Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Comfortable chatter filled the room as Knox stepped into the bullpen.
His gaze landed first on Roman Incardona, who stood with his hip propped on the corner of Miles’s desk, arms crossed over his chest. Colorful tattoos decorated every inch of his skin from his wrists to shoulders.
He probably looked intimidating to people who didn’t know him.
Knox lifted his chin. “How's it going?”
“Good.”
Knox nodded. “How’s Irina doing?”
Ink tipped his head, his mouth quirking in a grimace. “Not bad. Still having the occasional nightmare, but they’re getting better.”
Ink had been hired to work detail for singer Rina Sterling—Irina to those who knew her—after she’d received increasingly disturbing letters from an unknown source. When he offered to marry Irina and take her off the market to throw the stalker off her trail, Knox was more than a little concerned.
Their honeymoon had taken a terrifying turn when Irina was kidnapped.
Thank God, Roman and the police had managed to rescue her and apprehend the assailant before she was hurt too badly.
Both Roman and Irina had ended up spending a couple of days in the hospital down there, but the damage seemed to be more emotional than anything.
Roman figured it would take them both some time to fully recover.
Though Knox had his doubts about the pop star at first, he knew she was crazy about Roman, and he worshipped the ground she walked on.
It seemed like things were finally working out for them, and he was glad.
For the past couple of months, Roman had transitioned to teaching self-defense courses in the upstairs gym area.
He was able to block appointments so he could spend time with Irina between her recording sessions and tour stops.
“You should bring her out one of these nights,” Mason said. “I know Vivi really liked her, and it would probably do her good to get out a little bit. We can grab some drinks, hang out.”
“I'll ask,” Roman said as he settled on the couch along the back wall. “I appreciate it.”
Jaxon stood and moved over to join them. “Adalyn mentioned wanting to meet up with Hannah and Audrey again the other night.”
Mason nodded. “Bring her, too.”
Jaxon grinned. “She won't be drinking for the next few months though.”
It took a second for his words to sink in, and Knox started. Jaxon looked ecstatic, and it was almost hard to reconcile him with the man who’d shown up just a couple of months ago, furious that his wife had kept their first baby, Jaclyn, a secret from him.
Before Knox could say anything, Aiden chimed in.
“Adalyn is pregnant?”
“Yep.” Jaxon grinned.
“That’s awesome,” Aiden congratulated him. “At least I won’t be the only one drowning in pregnancy hormones for the next few months.”
Mason’s twin brother, Miles, shuddered visibly. “There must be something in the water around here. Don’t drink it.”
“No kidding,” Knox murmured.
It didn't look like the guys minded, though. They all looked incredibly happy, and agony sliced straight through him. Everleigh immediately came to mind, and he thought of what could've been. Had things worked out, their son or daughter would've been a teenager now.
But that baby would never come to pass. He swallowed down the lump in his throat and shoved the pain down deep.
“Those things happen in threes, ya know,” Roman said as he looked around the room. “Who's next?”
“Don’t jinx me.” Miles crossed himself.
Mason shook his head, a tiny smile playing at the corners of his lips, and Jaxon laughed. “It's not so bad. It was strange finding out I’m gonna be a dad, but now…” He gave a little shake of his head. “I can’t imagine life without either one of them.”
Miles didn't look convinced. “I'll leave that up to you guys.” He turned to Knox. “How ‘bout you? Ready to be an uncle?”
Knox fixed a stare on him. “I will kill you where you stand and feel zero remorse.”
Miles just laughed and threw himself into his chair. Mason’s eyes flicked to Knox, lingering a little longer than he was comfortable with.
Was it because of Miles’s remark? It was no secret that Knox had been hard on them when he first found out Mason and Vivi were dating.
Knox tried his best not to think about it, and for the most part it was water under the bridge.
This look seemed more penetrating, like he was trying to read Knox’s mind somehow.
Did Mason know about him and Everleigh? Could he see it on his face?
The way Mason stared at him was unsettling, and Knox needed to deflect the attention from himself. He lifted his chin at Mason. “When are you going to make an honest woman out of my sister?”
Mason’s mouth kicked up in a smirk. “As soon as I possibly can. In fact”—he looked around at the rest of them—"I think we should get the girls together. Vivi and I will be moving back into the house this week. Why don't we have a cookout?”
“Sounds good to me,” Jaxon said.
“We’ll bring dessert—if Maya doesn't eat it all,” Aiden added with a grin.
“She in that phase already?” Jaxon asked.
“Like you wouldn’t believe.” Aiden shook his head. “It’s crazy. I’ve never seen anyone eat so much.”
Roman grinned. “I’m sure she’d be thrilled to hear you say that.”
“For God’s sake, don’t tell her.” Aiden held up a hand. “I don’t have a death wish.”
Mason grinned and looked at Knox. “You in?”
“Sure, why not?” Knox couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a chance to relax. It’d been far too long. “Just tell me when to be there and what to bring.”
Mason looked around the room. “How about Saturday at one? I'll grill, you guys can bring whatever else you want.”
The conversation turned to talk of women and baby things and the medical bills that quickly began to pile up. Knox’s chest tightened, and his lungs constricted.
“I’ll leave you to it.” He caught Mason’s gaze and tipped his head toward the door. “I've got some paperwork to catch up on.”
The look Mason threw his way told him he knew Knox was full of crap, but he didn't say anything else.
Knox escaped the room, not wanting to see the happy looks on the guys' faces.
Everyone so far had met their match. They were settling down, starting families.
All of a sudden, it was just too much. The memories he'd held at bay threatened to choke him, and he hurried back to his office where he closed the door.
Moving straight to his desk, he pulled open the bottom drawer and cracked the lid on the bottle of whiskey stored at the back.
It wasn't something he did on a regular basis, but the memory of Everleigh and their unborn child stabbed at his brain, and he needed to drown them out, just for a little while.
He tipped the bottle up and pressed it to his lips, allowing the liquid to slide over his tongue and down his throat. It burned, but he relished the feeling as it settled in his gut. It was infinitely better than the constant ache that plagued every cell of his body.
He was still so pissed at her. He was furious about what she’d done when they were kids. He was furious that she’d come back. He was furious that she’d come to him for help. Why couldn’t she have stayed away?
Damn it all, why couldn’t he hate her the way he should?