Rachel
“Everything okay?” I asked.
Wynter had shocked me by calling out of the blue, but mostly, I was just relieved she had. I was trying very hard not to be awkward.
Why was Rain the one who got all the charm in my family, huh?
“Not really. But I don’t expect things will be easy, not with Dad still in the hospital.”
I grimaced at Wynter’s reply but tried to keep my distaste for her adoptive father out of my tone as I murmured, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I’m struggling with some of my ethics homework.”
Surprised, I gushed, “Call me when you’re back from school, and we’ll talk. I’ll guide you through it.”
“Thank you,” was Wynter’s shy retort, but it was almost drowned out by the sound of the bell. “I’d better go. Lunch period is over.”
“Speak tonight.” I hesitated. “Stay safe out there.”
“I will. Thanks, Rachel. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I scanned my screen for any missed notifications and saw a couple from Rex, one that was telling me he was on his way to Manhattan, and another describing what he’d do to me if I did anything to agitate O’Donnelly Sr.
It involved his dick, several orgasms, and a potentially bright pink ass.
Before my conversation with Indy about her and Cruz’s relationship, I might have taken offense at the idea of being spanked, but… with Rex, maybe I’d like that too?
He wasn’t happy about my attending today’s meeting, but he hadn’t attempted to stop me from coming either.
That, more than anything, pleased me.
Nothing had changed on a professional level where our relationship was concerned. He hadn’t started treating me differently because I was with him now. Aside from, of course, the odd ‘babe’ or ‘baby’ spoken in front of the guys.
I could deal with that. Being cosseted, on the other hand, would drive me nuts.
There were a few more messages, some from Parker—only just getting over her snit with me and that was thanks to a gift basket from Godiva—a couple from Susana, my paralegal, and then one from Craig.
I pursed my lips at the sight of his name on my screen, and my thumb hovered over the message for a few seconds. One of the texts was a photo.
That I wasn’t happy to hear from him saddened me.
I should have missed his and Scott’s presence in my life, should have been grateful that he was reaching out.
Mostly, I was just wary.
I had a full schedule, was exhausted from that, had a new relationship, a new world, as a result, to maneuver, and they were just dead weight.
Because I was a sucker, the guilt from that realization had me opening the message.
Craig: Meet Sarah. She was born last night at 4AM. 5lb. 4oz. She’s a few weeks premature and has a couple of developmental issues. That’s why she’s in the incubator.
Craig: Miss you xo
I stared at the photo of the baby, her crinkled face, bright pink cheeks, the white of the blanket she was wrapped up in that was nuzzled against the mop of dark brown hair on her head and I wondered if she’d ever know the struggles her fathers had gone through to get her here.
Glad for them even if I was still cautious, I forwarded his first text to Parker and asked her to send a gift basket to them.
Then, to Craig, I merely replied:
Me: She’s beautiful. I’m so happy that you’ve finally gotten the family you’ve always wanted. Congrats xo
The ticks didn’t immediately turn blue, and I shoved my cell in my briefcase to handle that later.
We’d been friends for a long time, but Scott had been the one to say hurtful things, to be purposely antagonistic.
If that was the first move, it wasn’t on Craig to make it. It was on Scott.
I decided that I’d reconsider the situation if Scott got in touch. If he didn’t, then the ball was in his court.
With that settled, I felt somewhat better, and I decided to watch the traffic for the rest of the journey to the warehouse off the docks where O’Donnelly wanted to meet rather than spend it working.
I’d been doing that nonstop and I needed a break.
The car pulled up outside the building five minutes early, and as I stepped out, Rex was there, moving into my space, his lips brushing mine in a greeting.
“You waited for me? How sweet,” I teased, despite the fact that I loved this side of him.
The side that held my hand in public, who saw no shame in kissing me, and who sent me private grins as if we were in our own bubble that the rest of the world couldn’t invade.
I knew he’d have been like this from the start, and I meant from way back when. I’d been the one to shove distance between us. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate it now. If anything, the distance of before made me enjoy it all the more.
He grabbed my hand and told me, “Not about to let you walk into that snake pit by yourself.”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s not going to hurt us.”
“You’ve heard the rumors about the man as much as I have.”
“We’re allies.”
“And getting Nyx arrested is how he treats his allies,” was Rex’s rejoinder.
“If you’re going to have a shitty attitude with him,” I remarked easily, “then you need to leave the talking to me.”
His jaw clenched. “I’ll let you take point—”
My brows rose. “You will?”
“Yes. But if you don’t corral him, I’ll take over.”
He made O’Donnelly sound like a stallion with a mare in heat in the paddock next to him.
Refraining from rolling my eyes for the second time in as many minutes, I merely said, “Leave it with me.”
He dipped his chin then called out, “Nyx? Harlow? We’re going in.”
“You brought Harlow?”
“Figured O’Donnelly would want to meet him. You think I should have left him in Jersey?”
“No. On the contrary. I think it’s a smart move. I’m just surprised you brought him.”
He grunted in reply, and Harlow and Nyx shouldered us as we stepped toward the outer gates of the warehouse.
Guards approached, armed with submachine guns—like we were in downtown Ciudad Juárez, for God’s sake—but after Rex introduced us all, they guided us in without much fanfare.
Ten minutes later, after wandering what seemed to be the entire goddamn length of the warehouse, we were led into a room.
Unlike the rest of the place that was industrial in nature, this was an office, clad with rich wooden paneling that made the room warmer.
There was a grand mahogany desk in here, as well as a board table of sorts, a large dresser loaded with photo frames, antique filing cabinets, as well as a seating area set before a fireplace.
O’Donnelly was behind his desk as he said, “Take a seat at the table.”
Harlow and Nyx shuffled out from beside us, Rex did as well, tugging me along, but not before I greeted O’Donnelly with a nod.
He returned the nod as he got to his feet but he pressed a hand to the desk as if it were for support. His fingers, however, trembled, and he stumbled before he righted himself.
Quickly glancing away so he didn’t realize I’d witnessed the show of weakness, I settled myself at the board table and waited for him to join us.
“There’s coffee if you want it,” O’Donnelly said as he shuffled toward the head of the table and took a seat. The relief on his face to be sitting, noticeable only because I was watching him, made me wonder if he had mobility issues.
“Thank you,” I said pleasantly, straightening to drag the tray over toward me. “I’ll play hostess, shall I?”
Nyx released the softest snort, and Rex cleared his throat.
Both of them knew I was the last person to play ‘hostess.’ O’Donnelly didn’t need to know that though.
He smiled at me and said, “I take it black.”
Nodding, I served us all coffee even though I wouldn’t be drinking mine and, when the pleasantries were done, waited for him to take a sip before I said, “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Mr. O’Donnelly.”
“Aidan, please. This isn’t our first meeting.”
“No.” My lips twitched. “I have to say, you managed to rile up the clubhouse with your actions, Aidan.”
“I like to keep people on their toes,” he concurred, a gleam in his eyes as he slouched back in his chair. “Not that that was my intention here.”
“No? We’re supposed to be allies, O’Donnelly,” Rex growled. “Getting my men arrested isn’t what I consider friendly behavior.”
I dropped my hand to his lap and dug my nails into his thigh. I knew it wouldn’t hurt but it served as a silent warning for him to shut the fuck up.
“I wasn’t dealing with Nyx as a Sinner. I was dealing with Nyx as a man.”
“It’s not as if they’re separate entities.” I frowned. “Do you allow your Five Pointers so little autonomy over themselves?”
“Depends. I give them leeway with certain matters. Family ones, for instance.” Aidan shot Nyx a look. “Took your man long enough to agree to meet with me. I knew he’d stay dormant if I didn’t push things.” He glanced at Harlow. “Who’s the boy?”
“He’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Aidan straightened up in his seat. “Introduce yourself, boy.”
“My name’s Harlow Dresden.”
Frowning, Aidan studied him. “Not wearing a cut, but still close enough to the MC that they trust you to be here… Curious. What’s your story, Harlow?”
“My baby sister was kidnapped by a pedophile. He did… wicked things to her. The worst.” His throat bobbed. “Then he killed her. He didn’t go to prison—”
Aidan slammed his hand down against the table. “Jessie Dresden. Haune was one of your kills, wasn’t he, Nyx?”
Nyx grunted. “He was.”
“I remembered reading about the Dresdens. One of the girl’s siblings was in the seminary if I remember right.”
Harlow tipped up his chin. “My calling abandoned me in the aftermath of Jessie’s death.”
“Faith can be lost and found in the most random of circumstances.” Aidan’s lips pursed.
“It’s a sorry bunch sitting around this table.
Aside from the lawyer and your President, of course, we’ve all failed to defend someone who matters to us.
Someone who should have remained innocent but who was defiled.
“This isn’t business between a Five Pointer and a Satan’s Sinner. This goes deeper—”