JARED (Lane Brothers Book 4) (13 page)

I want to pull the car over and kiss the hell out of her for ever doubting that I would still want her or that I trust her with my whole heart. I trust her more than I have ever trusted another human being in my life.

It’s amazing what love can do for a guy. And it’s a miracle what love can do for a guy like me who lived only for the next mission and the chance at glory.

The only glory I want now is sitting across from me, pretending to be brave when I see the way she’s trembling and the tight grip she has on the wheel.

“I would trust you with my life, baby, and the lives of our unborn children, too. You’re so brave and strong. How can I not?”

That makes her eyes go moist and I see her lips thin as she concentrates on the road.

“I’m not brave, Jared. I’m terrified,” she admits and her recalcitrant tone makes my own mouth thin into a soft smile that’s more for her benefit than anything else since I don’t want to smile at all right now.

No, I want to mess some shit up and then make Jerry hurt.

“Cupcake, bravery is not about being fearless and lionhearted, it’s about being so afraid it hurts and doing it anyway because it’s the right thing to do. You’re the bravest woman I know for even thinking of doing this shit after what you’ve been through, and especially knowing that they don’t trust you and are out for blood. You’re even braver for what you just did in there because even though your nay votes are keeping you in the council, I know why you did it and didn’t take the easy way out.”

Her smile is back and I see her hands relax as she turns to me.

“I just wanted to buy some more time for Roman and whatever he has going on right now.”

“I know that, baby. And I also know that being proxy, especially when Lynn hits town, is going to be incredibly difficult for you. But I have a plan. I just need to tweak it after I tell the brothers about Roman and what we have so far.”

I don’t tell her that I have the worst feeling in my gut about how deep Roman is or that asshole I saw in that backroom, because I do not want her knowing that there are men alive who scare even the monsters that she is terrified of.

That would set off her anxiety and I swore to myself on that hilltop that I would do everything in my power from here on out to keep her life as calm and stress free as humanly possible with what’s going on right now.

She’s still proxy, though, and as much as I hate it and the added strain it’s causing her, I am grateful for the move she made. It was quick thinking under extreme duress, and I love her all the more for being intelligent enough to catch that right off the bat and do it anyway.

With the vote still in her hands, Jerry either has to kill her, something I’m not sure he wants to do because it would throw their organization into turmoil, or he has to find a way to off Cleo without incurring the wrath of the other council members.

From what I heard and from what Paulie has explained to me, the council is very pedantic about the laws set out for them. If a vote has been passed, you stick to it to the letter or you’re in danger of being offed yourself.

Whoever is running the Patriots in Lynn and Cleo’s stead is not likely to be too impressed if he finds out Jerry has gone against the laws that keep order in their midst.

For that reason alone, I feel confident that we’ll be okay for the time being. Instead of freaking out like I want to, I sit back and allow myself to watch my woman as I think of all the things I’m going to do to make this all up to her.

“You know, Paulie Hayes, Vegas is just a hop, skip, and a jump away right now. We could definitely make it there by nightfall and be married by the time the sun comes up,” I point out, loving the way her lips twitch before she sighs and shakes her head.

“Your mom would throw a fit worthy of a tyrant. Nah, I say you give that judge another call when we get home and I’ll wear that gorgeous dress Mama got for me. Just think, Sugar Bear, we’d be at home and in our own bed for that elusive wedding night you’ve been promising me.”

I love that about her—the fact that she’s so against making plans that will negatively affect our family. She’s always thinking of others and I can’t wait to see her caring for our children, because she is going to be a great mother.

She’s a natural with Josh already and it tickles me pink that the kid seems to love her as much as he doesn’t want to because he seems to have picked up a jealous streak a mile wide where I’m concerned.

He adores Paulie and will play and giggle with her freely. Till I walk in the room. Then he’s on me like a vine and scowling like a trooper if my Cupcake so much as sniffs near us. Thank God Paulie finds it so amusing because I could never choose one over the other. And besides, she says it gives her a clear picture of the kind of father I’d be and she approves. A lot if that dreamy expression is right.

Except for the cookies and the way I spoil him when Miah’s not looking.

Yeah, I can’t wait for the day I get a kid in my Cupcake.

My answering smile slips when she flicks on the indicator and takes a left turn, letting me know without words that we’ve arrived at our destination.

Paulette

By the time the bomb went off, I’m happy to say that we were well away from the gas station and speeding down a dirt road behind the old gas station that got us back on the highway without incident.

I heard the blast, am pretty sure that people in the next state over heard it, too, and it breaks my greedy heart to think of that perfectly fine Aston being blown to kingdom come so easily.

I actually shed a tear and had to confess to Jared that it hurt
me
, hurting that perfect car. He and the boys laughed so hard after that statement, I swear I heard one of them snort like a pig before they all settled down and each offered to buy me a car.

I’m looking forward to three identical cars in different colours in the next few weeks, so I’m feeling peachy right now and sliding away from the panic attack with a relieved sigh when my trembling finally stops not two hours out from home.

“You feeling better, Cupcake?” he asks, kissing my hair for the hundredth time since he got me in the back seat and Case burned rubber.

“Yeah. I’m good actually. What we’ve learned so far is enough for Miah to take to Melissa’s uncle as proof, and Cleo is safe for now. She
will
wake up eventually, I know she will, so I won’t be proxy for much longer. Besides, we’re so getting married soon, and I can’t wait to tell all those bitches I used to hang with that I caught one of the elusive Lane brothers.”

Case grunts at that and I hear Jace wheeze out a breath at my spiteful glee.

“I’ll let Trace join you for that one, since she’s been dying to kick some socialite butt for years.”

“Nope, I’m taking Ellie with me for that, because Trace wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise, if at all,” I joke, enjoying his rich laughter at the thought of the whirlwind that is Tracy Lane set loose on people she can’t stand.

“She’s a ball buster, my baby. Ain’t it great?” he coos, his eyes going distant and dreamy as he thinks of his woman.

Case’s eyes roll almost to the back of his head, and we’re so relaxed right now that I jump and screech when Jared’s phone beeps and he answers with a frown.

“We’re almost home…. No, it went okay…. Yeah, man, he was great…. No, Miah, I told you before we can’t just go barging in, not till I find Melissa…. Yes, I know that, bro, but Roman did me a big solid today and I will not repay his help by leaving his girl to hang in the wind. Calm the hell down.”

He frowns and I hear a lot of yelling and some curses that make my ears burn as Miah loses his cool and goes off on a tangent.

“No, you listen to me, Miah. Roman is one of us and I’d trust him with my life. Hell, I trusted him with my life today and he got her out of there in one piece. He’s your best friend, man, a little faith wouldn’t kill you…. I said fucking no and that’s all I’m saying to that. We’re going to find a way to wake Cleo. No, Paulie’s going to call her sister tomorrow and talk to her brother-in-law.”

They keep arguing and I finally hear Jared sigh.

“I’ll find Melissa and then we can go from there, bro.”

His words make me freeze and I bite my lip with a frown when the conversation continues, centered on Melissa Dobson and the danger she could be in.

It shocks me to learn that Chief Dobson passed away in an apparent suicide, and I feel the tension rolling off Jared as the minutes tick by and he and Miah keep arguing the subject to death.

“Uh. Jared?” I say quietly when he finally ends the call and lands a fist to the back of Case’s seat.

“Hey!”

“Sorry, bro,” he mumbles and I clear my throat again and call his name hesitantly.

“Yeah, baby?” he finally mutters, turning to face me with a frown.

“Uh, I think I can help with finding Mel Dobson,” I squeak, trembling nervously when all three men turn their gazes on me and focus so hard, I feel like a cow at market.

Jared’s eyes narrow and he leans in close, his breath warming my cheeks.

“You know where she is?”

“Uh, no. I don’t
know
, know, but…Ronny might, I think. She and Mel go way back, and if anyone knows where your cousin, sorry,
brother
stashed her it’s going to be Ronny,” I confess, biting my lips when his eyes narrow further.

“You didn’t tell me this because…”

The last eighteen months and the hell I’ve suffered have taught me a lot about not trusting too much, and while I trust the Lanes with my life, I’m not sure Roman would be too stoked at them going after the woman if he wanted her hidden and off the grid.

The only reason I’m even telling them any of this is because if something happens to me or Ronny, I wouldn’t like to think of Melissa being all alone and waiting on a man that might not return to get her.

“Because Roman and Melissa obviously do not want her found yet. Look, guys, I’m just a lowly woman with a heart full of romance, alright, so cut me some slack here. Melissa is probably fine and hiding out waiting on your brother to come for her when he can. I’m only saying something now because if something happens, she should be with us, not alone somewhere, clueless and still waiting.”

That mollifies them and we’re silent as we turn into the drive and wait for the gates to open. When we do finally get out of the car and I stretch my aching legs with a groan, it’s well past midnight.

Not too late for a welcome home committee, I see when the door bursts open and everyone besides Al comes piling out, still fully dressed.

Miah and Wyatt are on us all in a moment, and I accept their hugs before Mama falls on me with a cry and some kisses that should be illegal in this state.

“Ma.”

“Oh hush, Jared, let me get some love to my daughter before you get all territorial on me. Oh, Paulie, honey I was so worried! How was it? Was that idiot Jerry really there? See, George, I told you that worm wasn’t worth trusting! When I get my hands on that man he’s going to hurt. Come along, Mama has your plates in the warmer and I made chocolate cupcakes!”

I’m exhausted and in need of some alone time with my guy, but as he grabs my hand and we follow everyone inside, I already see him silently communicating with his brothers and I know that he’ll be in that room of his before my eyes close.

We all eat and Jace starts telling them everything—the PG version to spare poor Jude’s feelings—and we all discuss it for another few minutes before I see Jared and Miah share a look.

“Go on and go talk to your brothers. I’ll be here with mama talking wedding stuff. I’ll be up later,” I say, giving him a quick kiss as he smiles gratefully and follows a scowling Miah out of the kitchen.

“Those boys are riding a fine line these days and I don’t like it one bit,” Pop says, scrubbing tiredly at his face.

“Oh, Georgie Bear, they’ll be just fine, baby. They know what they’re doing and with the way you’ve been moving the Conrads and Lanes around recently, they have some very good space now.”

“Yeah, Pop, from what Jared and Jace were saying, they not only have eyes on Lynn but they’ve identified key players. All we have to do now is wait and hope that Roman gets to the elusive top dog that everyone’s been searching for,” I say, finishing off the herbal tea Mama made me and yawning widely. “I’m off to bed.”

“But the wedding!”

“Mama, I have every faith that whatever you come up with will be just as perfect as the last failed attempt,” I say kindly, leaning in to kiss her cheek before leaving them alone and heading for my bedroom.

I can’t wait to wash the stress off and fall into bed for a marathon sleep. Whatever happens now is up to Jared and his brothers.

My part, what little I could play in this, is done. All I want now is to get married and maybe try for one of those kids Jared seems to want just as much as I do.

***

Jared

I end the meeting, or rather yelling fest, with Miah and the others around dawn and throw them all out to get some sleep beside my baby. I feel more than exhausted right now, and I’d like nothing more than to just go to sleep beside her and pretend that nothing is messing with us anymore.

I kinda miss the days when my only worry was going on missions in foreign locales and making bets with my teammates about silly shit like which bad guy would die first.

Those were the good old days when I followed orders and dragged my ass home after a job well done. Low stress, good pay, and the knowledge that my private life was not in any way mixed up with this stuff.

Now, thanks to Miah and his overconfident ideas, I’m neck deep in this cesspool and trying to hold my woman over my shoulders to keep the filth from touching her.

Not exactly the way I’d hoped to start my life with my soul mate, but I guess I’m just grateful that we’re together at last and that we’re both alive and relatively unscathed thus far.

“Hmm, hey,” she mumbles, snuggling close and throwing her leg over my hips when I strip to my skin and slide in beside her, relishing her sleep-warm skin and the softness of her curves snuggled against me.

“Hey, Cupcake. No, shh, sleep,” I murmur softly, kissing her gently before lying back and closing my eyes wearily.

She hums beneath her breath and settles back down, and soon I hear her gentle snores against my ear as I lie awake and go over everything one last time, just to be sure I haven’t missed anything.

After tomorrow I am on my honeymoon, and I told Miah that in no uncertain terms. I’m marrying my girl and taking a few days to just be with her, the same way I gave all of them time to just enjoy their wives while Case and I busted our asses trying to keep it all together.

Miah is annoyed and running on fumes right now, thanks to Roman’s mess, but that’s his cross to bear for the moment and he knows it. I’m done being the eyes and ears and getting nothing in return while they love their woman and play at getting shit wrapped up.

Paulie deserves better than the constant worry that I’ll be hurt by one of the sickos watching us all, and I want her to have a few days of peace while the others do their Goddamned jobs for once and leave me the hell alone.

“Talk to me, Sugar Bear,” I hear when an hour passes and I still can’t sleep.

I look down and frown when her golden eyes blink up at me and her brow furrows in worry.

“I don’t want to talk right now, Cupcake. Go back to sleep, you need your rest. You’re still—”

“Fine,” she growls, sitting up to straddle my waist and glare down at me. “See? Look, those drugs Miah gave me worked a miracle and I’m totally good right now,” she mutters, lifting my T-shirt she’s wearing to reveal a thin pink scar where the surgeons cut her and the almost healed scratches on her belly. “Talk to me, Lane.”

I mutter a curse and push her back to the bed, sitting up and turning my back to her with a grunt.

“Miah isn’t doing so well right now, baby. He’s going nuts about Roman, and with Clari pregnant, I think he’s trying to rush things so he can breathe or something. I’m scared he’ll blow Roman’s op by doing something stupid, but I don’t want to care right now, ya know? I want a few days with you, with just us and lovemaking and some time to talk,” I mutter, leaning my face into my hands.

“So take them then, Sugar,” she murmurs, coming over my back to kiss the nape of my neck. “Miah and Roman are the ones who started all this, and they’ll be the ones to finish it. All you can do is be there for them when they need you to be. Worrying yourself to death isn’t going to solve a thing, and if you need a few days off then you should take them without your brother making you feel guilty. I’m sure he didn’t mean whatever he said, baby.”

Her soft reassurances are everything I need and I turn to pull her down beneath me with a growl and soft kisses spread all over her smiling face.

“How’d I get so lucky to snag you, Paulette Hayes?”

The moan she lets out when I pull her shirt up and latch on to her pink nipple shoots straight to my dick and I settle down between her legs to grind against her panty-covered sex.

She’s always so warm and willing, I think as I transfer my mouth to her other breast and groan my delight at the silky bud between my lips. Her hips are already pumping back at me, and I smell her arousal right before her creamy heat penetrates the cotton panties and kisses my naked flesh, taunting me.

“Sugar. Oh yes, suck harder,” she moans. I do as she asks, feeling like a king when she starts pulling at my hair and her need becomes a wild, living thing.

I want in her, I want to mark her as mine and spread her scent all over my skin so that anyone who comes near will know that I’m hers and hers, alone.

I want to off-load in her, marking and claiming her as mine. The need is so great that I just barely find the will to swipe a hand through her slit to test her readiness, before ripping her panties to shreds and thrusting into her like a wild beast.

We both groan at the sensations, and I almost howl my satisfaction when her silky heat wraps around me in a strangle hold of pure and binding ownership.

The lovemaking is hard and desperate as I lose my finesse and just start pounding into her, completely lost to anything but the sensation and the emotions exploding through my nerve endings.