Chapter 8 #2
“You’re being Chase.” Sterling turns to me with an apologetic smile.
“Sorry. He’s like a puppy. Lots of enthusiasm, no impulse control.
” He glances past me into my house, and I watch as his eyes catalog everything from the reinforced door that’s not typical in a residential property to the windows and the locks.
“Nice setup. The door is an interesting addition, and…” he squints. “How many deadbolts do you have?”
“Sterling,” Grant says sharply. “Not now.”
“What? I’m just saying it’s a good system. Though you’ve got some blind spots in the back corner by the—”
“Sterling.” Valen’s voice is firm, but he’s more relaxed with his family around. “She doesn’t need a security audit right now.”
Sterling blinks, looks at me, and seems to realize he’s done something wrong. “Right. Sorry. Tech brain. I just…notice things.”
“It’s fine,” I lie, even as my heart races. “Would anyone like some coffee or tea?” I ask, desperate to put some space between us.
“God, yes,” Sterling says. “I’ve been in a car with Chase’s playlist for six hours. I need caffeine and silence.”
“My playlist is excellent—”
“Your playlist is auditory chaos.”
“That’s rich coming from the guy who listens to podcasts about unsolved murders to relax,” Chase says.
“That’s research—”
“For what?” Chase chuckles. “How to be more basic?”
Grant catches my eye and flashes a wink that’s part apology, part amusement. “They’re always like this. You’ll get used to it.”
“Do you?” I ask.
“No,” Roman says. “But you do learn to tune them out.”
Despite my wish to escape, they all follow me into my kitchen, which suddenly feels very small with five tall men, Chief, and a hundred-pound dog who might be humping Chase’s leg.
Sterling gravitates toward my coffee maker as if it’s the most interesting thing in the room.
Chase drops to a knee and tries to cajole Wrecks into giving him a high five.
Roman and Valen have a private conversation in the corner, while Grant leans against my counter, watching everything with the ease of someone who’s used to wrangling cats.
“So,” Grant says, pulling out his phone. “Grey texted me. Savvy’s awake?”
I nearly drop the coffee pot. “He texted you?”
“Styx and Stone Security is Valen and Roman’s baby, but we learned early on that we work better as a team.
The hive mind, so to speak.” His smile tells me he means every word.
“Anyway, my team’s been helping Roman and Grey coordinate security protocols, updates, that sort of thing while Valen is here. ” He looks up. “Are you okay?”
Styx and Stone Security. He named his company after us.
Valen is across the room in two strides. He doesn’t touch me—not quite—but he’s close enough that I can feel his body heat against my back. Close enough that if I leaned in an inch, I’d be pressed against his chest.
My entire body wants to take that inch.
“No, it’s… I’m still processing. Yes, Savvy’s awake. They’re still running tests, but they think she’ll make a full recovery. I’m just…surprised, I guess. It seems our families just keep mingling.”
The kitchen is silent, almost as if they’re giving my brain time to catch up with reality.
“That’s great news,” Grant says softly. “You must all be so relieved.”
“He sounded like he could finally breathe again.” I pour coffee, proud of myself for not spilling it all over the counter. “She’s ready for more visitors this afternoon. Just for a few minutes though. Grey might lose his mind if she’s pushed too hard, too fast.”
“I’ll take you,” Valen says. “If you want to go.”
“I do.” I don’t mean to shout at him, but I’m desperate to see my friend. Valen has been a distraction these last few weeks, but fear for Savvy has taken up a good chunk of my heart.
“Then we’ll go.” He says it as though we’re predetermined.
Chase makes a sound that might be “aww,” but covers it with a cough.
Sterling doesn’t even attempt to hide his smile. “Valen’s got a—”
“Finish that sentence, and you’ll head home in a body bag,” Valen warns.
“I was going to say you have a very caring disposition,” Sterling says, the words dripping with feigned innocence.
“No. You weren’t.” Valen’s pointing a finger at him like a schoolteacher.
“You’re right. I was going to say you’re shipping her hard, even if you don’t remember the why or how yet.”
Grant throws a dishtowel at Sterling’s head. “Read the room, dipshit.”
“Shipping?” Chase laughs so hard he clutches his belly. “Look at you using popular slang. Outdated, but better than some of the other things you say.”
I almost feel bad for Sterling, until he breaks into a wide grin, and I realize the awkward tech genius has a mischievous streak that might rival Chase’s.
“Anyway,” Grant says smoothly, steering the conversation like a practiced diplomat. “We’ve rented an Airbnb, but we wanted to stop by, meet Clover, and—” His serene expression turns serious. “Talk about the situation.”
The temperature in the room drops ten degrees.
“Later,” Valen says. “Not now.”
“Valen—”
“She’s still processing information about her friend.” Valen is adamant, and Grant lifts his hands, palms out. “Can we have one hour before we talk about threats?”
Grant studies him for a long moment, then nods. “You’re right.” There’s so much love in his expression, I almost feel guilty for witnessing it. But unfamiliar longing settles in my stomach.
Valen used to look at me exactly the same way.
“Thank you,” Valen says.
“But we are talking about it. All of us. Because Roman filled me in, and Valen?” Grant has mastered the dad-voice. Has he always played the adult among his brothers? “We’re not leaving until we cut the head off this thing… Whatever it ends up being.”
Something passes between them. Some understanding I’m not part of.
“I know,” Valen says with so much resignation I almost reach for him.
Instead, I busy myself with the coffee pot and focus on seeing Savvy.