Chapter 47
ALEX
“Mind telling me why you sent a clueless guy loaded with money my way?” Jason asks over the phone.
“He’s not clueless,” I argue.
“Okay, he’s not clueless, but he needs a lot more guidance than I want to give him,” he explains. “Why is he here?”
“I told you earlier. His family turned on him.”
“He was doing blow,” he claims.
“No, he was with other guys who were doing blow,” I correct him. “Look, the guy is clean. He seems to have a vision and needs a family.”
He grunts. “Great, we’re picking up another stray.”
“Well, he needs to get out of here. I think if his other friends leave Seattle, it is best if they all go to Colorado. That way, Hannah won’t follow them to New York, Texas, or wherever the fuck they think is far enough from Seattle.”
Jason clears his throat. “Okay, sounds like we might have more Alex if I do this.”
“How bad can this be?”
“Famous last words,” he says.
After I hang up the phone, June calls. It’s like they’re taking turns. Where is Hannah? She said she’d be ready soon and soon isn’t happening yet. Instead of sending my sister to voicemail, I answer to kill some time.
“Hey, you need to tell your people that I don’t work for you,” she states. “You fired me.”
I chuckle. “Hello to you, too. Which people are you talking about?”
She clears her throat. “Let’s cut to the chase. There’s some award ceremony next week. They want to honor you. I’m sending you all the information,” she states.
“Not sure if I’ll do it,” I tell her, she growls.
“Did you listen to the part where I said they’re honoring Alexander Spearman?”
I let out a loud exhale. “Fine, I’ll look into it. Happy?”
“What’s going on with Hannah?” She cuts to the chase.
“It’s safe to say that we’re dating, and we signed a peace treaty,” I answer calmly. “Not sure where this is going, but we’re getting to know each other.”
“Now can you give me the non-bullshit version?”
I laugh. “It’s the only version you’re getting, June.”
“Alex, I love you,” she says. “But if you fuck this up and I lose my friend, I swear, I’m going to kill you.”
“You have too little faith in me.”
“I know you too well, Alexander Spearman. She’s the flavor of the month, but what’s going to happen when you can’t go beyond and give her everything she deserves?”
“Well, then it’s over,” I answer sarcastically. “If you know me so well, then you know I’ll just leave her when I’m done with her.”
I hear someone clearing his throat; when I turn around, Kaden Hades is glaring at me. Fucking hell. I hate my sister.
“You’re an asshole,” June says and hangs up on me.
“You seem like a smart guy,” Kaden starts. “Do you have kids?”
I shake my head.
“Of course not, you’re what thirty-five, thirty-six? Still playing the field,” he states.
I stare at him, unable to speak. I swear he’s going to fucking kill me.
“You have sisters, right?”
I nod once.
“What would you do if you heard the guy who’s dating one of your sisters say that fucking shit?”
“Sir, it’s a misunderstanding,” I defend myself.
He shakes his finger as if saying no. “I heard you pretty well. You’re going to leave Hannah when you’re done. I had my reservations about you. My kid has gone through a lot. Her mother, that asshole that I wish I had…” he sighs, his hands turning into fists.
“Just leave.”
“You have children,” I say. “I’m sure they get along for the most part, but there are times when they fight. Others when they lie to each other because it’s for the best. This was the case.”
“Why would you say that to your sister?”
“Because Hannah doesn’t want to tell everyone about us yet,” I explain. “It’s new, she still has doubts, and I’m giving her the space she needs. My sister is pushy, if I tell her more…”
How do I explain to him that I don’t want to lose his daughter?
“You’re protecting Hannah?”
“More like giving her space,” I clarify.
“What are your intentions?”
Normally, I’d say something like we’re just getting to know each other. In this case, I can’t say that because this guy looks like he wants to destroy me.
“I intend to be with her forever,” I respond. “There’s no pressure because she has to come to terms with what we are on her own. Pushing her won’t help either one of us.”
He looks at me and nods. “Be careful with her heart. When she loves, she gives it all.”
“I’m trying my best,” I say, because I can’t tell Kaden that it’s more likely for Hannah to hurt me than the other way around.
Well, fuck.
The perfect date is done before it even began.
I can feel it in my bones as everyone in the Hades family begs Hannah to stay for dinner. No, people, I have dinner reservations and the presidential suite at the Four Seasons. Which I had hoped I would use for more than a shower.
How do I tell them no when I’m trying to impress them?
“Please, Hanny,” Aubrey, Hannah’s younger sister, begs her to stay for dinner and have a slumber party with her.
No, she’s coming with me.
There’s no use thinking of all the things we could do when it’s evident that this is a battle I’m going to lose.
“We haven’t seen you in so long.” Her brother Grady stands next to Hannah.
She looks up to him and says, “You need to stop growing, kid.”
Now I understand why she complains about her height. She’s the smallest of her siblings. The three younger ones are a bunch of teenagers, and she’s so tiny compared to them that she looks almost their age.
Hannah turns to look at me, I shrug.
“The rooms are ready for you,” Hannah’s mom adds and then says, “We can bake cookies afterwards.”
That moment is when I know it’s over. We’re staying. They used her favorite C-word.
“Okay, let me change,” she says.
I follow right behind her and close the door once we’re both inside a room.
“Sorry,” she apologizes, looking through her luggage.
“There was a plan,” I say. “Dinner, wine, cookies…”
“They said the C-word before you.”
I grab her hand. “What about Alex’s cock? That’s a C-word you like.”
She smiles mischievously. “Are we even ready for that?” She warns me. “Maybe when we get home?”
“Next week, there’s an awards ceremony,” I offer. “Apparently, they sent the invitation a month ago, but I never saw it. June RSVPed for us.”
“Us?”
I nod. “Can you come with me, please?”
She sets her sweatshirt on the luggage and crosses her arms. “I don’t like those events.”
“Me neither,” I say, hoping she’ll take pity on me. “This is the first time I’ll be going to one of these since the accident. I’m the guest of honor, I can’t skip it. Please, come with me.”
I can see her nostrils flare a little, and her face turns red.
“You don’t have to come,” I offer calmly. I’d lie if I say I wasn’t disappointed.
She shakes her head. “Sorry, bad memories.”
“I’d never push you to do something you don’t like, Hannah. Hard limits aren’t just for sex. If this is something you can’t do, I respect it.”
Her lips part in surprise. She studies me for a long moment. Then she nods. “It’s a compromise. You came all the way here to support me. I’m going—for you.”
I smile and reach for her hand. “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”
There’s a bang on the door. “No kissing in the room.”
“Oh my God, Kieran!” Hannah complains, then she changes her clothes quickly and jets out of the room. “Mom, tell Kieran to leave me alone.”