6. Jaxson #2
Harper’s eyes went wide at his words, but it looked like his meaning hit home to her.
The rest of us gathered around the table, took our seats, set the food on the table, and started dishing out the meal.
Magnus took Harper’s plate and filled it with what he decided would be an appropriate amount for her to have before placing it back down.
I watched her wrestle with whether she was going to fight him on this or accept it for what it was.
Thankfully, she kept her mouth shut and began to eat.
When Magnus made up his mind about something, it wasn’t going to change unless it was absolutely necessary.
“All right, I’m here eating what you wanted me to. Are you going to explain exactly how you know so much about the ins and outs of my life?” Harper demanded.
She first stared down Ghost, but he wasn’t going to be the one to spill the beans on how crazy about her we were.
Then she looked at me. I shook my head, pointing to Magnus.
That prick was going to be the one to tell her precisely what he made happen two years ago.
Granted, we all agreed with him this should be done and ensured that it did, but he was the one to come up with the idea.
“When you got your birth control implant, we had them inject a tracking device as well,” Magnus informed her.
“We also piggybacked on the secondary security system that Weston installed in your house to keep an eye on you. Your car is also LoJacked, along with the fact we cloned your phone, so we see everything that happens on it.”
Her fork clattering to the plate echoed through the air as we waited for her to implode.
To her credit, all she did was push away from the table and walk out to the backyard.
Once I saw she wasn’t stopping and heading right for the rice fields behind the house, I took off running.
We could give her space as long as she didn’t go outside our property.
“Harpster,” I warned when I got close enough. “Don’t make me do something neither of us will appreciate right now.”
Whirling on her heel, she marched right up to me, finger jabbing at my chest. “Oh, is that so? I guess I should be fine with the fact you’ve infiltrated my whole life without me knowing for the past two years?
Gee, Harper, you’re being such a drama queen,” she taunted, waving her hands around.
“Who would ever be upset about their privacy being violated like that? Gosh, you should feel so flattered we like you so much we’re willing to go all CIA on your ass and track your every fucking move! ”
My instinct was to blurt out, “Yes, that’s exactly how you should feel.
” Yet when I really looked at her, I knew that was the worst thing I could do in this situation.
“You need space, fine, we can give that to you, but only if you don’t leave our property.
No matter how mad you are at us, remember the reason you’re here in the first place. ”
She snorted at that. “How could I possibly be in danger when you can track every move I make?”
I didn’t justify that with an answer knowing she was looking for a fight from me, and I wasn’t going to give it to her.
All I wanted was to wrap her up in a hug and convince her everything we did was out of love for her.
Of course, she wasn’t ready to hear that, but when it came to my brothers and her, we were a lost cause.
Harper was our person, and no one else would measure up. This was one thing we couldn’t fuck up.
“Please,” I begged, feeling like it was the only thing I could say right now.
“Fine, but I’m allowed to be out here as long as I want without one of you hovering,” she countered.
Letting out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, I nodded. “We can do that. Just know if you try to leave, we will stop you.”
“Believe me. I’m fully aware I’m incapable of escaping you three. I don’t even know where the fuck I am,” she snapped, turning her back to me, a clear dismissal.
I hesitated, reaching out a hand but let it drop before I touched her and headed back inside to finish my dinner.
“How pissed is she?” Ghost asked, poking at his rice.
“More than we would like, but not as bad as it could be,” I answered with a sigh, letting my head fall back against the chair. “She promised to stay on the property, and we would give her the space she needs without one of us lurking.”
“You told her yes?” Magnus inquired.
I watched him for a moment, trying to see if he was upset I’d agreed to it or not.
There weren’t many times we pushed back on his opinions, but this was an instance that I was going to.
“Yes, I did. I was left with forcing her to come back in here and eat with us and make matters worse or giving her space to cool off. While I know your drive is making her bend, it’s my job to ensure she doesn’t break, which is exactly what I did. ”
He studied me with his eyes that could see into anybody’s soul and knew I wasn’t going to follow his orders. “All right, but she will be in our bed tonight, no matter what.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Ghost questioned. “Wouldn’t forcing ourselves upon her when she’s mad make things worse?”
“There is one bed in this house, and she will sleep in it every night she is here with us… end of story,” Magnus ordered before falling silent as he ate.
Really, I shouldn’t be surprised at this call.
Magnus treated us the same way growing up.
Tons of people thought it was strange and twisted that we always shared one bed, but growing up on the streets, we did it to ensure we were all safe.
It’s harder to sneak up on a person when they are protected by others.
Then it became a habit we couldn’t break.
“I have no doubt she’ll try to sleep out on one of the loungers. When she falls asleep, I’ll bring her inside,” I conceded.
Let’s hope that when she woke up with us all curled around her, it helped put her in a better mood.