16. Frankie
16
FRANKIE
O h, God.
My heart sank as I stepped into my rental house.
My once cute little home was a mess.
Furniture was tipped over, and things were scattered and broken. The boxes I hadn’t gotten to yet were unpacked now…all over the floor. My gut was heavy as I picked up a glass figurine. It had once been a cute monkey. It had been a gift from Jack. He called me monkey, and I pretended to hate it, but I secretly loved it.
I set the broken monkey on the shelf. I picked up other things, fighting back sadness and anger.
“You okay?”
I glanced at Reath. “No. I hadn’t finished unpacking, but this place was already becoming my little sanctuary. Now it’s been invaded and desecrated.” I spun and put my hands on my hips. “I want another go at that asshole.”
“I have a team coming to clean up.”
I arched a brow. “You have a lot of men who jump when you order.”
“I own a security company. It’s my job.”
I wandered through the room a bit more, unable to focus on any one thing. I spotted something glinting on the floor, and with a gasp, I snatched it up.
It wasn’t broken. I clasped the pin to my chest.
“What’s that?” Reath asked.
I held up the small enamel pin. It was a winking monkey in a lab coat.
He raised an eyebrow.
“It’s from Jack. He calls me monkey. I usually wear it on my lab coat.” I slipped it into my pocket. “It’s my lucky pin.”
“I’m glad it’s not damaged. Now, go and pack a bag. Clothes, makeup, whatever stuff you need.”
With a nod, I headed for the bedroom. It was even worse than in the living room. I pressed my palms to my cheeks and took a few deep breaths. The mess continued and the mattress was askew on my bed. All my clothes had been manhandled, and I hated it.
I found a bag and grabbed some clothes from my closet. Nothing was hanging neatly anymore. I folded things and stuck them in the bag.
I really wanted to hit someone. My hands were shaking.
“Hey.” Warm hands closed over mine. “You’re going to be all right.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
He tipped my chin up. “You’ve got me on your side. I won’t quit until the people behind this are stopped.”
The warmth of his body seeped into mine. I knew I shouldn’t trust this. Attraction petered out, men moved onto shinier offerings. One day, Reath would be gone. I couldn’t get used to having him around.
Then his words registered. “People? There’s more than one?”
Something dark and dangerous moved through his eyes.
He hid it well—under the good looks and nice manners—but Reath Fury was dangerous.
“Reath?”
He cupped my cheeks. “I don’t know anything solid yet. Once I do, I’ll share.”
I blew out a loud breath. “Promise?” Because Jack was the king of never sharing anything.
“Yes. And I always keep my promises.”
“I know. Jack’s told me that.”
Reath nodded. “Finish packing your clothes.”
I transferred some more things to the bag, and grabbed some underwear from the drawer. Reath came closer, and when I turned, I bumped into him.
I dropped a pair of panties, and they fell on his boot.
They were blue lace, and there wasn’t much to them. I’d rarely worn them. They were so sexy, and I didn’t have much of a reason to wear sexy.
He crouched and my heart thumped. He lifted the panties, his thumb rubbing the fabric. “What are these?”
“Panties.”
“These are not panties.” He ran his finger along the gap down the back, which was mostly closed by strategically placed bows. They weren’t crotchless, but, um, they offered easy access.
He met my gaze, and I saw the heat. He reached past me and put the panties in my bag.
“Anything else you need?” he asked silkily.
“Toiletries.” I hurried into my cute little bathroom, ignoring the cracked mirror and torn shower curtain, and shoved some things in my toiletry case. I also grabbed my flat iron. I dumped everything in the overnight bag. “I’m ready.”
He locked up the house and as we left, I felt sad.
My dream of a new start in New Orleans was not working out the way I’d hoped.
As Reath drove us back to his warehouse, we went past Wildfire. I couldn’t help but remember the night we’d first met. He parked in his garage.
“Leave your bag, I’ll get it later.”
“Where are we going?”
“Lunch.”
I’d completely forgotten about lunch, but I was curious to meet his brothers. I had to admit I was fascinated by these men who’d formed their own family by choice.
But I was a little nervous, as well.
Reath took my hand and led me to an adjoining warehouse. He entered a code into the lock on the door and led me upstairs.
It was decorated completely differently from his place. Reath’s place was clearly a bachelor pad. This was a family home. It was light and airy, with lots of potted plants.
“This is sort of a hub for us,” Reath said. “We all eat here a few times a week. Colt and Macy’s place adjoins this one, so it’s easy for Daisy to come back and forth when Lola’s looking after her.”
Ahead, I heard the hubbub of voices—deeper masculine tones, punctuated by higher-pitched feminine voices, as well as some childish giggles.
We stepped inside the main living area.
A big, tattooed man—who by the muscles on display by his rolled up sleeves I guessed was Beau, who owned the gym—was tickling a pretty, young girl he was holding upside down. She was the one giggling. She looked happy and secure, certain he wouldn’t drop her.
Suddenly, all heads turned our way.
Mila smiled. “You both made it.”
Reath put his hand on my lower back and urged me forward.
All his brothers were staring at me.
Well, into the lion’s den…