Chapter 1 #2
A door opens and Finn Lawson steps out. He’s not as tall as the Viking but still much taller than me.
I’m not prepared for so much lovely man chest this morning.
His body is a work of art and he works hard at the gym to keep it that way.
His dark hair looks mussed, like someone’s been running their fingers through it.
Chances are someone has.
His green eyes focus on me and he gives me this smile that would melt anyone’s panties. Mine are, unfortunately, not immune. His flirty smile is full of temptation.
“For fuck’s sake, flower. Keep it down or come in here and I’ll make you scream real good.” He strokes his fingers over his lips. If any other guy spoke or acted this way, I’d roll my eyes, but heat floods me when Finn does stuff like that.
Why couldn’t my brother find ugly friends? Like seriously, did he hold auditions and only let the most attractive guys through to the final round? Because that sounds like an excellent way to meet a guy that will make my mother turn blue trying not to say bad things about him.
Unfortunately, Drew is perfect for my mother. Which means she’ll love him and won’t ever let me dump him. He’s from a good family, knows how to dress, and actually likes me. My heart speeds up thinking about how he was just about to kiss me when my phone blew up with Tom’s texts.
Ignoring Finn, I walk to my brother’s door. Ignoring Finn takes dedication. It’s hard to ignore someone so blatantly pretty, but I’m currently on a mission and can’t be waylaid even by the pretty fuckboy.
When the door behind Tom’s opens, I don’t look. No matter how tempted I am. I know it’s Wyatt. While I’ve been trying to get his attention for the last few years, today is not the day. Today, I have to make sure my brother is just fucking with me.
“Tom, I hope you’re decent,” I warn before throwing open the door. The bedroom is dark and there’s no sign of life. In fact, it’s a mess. Clothes are strewn all over the place, but that could be the way he lives.
I don’t normally storm into my brother’s room.
“Why are you here?” the dark, gravelly voice that haunts my dreams says.
Shaking off the shiver of delight working down my spine, I don’t stop to fill Wyatt in on the details. I walk into the room and to the bathroom door, checking to make sure no one’s there.
“Fuck.” The word slips from my lips. Okay, hot guys aside, we have a problem.
My hands tremble as I take out my phone and doublecheck the text message conversation between me and my brother, or more like between me and five quick texts.
“What’s going on, pipsqueak?”
I sigh at Dante’s voice and the old nickname. Being a giant, he’s always been taller than me, and even more so when I stopped growing and he didn’t. Pretty sure that nickname is to keep me at arm’s length.
“Tom.” I hold out my phone. Dante takes it and looks over the conversation I know by heart.
Tom:
I’ve got to go
Don’t stay at home.
Go to my apartment.
Don’t look for me.
They’ll protect you.
Followed by a flurry of texts from me asking what the fuck in various ways. What the fuck did he get into this time? He’s an accountant not a fucking superhero or spy. Why would he have to go anywhere?
“I swear, if this is about a woman, I’m going to kick his ass.” I flop down on the edge of his bed and look around his room. This would be an extreme way to ghost someone, but who knows with Tom.
His closet door is open and the suitcase that’s usually in there is gone. Half of his hangers are empty. A few are on the floor.
“When did you get this?” Dante leans against the wall, scrolling through my text conversation with Tom. He’s probably looking at earlier messages. Not that Tom and I talk much.
The most recent texts were me threatening to tell Mom about his high school hookup that’s still going on if he didn’t give me an internship.
Dante knows how to see when a text was sent. Is he just trying to get me to talk?
Shaking my head, I stand and go into Tom’s bathroom. When I turn on the light, the room looks like someone grabbed things in a hurry. His toothbrush and toothpaste are gone, but his floss is on the floor.
His razor is gone but his shaving cream is tipped over.
Silence falls over me as I think more about Tom’s words. I’ve got to go. What the fuck is he into? What is happening? If anyone knows, it’s these three.
I storm out of the bedroom and poke Dante in his chest. Ow. And just hurt my finger.
I glare up at him, rubbing my finger. “You live with him. Where is he?”
Dante returns my phone and crosses his arms over his chest, making his muscles bulge out even more. Fuck, he’s so fucking hot and that towel isn’t really covering much except his cock. My tongue darts out to lick my lips before I lift my gaze back to his face.
“We don’t keep tabs on each other.” His eyes lock on mine for a second longer than they should. Flames lick at my spine. Fuck, I’m done with this shit.
Focus. Tom. I need to find Tom.
“So what the fuck are his texts about?” I leave Tom’s room and the hot Viking to look for more clues. I didn’t see his laptop or phone or even his chargers in the bedroom.
“May I see the texts?” Wyatt steps in front of me and holds out his hand. My breath catches as I lift my gaze to his dark brown eyes and sleep-rumpled dark hair. His pajama bottoms cling to his hips. My insides soften. I swear if a woman comes out of his bedroom, I will lose what’s left of my mind.
He dates. He sleeps around. He flaunts the fact he’s with other women. Every other woman, except me. I’m the one who gets ignored. And I’m done with it.
Drew is my step in the right direction to prove I’m finished with Wyatt.
I hand Wyatt my phone and wander through their living room and kitchen. In the kitchen, there’s a note.
Need to lie low for a while. Not sure if they know about my family except Sara, but watch out for Sara and my mom, Roger, and Caitlyn. With me gone, they should be safe.
-Tom
Heat floods my back as Finn reaches over my shoulder and takes the note from my hand. “What do we have here, flower?”
Finn smells like sex and sin. My body perks up at his scent. Ugh. These guys have always made my head spin, but usually Tom is around to pull me back down to earth.
“Tom left you guys a note.” I move away from the tempting warmth of his body. “I don’t know who they are, but I’m still scheduled to start my internship on Monday, whether or not Tom is there.”
I’m holding firm to that because I need this internship to graduate. My gaze meets Wyatt’s eyes as he places my phone on the counter.
“Of course, pipsqueak.” Dante still hasn’t found clothes, and I’m pretty sure that towel isn’t going to hang on much longer. Fuck. I really don’t need to see that.
I’ve seen the man in gray sweatpants. He’s packing some serious heat behind that towel.
“Would you go get dressed?” I gesture to him. “We all know you’re hot. Cover that shit up.”
Dante’s eyes flash with heat for a second before he nods and heads into his bedroom. I go to the bar in the living room and put a glass on the counter. I glance over the liquors before choosing a whiskey, because fuck, I need something strong to deal with these guys.
“Early for a drink,” Wyatt grumbles, running a hand through his hair.
“You want one?” I pour myself a little and set the bottle on the bar. “I was on a date when Tom sent me his vague texts and wouldn’t answer my calls.”
“A date?” Finn asks while starting the coffeemaker.
“Yes, a date.” I down the contents of my glass. It burns my throat, but I don’t care. I pour a little more and walk away from the bar to slump on their living room sectional.
I rest my head against the back and close my eyes. Tom left in a hurry. He told me to come here. Why? And why do I need protection? From what? Or who?