CHAPTER 12
ADDY
The next morning had been quiet so far. Asher had insisted on staying in my room with me, for the rest of the night, after we all had a quick bite to eat. Adam had tried to convince him to go to his bed and sleep properly, but it seemed my brother was in full protector mode and had been determined to stay with me. Eli had stayed with me too, mainly, I thought, because he seemed as worried about Asher as I was. So we’d had something of a sleepover in my room, Eli and I laid on the bed - me under the comforter, and Eli on top - and Asher in the uncomfortable armchair as usual.
I’d gotten a few hours sleep before the early morning sunlight had roused me. Now Ash, Eli, and I were all in the kitchen drinking coffee together. Eli was sketching something in the book he seemed to have taken to carrying around with him, since he didn’t have access to his studio, where he usually disappeared off to. No one else was awake yet and I knew it was because they all had to be exhausted after the events of the previous day and night. Because of me.
“Any idea about when we can go home?” I asked from where I sat at the counter in the kitchen. I turned to Asher, sitting at the table looking at his e-mails on his cell.
“Soon, hopefully. The contractors are already working to repair the perimeter wall and rebuild the security office. Harris and Aleks have agreed to set up an even more modern security system for us as soon as the office is finished. Once that’s done, I promise I’ll get us all back home,” Asher explained.
“Where are Harris and the guys?” I asked.
“They’re staying at a hotel close by. There just isn’t enough room here for all of us.”
“We should invite them here for dinner. It seems the least we can do,” I suggested.
“That’s a good idea, sweetheart. I’ll ask them when we speak later,” Asher nodded.
“What will happen next, with the investigation, I mean?” I asked reluctantly. I was curious to know, but also afraid of any more secrets being uncovered and hurting my brothers more than they already were.
“All I care about is finding out who poses a threat to you. Harris and his team have agreed to keep investigating it for us. Everything else the FBI or local police can handle. I honestly don’t think I want to know anymore about the depravities of Joseph Lyle. It makes me feel sick just to share a name with the man anymore.”
“You think there’s still a threat? What if the explosion was just a distraction to destroy the evidence at the family home?” I mused aloud. “If that was the plan, they succeeded. They might not care about me, or what I do or don’t know.”
“Maybe, but until I can be sure, I’m not taking any risks. We will continue to look into things,” Asher said firmly.
“Okay,” I nodded. I wasn’t going to argue. There was no way I wanted to take any chance of being hurt or taken again. Or worse. I was happy to be careful and take precautions for as long as Asher felt it was necessary.
“I did want to talk about something else while it’s just the three of us,” Asher spoke again, gaining not just my attention, but Eli’s too. He stopped whatever he was drawing and turned to face Asher on the stool he sat on.
“I think I know where this is headed,” I uttered with despair as I looked to Asher pleadingly, begging him not to open this particular can of worms.
“I know, sweetheart, but I’m your big brother. This is part of the job,” he chuckled.
“What is? What’s going on?” Eli asked.
“I’ve noticed, so I’m sure you have too, Eli,” Asher began, then he looked to me. “You seem to be getting very close with Kane, Adam, and Jordan. When I tried to question Kane yesterday he didn’t deny that something’s going on between you.”
“He didn’t?” I gasped, my eyes lighting with hope at that tid bit of information.
“You like Kane?” Eli asked as he turned to face me now.
“God, I can’t believe you guys are going to make me have this conversation,” I groaned as I closed my eyes in embarrassment.
“I just want to know what’s going on, sweetheart. I know I have no right to ask, but I just want to protect you.”
I opened my eyes and looked between the two of them. They looked concerned again and I knew I needed to come clean, even if the thought of it mortified me.
“I…I guess I have feelings for Kane,” I shrugged. “And Adam. And Jordan.” Best to just lay it all out there, I decided.
“For all of them?” Eli seemed surprised.
“Has anything happened? They haven’t pressured you in any way, have they?” Asher demanded, his soft tone becoming sharper.
“No. They haven’t pressured me at all, and even if they did, I’m a big girl, Asher. I know I seem weak, but I can stand up for myself sometimes,” I argued, feeling a little annoyed with him.
“Of course you can. I’m sorry, Addy. I just worry about you. I cant seem to stop myself from being overprotective,” Asher apologized.
“It’s fine,” I sighed. How could I stay annoyed when he looked so genuinely worried about me? “And to answer the other question, nothing has really happened. I know they have feelings too, but Kane told me he would never act on them, and Jordan told me how he feels, but he’s left the ball in my court for now. I have no idea how Adam feels, but I think he returns my feelings too.”
“What do you want, shortcake? Do you want to date one of them? Are you ready for that?” Eli questioned.
“I like all of them so much,” I admitted shyly. “God, I sound pathetic!”
“Just talk to us. We’re here to listen,” Eli encouraged.
“Jordan’s been talking about a relationship between all of us, or at least me, him, and Adam, since Kane refuses to break his promise to you,” I said as I nodded to Asher.
“What promise?”
“Kane told Ash that he’d protect me with his life, and he says he can’t do his job properly if he has feelings for me. Since he won’t let Asher down, he told me he can’t be with me,” I explained to Eli.
“But you want him, don’t you?” Eli pushed.
“Yes! No! I honestly don’t know!” I cried as I covered my face and took a breath. “I’ve only had one relationship before and that was a joke, but these feelings I have. They’re so strong, and when the guys are with me I just feel…calmer, I guess. They make me feel this peace when they’re with me and I want that. The idea of a four person relationship terrifies me, but it also sounds so idyllic.”
“What’s making you question it all so much?” Asher asked. I looked to him, worried he’d look angry or disgusted, but his face remained neutral and calm.
“Me. You guys know what a mess I am right now. I…I don’t know if I could handle a normal relationship, let alone one with three guys. How could I ever make any of it work when I’m as messed up as I am?”
“You’re not messed up! Don’t talk about yourself like that!” Eli snapped, startling me with his sharp tone. When I turned to him his face softened and he half smiled. “Sorry, I just hate hearing you say stuff like that. You’re strong. You need to have more faith in yourself.”
“This is all pointless anyway, since Kane already said no, and Adam might not even be into me. Who knows, maybe these feelings are just another sign of me losing my sanity?” I laughed dryly.
“I can’t say anything about your feelings, sweetheart. Only you know what you truly feel, but I will have a talk with Kane. I want to ensure he knows he’s free of the promise he made me, if he needs to be.” Asher said, taking me by surprise.
“You’re not mad?” I asked.
“Not mad. Worried? Yes. I think this is a troubled time for you to be making any major life decisions. However, if you do have feelings for the three of them and you want to try to make things work, I can think of no better men I would entrust with my precious sister,” he added, making me feel all choked up instantly.
“I agree. They’re all good guys and they’d take care of you the way you deserve, but this all has to be your decision, Addy. It moves at your pace, always. And if any of them try to push you, I want you to come to us right away, okay?” Eli added
“Okay,” I nodded, tearful once again.
“And I will need to give them the obligatory big brother warning that if they hurt you, I’ll kill them,” Asher added, making me laugh tearfully. “Just don’t feel rushed, okay? Eli’s right. You are the one that matters most. You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”
“And no matter what happens, you will always have the both of us on your side. We love you.”
“We do, “ Asher agreed. “Very much. Never doubt that.”
“I won’t,” I whispered through my tight throat. “I love you both too.”
“Good. Now that’s out of the way, how about we order in some breakfast?” Asher suggested.
“I can make something,” I offered.
“We need groceries. The refrigerator’s empty. Adam said he’d go to the store later, but until then, we all need to eat.”
“Order pancakes. They’re Addy’s favorite,” Eli chuckled as he looked to me with a smile.
“Pancake’s it is.” Asher set to work ordering food via his cell phone and I stood to get more coffee. I didn’t even really like coffee, but I needed the caffeine. I’d had quite a lot of sleep for me the night before, but I still felt exhausted.
“Can I see what you’re drawing?” I asked Eli as I sat back down at his side and nursed the warm mug between my chilled hands.
“Sure.” Eli moved the pad towards me, but before I saw it, there was a loud knock at the door.
“Stay there. I’ll get it,” Asher ordered as he got to his feet and crossed the space to the front door, still dressed in the sweats and t-shirt he’d slept in.
“Boss, the cops are downstairs. They want to take you and Eli in for questioning,” A deep voice spoke and I instantly jumped to my feet and hurried over to the door.
“Local police or the FBI?” Asher asked, seeming way too calm.
“NYPD. Leo and Pierce managed to keep them in the lobby for now, but they said they have grounds to arrest you both if you don’t agree to go with them.”
“Arrest you for what?” I cried. Eli was behind me, and he wrapped me in his arms and pulled me against him.
“We knew this could happen, Addy. A woman died in our family home. They were bound to want to question us,” he told me.
“Asher!” I panicked as he closed the apartment door and looked to me.
“Its all going to be fine, sweetheart. I already have lawyers on retainer who will meet us at the police station,” Asher tried to soothe me.
“What if they arrest you?” Just the thought of having them both torn away from me was terrifying enough, but the idea of them being treated as I was by the cops had my anxiety rising, especially Eli.
“They won’t. We haven’t done anything wrong,” Asher promised as he ran his hand down my arm reassuringly. “Eli and I need to get dressed. Can you wake Adam for me and tell him what’s going on?”
“Yes,” I agreed. “Just…can I have a hug first though?”
Asher smiled as he came over to Eli and I and wrapped his huge arms around the both of us.
“Promise me you won’t let this upset you, Addy. I’ll fix everything. We’ll be home before the end of the day, okay?”
“You better be,” I told them with a snort, trying to lighten the mood a little.
“We will,” Eli promised this time.
As soon as Asher and Eli stepped into their rooms to change, I ran to the end of the hall where I knew Adam was sleeping.
“Adam!” I cried as I burst in and jumped onto the bed to wake him.
“Addy?” He sat up in a hurry and looked at me sleepily. As the comforter pooled around his waist I got my first look at his bare chest. Even in my panic I had to take a moment to appreciate just how amazing his whole upper body looked without a shirt. There was so much muscle, just everywhere and his beautiful dark skin was the perfect complement to them. “Baby? What is it? What’s wrong?” Adam grabbed my face between his hands as he spoke, pulling me from my stunned silence.
“The police…they’re taking Ash and Eli. Ash sent me to get you,” I stuttered as I forced myself to get a grip. “They said they could arrest them if they don’t agree to go in.”
“Okay. We knew this could happen. It’s going to be okay,” he said calmly, then he was out of bed and pulling on a t-shirt with the sweats he already had on.
“Why do you all keep saying that? I didn’t know it could happen! Why did no one tell me?” I demanded.
“We didn’t want to worry you.”
“Well, I’m worried now!” I cried.
“Come on,” Adam was smirking as he took my hand and pulled me from the bed and to my feet.
“Why the hell are you smiling?” I demanded as we left the room.
“You’re just really cute when you get mad. I like it,” he shrugged with an even wider smile.
“You haven’t seen angry yet. Just keep smirking at me like that and you’ll see angry,” I threatened. Adam tried to straighten his face and keep it that way, but he could barely contain his smile.
“Oh Good. You’re up,” Asher caught up to us just as we walked into the family room. He was dressed impeccably in a charcoal colored suit with an open collar white shirt beneath.
“What do you need me to do? Is Eli okay?” Adam asked, his smile long gone and his face filled with concern.
“I’ve called the lawyers, so they’ll meet us there. The police are alleging they have enough to charge us, but I very much doubt that.” Asher said as he fiddled with his cufflinks.
“I’m ready,” Eli declared as he walked in, dressed in jeans and a navy shirt, the sleeves rolled to his elbows. He’d neatened his hair up and he looked very handsome and smart.
“We should be back by tonight if all goes well. I’ve called Harris and he’s agreed to manage the security for now so you’ll all be safe here. Don’t leave the penthouse. Order groceries if you need them.”
“Got it,” Adam agreed.
“Just take care of Addy. We’ll be fine,” Eli added.
“I’ll be fine too. Don’t be worrying about me,” I told him as I moved over and wrapped my arms around him.
“Addy has the online session with Laura at ten. I left the details on the kitchen counter,” Asher went on.
“I love you, Eli,” I whispered as I hugged him tight.
“I’m only going to answer some questions. I’ll be back tonight,” he chuckled as he held me. “But I love you too, shortcake.”
“Just keep her safe, please brother,” I heard Asher say to Adam as they shared a back slapping hug.
“I’ve got her,” Adam promised.
I gave Asher a quick hug and told him I loved him too, then they were both gone and I stood staring at the closed door, terrified about when the next time I saw them both would be.
“Come on, honey. You need to eat before your session with Laura.” Adam took my hand and led me to the kitchen. I fought not to freak out, choosing to trust in Asher’s words that they’d be back by tonight. I’d revisit the looming meltdown if they didn’t come back as planned.