11. Thalia #2
“I don’t know!” I exclaim.
Addison places a hand on Rowan’s bicep, and he leans down as she speaks to him softly. “It’s new between them. Try not to rush an answer out of her.”
“I know, Sunshine, but this is a time-sensitive situation. I’m thinking about the safety of the compound and whether we need to add a civilian doctor to our protection detail.” He says as he brushes her hair behind her ear.
Normal families ask if your new boyfriend likes football. Mine asks if he requires tactical surveillance.
His wife smiles. “And I love that about you, but see it from your sister’s perspective. She doesn’t know if they’re serious yet. She needs time.”
He nods in understanding before sighing.
If there’s one thing I envy about Addison, it’s her penchant for being my oldest brother’s voice of reason.
Since she’s come into the picture, Rowan has backed off his overbearing tendencies a little.
The brunette has done wonders for his anxiety, and he isn’t as uptight as he used to be.
She shouldered some of the burden, giving him the space to rediscover himself and take a step back from his constant need for control.
They’re a match made in heaven.
“We’re happy for you,” Loxley says as she links elbows with Atlas. “If things do get serious, we want to make sure Reed is protected in this mess.”
My second oldest brother gazes down at his wife softly, a smile upturning his lips as he rubs a hand over her growing stomach. “We protect what’s ours, Thal. If Reed is important to you, we’ll do anything we can to make sure he’s safe.”
My family can be chaotic, argumentative, and disorganized at times, but one thing has never changed.
We look out for each other. Rowan made sure Atlas, and I were able to love whoever we wanted with his rule changes, paving the perfect path for Atlas to rekindle things with his high school sweetheart.
I’m ecstatic for them, but I don’t know if I fit in that category.
Everything is new, and while I find myself naturally drawn to Reed, I don’t know if I’m ready to give my heart to someone.
My last serious relationship was catastrophic, building a wall inside of me as my life imploded, and Brooks is to thank for that.
He destroyed any notion of my trusting another man.
I can’t deny what I feel for Reed either. We’ve only known each other for a short period, but it’s like being around him brightens my world. I’m already itching to answer the series of text messages he sent me this morning.
Connor wraps an arm around Alana’s shoulders, smirking. “We’ll keep him safe, Thal. Trust us.”
“I do,” I say, my chest warming as my heart somersaults unnaturally. “So, what’s the plan?”
Rowan posts up, wrapping his arms around Addison as he rests his chin on top of her head. “First order, make sure Reed isn’t at that gala. We don’t want him in the crossfire.”
I nod. “I can talk to him.”
“Second order,” Atlas says pointedly. “He’s going to need someone guarding him if he’s a person of interest.”
Alana grins at me. “I think Thalia has that handled, too.”
My family laughs as I roll my eyes.
“Alright,” Rowan announces as he opens his front door. “We’re ready to finish this meeting. Why don’t we get a crew out to New York to start tracking down Brooks and his team?”
I blink at the scene out on the porch. Bailey stands with her back to the threshold and her arms crossed over her chest as Dom and Theo tower over her. Their discussion is low, but the way the two men stare down at her is obviously full of something profound and hungry.
“You’re not storming the gala alone,” Theo bites.
The South branch leader cocks her hip. “Oh, yeah? And who’s going to stop me?”
“We will,” Dom says with stern finality.
Bailey throws her hands up. “I told you, this isn’t meant to draw attention. Liam has already agreed to accompany me—”
“I’m sorry, Princess,” Theo chuckles humorlessly. “But what is Leo—”
“Liam,” Bailey corrects through gritted teeth.
“Same thing,” the blonde waves a hand. “But what is he going to do if things get messy? He doesn’t even know how to use a gun.”
Their dynamic is clear as day. My family may not see it, but I do.
Dominic and Theodore have some connection with Bailey, and they have since they all ran into each other for the first time a few years back.
The duo seem to think Bailey’s fiancé is useless, and I can’t say I don’t blame them.
From what I’ve gathered, Liam doesn’t like that Bailey is now the leader.
He finds that the syndicate is below his posh and wealthy lifestyle, and it leads to quite a few fights for the couple.
The fact that Liam is even offering to accompany his fiancée is a sign that he’s onto what Dom and Theo are planning.
This could get ugly quickly.
Bailey points at the ridiculous duo, her tone lethal. “Don’t you make him feel inferior. He’s already dealing with a lot—”
“Are you kidding me?!” Theo rages. “He’s dealing with a lot? Someone is trying to kill you, Bailey. If he can’t get his head out of the fucking clouds and see that his fiancée needs him more, then he’s a real tool.”
Alana winces at the jab, her lips pulling over her teeth as her eyes shift to me. My expression mimics her own, and we share an uncomfortable moment.
“Theo, Dom,” Rowan warns low.
Bailey holds up a hand to my brother. “I can handle them.” She pins the duo with a glare. “You two have no idea the strain my relationship has been through with this. Liam has a life outside of the syndicate—”
“A life he’s choosing over you,” Dom scowls.
The South Branch leader snarls. “You think you know everything!”
“We don’t,” Theo bites back. “But we know what’s best for you.”
She throws her head back as a condescending chuckle fills the air. “Oh, yeah? And what’s that?”
Theo’s eyes soften a fraction. “Not Leon.”
Dominic stares at Bailey with silent desperation—a plea for her to hear their reason.
The Southern leader closes her eyes as her face twists. “His name is Liam.”
“I don’t care, Princess.” Theo shakes his head. “If he’s choosing his job over you, he means fuck all to me.”
“He isn’t choosing his job over me,” she mutters, but there’s no conviction in her words. It’s almost as if she doesn’t believe herself either.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Dom murmurs before pushing past her. Theo follows, plopping back down on the coffee table as silence blankets the living room.
Atlas looks like he’s in fucking heaven, his eyes bouncing around to everyone as he presses his fingers to his lips. He glances at me, snorting lightly before covering it with a cough.
My lips twitch and I have to look away from him before we both break out in hysterics. I mean, come on! How often are our meetings this entertaining?
Meanwhile, Rowan’s got this wicked vein popping out of his forehead as he angrily scowls at Theo and Dom. Addison notices it, rolling her lips in as she ghosts a finger over the throbbing, raised skin.
I bet he wishes he had a cigarette right now. Or ten.
“This has been informative…” Clint, one of the South assassins, drawls as he claps his hands. “But we should start tracking. Alana, dear, can you send me those coordinates so Max and I can get a move on?”
Connor’s eye twitches at the endearment as his wife sends the coordinates to the team. She slaps her husband’s bicep lightly, reigning him in from throttling the other assassins helping us.
“We’ll be in touch,” Max waves a hand over his shoulder before the other men dip out of the house.
Bailey rests her head back against her shoulders, taking a deep breath. “If this is as big as we’re speculating, we’re going to need more bodies.”
“I can reach out to Ford and my brother, Logan,” Addison proposes. “I’m sure they would be willing to help.”
“Good idea,” Rowan praises. “Having the Northwestern branch’s skills would really benefit us in the long run.”
Addison types away at her phone’s screen as I thrum with a buzz. I get to professionally follow Reed around. It’s definitely not stalking if I think about it this way.
“Everyone stay connected for the next steps,” Rowan dismisses. “Thalia, do you need backup? If Brooks is out there, he most likely has a trail on you. Bailey’s team can check in.”
I wave a dismissive hand as I slip my helmet on. “Relax. I can handle him. It’s not like I haven’t already terrorized the little shit before.”
Al laughs. “Didn’t you dangle him from a skyscraper by his jeans the last time?”
“Yup!” I bounce over to the front door. “And I’ll do it again, too.”
“Give him hell!” Atlas shouts after me.
Oh, I fully plan to give Brooks something. A fist to the fucking trachea if I can.