Chapter 6 Ronan #2
“And Oliver,” I added, sliding into one of the dining chairs.
Greyson leaned against the sideboard, arms still folded, watching the captives with calm interest. “Running late,” he mused.
“Shocking,” Wes muttered.
Lane had wandered closer to the table now, curiosity getting the better of him. He peered down at the accountants with open fascination, though he kept a polite distance.
“Oh, they look terrified,” he cooed.
“That’s because they are,” I said.
“What did they do?” Lane asked, knowing the unofficial code I’d started living by. I refused to be to others what Elias had been to me.
“You’ll know soon,” I told him. “I don’t want to start until everyone is here.”
Lane nodded and walked around the table, slipping into the seat to my left. He saw the tray of snacks and looked at me pointedly, to which I grinned and pushed it closer to him.
Josh, meanwhile, had not moved from the doorway.
He was staring at the bound men with growing concern, his brow furrowing deeper by the second.
“Ronan,” he said carefully, “what exactly are you planning to do?”
I waved a hand dismissively as I watched Lane pick up cheese slice after cheese slice with a contented look set on his face. “Nothing too terrible.”
That was technically true.
Although “too terrible” to me was more than likely a far cry from what I imagined his interpretation to be.
Dorian had moved to stand behind Josh, one hand resting lazily on the back of his neck. The touch looked possessive but gentle, his fingers absentmindedly scratching the short hair there while he continued observing the room.
Josh was too focused on the accountants to be affected by what seemed likely to be Dorian’s go-to way to calm him down. “Does Oliver know about this?” he asked, his voice hesitant.
“No. I wanted my party games to be a surprise,” I answered.
Josh grimaced. “Because he really hates watching stuff like this.”
“I think it depends.”
“That’s not—”
“Relax,” I cut in. “It’ll be fine.”
Josh looked unconvinced. “He’ll get upset,” he insisted. “Like, actually upset.”
Dorian’s hand tightened slightly in Josh’s hair. “He’ll be fine,” Dorian said quietly.
Josh glanced back at him. “You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
Dorian’s mouth twitched. “You’ll just have to see.”
Lane made a soft noise of agreement. “Hayes and Hudson will handle it. Plus, if you two do end up too uncomfortable, you can just hang out in another spot in the house.”
Josh blinked between them, clearly unsure how that was supposed to be reassuring.
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table.
“Listen,” I said gently. “Tonight is about bonding. No one has to do anything they don’t want to.” I continued cheerfully, “Participation is completely optional.”
Across from me, one of the accountants began shaking his head violently.
Lane covered a small laugh with his hand.
“Not for them. Obviously,” I added.
Josh looked like he was reconsidering every life choice that had brought him into this house.
Outside, headlights suddenly cut through the trees again.
I perked up immediately. “Looks like we’ll be able to get started soon.”
A black SUV tore up the gravel drive a little faster than necessary before the vehicle braked sharply near Greyson’s car.
The driver’s door swung open, and Hayes stepped out.
Even from this distance, there was no mistaking the twins.
Tall—easily the tallest in the family—with swimmer’s builds that made them look sleek rather than bulky.
Hayes was dressed like he usually was—tight black jeans, a dark top that hugged his torso, with boots that crunched softly against the gravel as he walked around the front of the car.
The passenger door opened next.
And there he was.
Oliver climbed out, so small compared to the rest of them, barely reaching Hayes’s shoulder when he stepped around the door.
His curly brown hair bounced a little with the movement, unruly as always.
He wore an oversized cardigan that looked about three sizes too big, loose pants, and comfortable sneakers.
Exactly the opposite of his husbands.
He stretched his arms above his head with a yawn that drew attention to the heavy collar around his neck.
The back door opened last.
Hudson unfolded himself from the seat, long limbs and identical blond hair making him look like Hayes’s reflection as he stepped onto the gravel.
Hayes glanced at Oliver.
Oliver said something we couldn’t hear through the glass.
Hudson laughed.
Then Oliver happily took a few steps ahead of them up the drive.
The front door opened downstairs.
Footsteps followed—three distinct sets, one light and quick, two slow and unhurried.
A moment later, the trio appeared in the doorway.
Hayes stepped in first, Hudson behind him—
—and Oliver immediately stopped.
His gaze landed on the dining table.
Specifically, the two men duct-taped to chairs.
The room went quiet for a second, waiting for his reaction.
Oliver lifted a brow, and that was it.
I smugly smirked over at Josh.
Hudson’s grin spread slowly across his face. “Ooh.”
Hayes followed his gaze, then exchanged a look with his twin full of wicked excitement.
Hayes smiled widely, putting a hand on Oliver’s back to guide him into the room.
Oliver went willingly, though he kept glancing at the accountants with a faint crease between his brows.
He didn’t look scared.
Just… a little unhappy.
As soon as they reached the table, Oliver quietly slipped down to sit on the floor between Hayes and Hudson’s chairs, folding his legs beneath him like it was the most comfortable place in the world.
They both reached down immediately, petting Oliver’s head like it was a completely normal thing to do.
Only then did the twins turn their attention fully to the captives.
Hudson leaned forward in his chair. “Well,” he said, clearly amused. “This is a treat.”
Wesley grunted in disdain, but finally lowered himself into the chair to my right, slinging his arm over the back of my seat.