Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Dominic
“ U ncle Dom.”
Quinn’s whisper creeps through the fog of sleep, and I groan, pulling a pillow over my head. “Not now, princess. ’m sleeping.”
A large hand grabs my thigh over the blanket and gives me a shake. “Rise and shine. You’re needed in the kitchen.”
Dragging in a deep breath, I toss the pillow aside and sit up. I run a hand over my face, my morning stubble scraping my palm.
Through my fingers, I squint at Blake and Quinn, who stand next to my bed with no plan to let me go back to sleep. “What’s going on?”
“Aunt Chloe got a laptop and now everyone’s upset,” Quinn volunteers, her bottom lip trembling. “But I was happy about my coloring book and crayons. Is that okay?”
“Of course it is.” Blake smoothes a hand over his niece’s head. “Now that Uncle Dom is up, why don’t you let Sprinkles out? He can stay with you today.”
That makes her brighten, and she dashes out of my room.
Exhaustion clings to my limbs like a weighted blanket, tempting me to sink back into the mattress. Instead, I rake my black hair back from my face to stare at my bondmate, not altogether happy with him and annoyed with myself for my jealousy. “Explain.”
“Louie sent Chloe a package, and it upset her,” he says. “But she’s trying not to let it show.”
Fury sweeps through me, followed by depression. “So, why are you waking me up? It’s not like my being there will bring her any comfort.”
His beard twitches with annoyance. “Are you having a pity party right now?”
“Yes.” I grab for my pillow again, flopping onto my back. “You and Nathaniel were messing with the bond until two in the morning, and I was counting on having the morning alone to process everything before facing everyone. But thank you for discounting my pain.”
His expression softens, and he sits on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry. If we could have blocked you from it, we would have.”
I stiffen. “I don’t want to be blocked from our bond. And I’m happy for everyone else that things are progressing with Chloe. But that doesn’t mean it leaves me unaffected. Just leave. I’ll meet you downstairs in a minute.”
“Got it.” Blake stands and heads out the door, closing it behind him.
With a sigh, I toss back the blanket and swing my legs over the edge of the bed, the hardwood floor cool beneath my bare feet as I force myself to stand.
I make quick use of my bathroom, don’t bother with my hair, and tug on a hoodie before heading out of the family side of the Homestead. My fingers brush the stair railing as I stumble downstairs. The voices of my bondmates drift from the kitchen, growing clearer as I near.
I push open the door and pause on the threshold, watching them for a stolen moment.
Blake hovers over Quinn while the little girl gives Sprinkles treats for tricks, Nathaniel helps Chloe assemble breakfast sandwiches, and Holden cleans up. They look like a family, and the ache in my chest expands, a yawning chasm of what they have while I stand on the outside.
Unable to resist, my focus returns to Chloe, where she stands at the island, her pink hair tumbling over her shoulders in tousled waves. She wears the same outfit from last night, the soft sweater clinging to her curves in a way that makes my fingers itch to touch.
When she beams up at Nathaniel, it steals my breath—wide and genuine, crinkling the corners of her eyes. It’s an expression I once knew intimately, one I’d draw from her with whispered jokes and stolen kisses.
Now, I’m an outsider, lingering on the edges as she shares that warmth with my bondmates. Even Kyle, casually munching on a chocolate muffin from the sideboard, seems to belong more than I do.
Chloe’s head lifts, catching me watching, and electricity arcs between us, a live wire connection that time and distance have done nothing to diminish. I’m drawn to her, a moth to a flame, craving the burn of her touch.
Then her gaze drops, taking away the moment of warmth. “Good morning, Dom.”
I swallow hard and come the rest of the way inside. “Morning.”
The laptop on the island draws me over, and I lift it, inspecting the slender device. It appears new, and when I tip up the box it arrived in, a charger slides out.
Why would Louie send a laptop? Is it a warning? A twisted olive branch? What’s the point?
I read the letter that came with it, and I clench my teeth. “I’m not sure a lawyer will take this as a threat, but I can at least have it on file.”
“Oh, I don’t think we need to go that far.” Chloe fiddles with the collar of her shirt, something she’s done a lot since coming back from the hospital.
She’s been doing that a lot since she returned, and I remember that she used to wear a necklace. Did Louie take it from her? Does she miss it?
My hand drifts to my pocket, wanting to check her social media for a picture, before I remember I left my phone upstairs.
Then her words register in my exhausted mind, and I frown. “We’re not moving forward with a restraining order?”
Chloe’s brow furrows. “No, I thought we already agreed that would be pointless.”
I rub my aching temple. “It would at least log a complaint in the legal system if something happens, so we could prove past behavior.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to give him another reason to be mad.”
My hand drops to my side, irritation sharpening my tone. “Then why was I dragged out of bed?”
Surprise widens Chloe’s pink eyes, before she turns toward Blake for an answer.
“Holden’s going to dig through the laptop to see if any spyware was installed on it.” Blake takes the bag of treats from Quinn. “And Nathaniel and I need to head down to the job site.”
Which means someone needs to be available to watch Quinn. “Understood. You guys can head out.”
I head over to the coffee pot, only to find it empty. Irritation buzzes beneath my skin, and I spill coffee grounds onto the floor as I empty the basket into the compost bin.
Cursing under my breath, I grab the sponge to clean up the mess.
Booted footsteps thud on the tiled floor, and Blake crouches next to me, silently waiting.
I glare at him through the spill of my hair. “If you wanted a babysitter, you should have just said so. There was no reason to make it sound like Chloe needed me.”
A comforting purr comes to life in his chest, and he leans closer.
“Don’t.” I lurch to my feet and throw the sponge into the sink. “Stop trying to placate me and head down to the job site. You have a list of shit to fix so construction can resume.”
With a heavy sigh, he gives me the space I ask for and meets up with Nathaniel. Their quiet goodbyes with Chloe are like hot pokers under my skin. I busy myself finishing the prep on the coffee pot and slide a mug onto the hot plate instead of the carafe, needing a quick caffeine boost.
When I look up, I find Holden’s sad gaze on me. “Sorry, I gave what was left to Kyle and didn’t expect you to be up before noon.”
“It’s fine.” I return my attention to the machine as it gurgles, and a thin, dark-brown stream pours out. “I’m a big boy capable of brewing my own coffee.”
The carton of cream settles on the counter next to me. “I assume you still like your first cup more milk than coffee?”
Surprised, I shift to find Chloe standing next to me. She offers a hesitant smile, and simple as that, all of my irritation vanishes.
“Yeah.” Her lilac and lily scent wraps around me like a whisper of the past, and I inhale deeply, letting it sink into my bones. “That hasn’t changed.”
“How are you doing?” I swap my mug for the glass carafe when my cup fills halfway. “Did receiving the laptop shake you up?”
“A little.” She opens the cream and pours it into my mug, turning my coffee pale brown. “Okay, that’s a lie. I’m disturbed knowing he read what I was writing. But I’m also glad to have the story back. It helped me…stay sane.”
“I’m sorry he’s still messing with you,” I whisper. “You deserve only happiness in your life.”
Chloe fiddles with her collar again, and her eyes lift to meet mine. Fear shines in their quartz depths, and worry etches her face. But beneath that fear, I see something else that sends a spark of warmth through my veins. A flicker of the connection that once burned between us.
I clear my throat, breaking the moment before I do something stupid. “Would you like to sit out on the front porch and have breakfast? Some fresh air might help.”
Chloe’s attention shifts to the laptop, a shadow passing over her delicate features before she looks away. “Sure, let me just grab?—”
“Here you are.” Holden extends a plate loaded with breakfast sandwiches in one hand and a mug of coffee, which must belong to Chloe, in the other.
“Thank you.” She accepts both, then raises her voice. “Quinn, bring Sprinkles out front?”
“Sure!” The little girl turns to the massive dog. “Walkies?”
Sprinkles prances in place, his tail wagging.
“Race you to the door!” She takes off.
“No running in the kitchen!” I yell, but they’re both already gone, the two-way door swinging behind them.
A soft giggle escapes Chloe, and when I turn back to her, she blushes a faint, rosy pink.
I give her a mock-frown. “We will leave like adults?—”
Before I can finish speaking, she darts after Quinn and our dog, breakfast balanced in her small hands.
A laugh escapes me. I really should have expected that.
Holden gives me a nudge. “Well? What are you waiting for?”
Absolutely nothing. Taking a large gulp of my coffee so I don’t spill any, I take off after her.