.
“THIS WHOLE TIME?!” She screams, causing the chatter in the bar to die down. She points a finger at me, pure rage stretching across her features. “I’VE BEEN WORRIED SICK ABOUT HER, AND YOU’VE HAD HER LOCKED AWAY!”
People are staring at us, but I deserve this. I caused Loxley to worry more than anyone. Her anger is warranted.
I hold my hands up in surrender, keeping my voice calm. “I did, and I’m sorry.”
“YOU’RE SORRY!” She rages. “YOU DRUGGED HER!”
I want to defend my actions, but I can’t. What I did was wrong, even for me. This is a new low, and I feel the worst I ever have. I should have told her something. The days she spent worrying over Addison will haunt her for a lifetime, and it’s all because of me.
I deserve far worse than her anger.
I deserve her hatred—
Addison steps forward, surprising all of us as she blocks her friend’s view of me.
“He didn’t go about this in the right way, but he kept me safe.
Do I agree with what he did? No. But in the end, Rowan saved my life countless times while we were traveling.
He feels bad for making you worry about me, but I’m okay, Lox.
And he’s to thank for that.” She glances at me over her shoulder, giving me a small, reassuring smile.
Loxley doesn’t lose her fire, but Atlas relaxes his hold on her as she pins me with a death glare. “What the fuck is going on here. Why are you defending him?”
Addison shrugs. “I’m not defending him, but he did save my life. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be here.”
That seems to simmer some of her rage for a moment as she glances between us. Her eyes stop on Addison. “We’re going to talk about this.”
“We will.” Sunshine agrees before her eyes widen, and she grabs Loxley’s left hand. “Oh, my god! There’s even more we need to discuss!”
Thalia’s head whips up. “Do I hear a girl’s trip?”
Alana’s expression turns contemplative. “The South syndicate isn’t an issue anymore, and I think Addison deserves some normalcy.”
Loxley links arms with my girl, who’s silently staring at the massive rock on her friend’s ring finger with a smile. “I’m not letting her out of my sight. Who else knew?”
Atlas slices a thumb over his throat as our eyes meet again, and I scowl at him.
“Could you find a tighter shirt?” Connor snorts as he glosses over the Sweet Haven shirt clinging to my brother.
Atlas curls his lip at the assassin. “This was the only size left, and I wanted to represent. Looks like no one else knew about Rowan’s activities.”
“Mhm,” Loxley hums in displeasure before patting his cheek. “You’re a terrible liar, baby. We need to have a discussion when I get back.”
Atlas nods, giving her a kiss before the girls gather their things. “I’m going to fucking kill you.” He whispers to me as he comes to stand beside me. “I’m in the dog house now.”
“Join the club,” I mutter.
As Addison grabs her purse, I snake an arm around her waist. “Miss me?”
“You wish,” she smarts before lifting up on her toes and asking for a kiss.
I press my lips to hers in a tender caress as I hold her flush against me. We pull away, and I nip at her bottom lip. “Be careful. If you need me, call me.”
Her cheeks tinge red as she follows the others. I don’t miss the narrowed-eyed look Loxley shoots me before they file out to the parking lot.
When it’s just us, Atlas decks my shoulder.
“Fuck you,” I mutter as we take a seat at the table.
“I’m going to drag my fucking nuts across your face,” he grumbles.
“Why is that your go-to?” I ask with a sneer.
My brother shrugs. “It makes Loxley laugh.”
Connor looks amused as he sits back. “Damn, it feels good to be the only man who isn’t an ass. How’s the dog house? Cold?”
Atlas takes my beer, chugging the rest of it before he lifts a hand and orders two more. “Right. And hopefully Al doesn’t find out about the little crush you had on her in high school. You’re worse than us.”
Connor chokes on his drink. “You said you wouldn’t tell her about that!”
“Keep fucking with us and we will,” I threaten.
Connor used to stalk Alana. He claims it was because they were enemies, but Atlas and I know the truth of it all.
He was head over heels for her and couldn’t get her out of his mind.
Even when we all left for training, he obsessed over her day and night.
I glance down at my phone, counting down the seconds and checking if there are any new messages. I know they haven’t left the grounds yet, but having Addison away from me is a new form of torture. I’ve already grown attached to her constant presence.
“Looks like someone is new to the worry club.” My brother muses.
“What?” I ask.
Connor grabs his coat. “We should probably let them get a little further before we trail them. Pretty sure they’re going to my house to get ready.”
They both push their chairs out as I glance between them. “Wait, are we going to follow them?”
“Damn right we are,” Atlas grabs his other beer. “After the last incident, we don’t let them out of our sight.”
“Hell no,” Connor agrees. “My life flashed before my eyes when I got that call from Alana. Are you coming with us?”
I don’t argue as relief washes over me. I grab my drink and wallet before standing. “Lead the way.”
Atlas slaps a hand over my back. “I’ll drive.”
***
The club the girls chose is packed tightly with gyrating and grinding couples. The air is thick with the stench of sweat and alcohol, and I’m pretty sure I stepped on a used condom earlier. Loud music bumps over the speakers, filling the building as the windows rattle with the bass.
We’re seated at the bar, and I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of Addison.
They’re across from us, and it looks like she borrowed a dress from my sister.
It’s bright red and clings to her shape before stopping at her mid-thigh.
The neckline is square, showing off the tops of her generous breasts, and making my mouth water at the sight.
The knee-high black heeled boots she wears make her look fucking irresistible as she knocks back another shot of something clear.
Her tongue swipes over her red painted lips, and I feel like I’m starving for a taste.
“Quit staring at her before you get us caught,” Atlas scolds as he slaps the back of my head.
“Yeah, she can probably feel you eating her alive across the damn bar.” Connor bites at me as if he has taken his eyes off his girlfriend. Which he hasn’t.
Atlas is in the same boat as both of us, staring Loxley down like she’s prey. “Where the fuck did she get that dress?”