The room fills with chuckles as I look up into his green eyes, detecting genuine warmth despite the teasing tone. “Oh, and here I was about to ask you to tattoo my name above hers on your chest.” I flutter my eyelashes at him, and he growls at me and snaps his teeth.
“Keep that up, and you’ll be over my knee getting a spanking.” The men in the room all throw out encouragement at Declan's words as I push him away and hurry back down to the lounge area, a smile on my face. Is this the most dramatic thing we’ve experienced together? Unfortunately not. Is it still possibly a big fucking deal? Yes, of course, but if I can get them to smile a bit in the midst of this impending bullshit, I’ve earned a smile of my own. See? I can totally do this relationship thing.
The rest of the flight is drama-free, apart from one almighty meltdown from Jacinta when she hears what Veronica has done. Jax had to physically restrain her from storming off to confront her. Declan and Thomas disappeared into one of the offices to call their lawyer and advise him of what had occurred, and when they returned, the two of them looked like children in a candy store, mile-wide grins on both of their faces. They refused to give anyone details, no matter what we promised in return. All we got were assurances that we’d find out as soon as we landed in Connecticut, which can’t come soon enough—for many reasons.
The plan is to visit Chuck and Melinda for a few days so that Thomas can poke around and ask some questions about my mother. There have also been some not-so-subtle reminders from Oli that he wants to be introduced to my tattoo artist before we move on to New York with the intention of checking how the build for his new location is going. His friend Jonah, who will be running the place, moved there a week or so ago, and Oli wants to catch up and make sure he’s settling in okay.
Technically, we’re gaining time as we fly home, but it’s about one in the morning when we arrive in Hartford. We had planned to stay on board and sleep until a more reasonable time then make our way to Chuck and Melinda’s, but not long after I feel the plane land, there’s a knock on my bedroom door. Kai had snagged the other side of my bed, and it’s him that gets up, pulling on sweats and opening it up.
Holding up my hand, I shade my eyes against the glare of the lights in the corridor, but I can still make out Declan standing there, grinning maniacally. “Hurry, or you’re going to miss it.”
Confused, I get up and pull on my own sweats and zip-up my hoody, then Kai and I follow him to the plane’s open door, eyeing the stairs that have been pushed up to meet the doorway. The entrance foyer thingy is filled with everyone but Jilly and Veronica. It’s a tight squeeze, but I sidle up to Oliver.
“What’s going on?” I ask him, and he shrugs. Neither he nor Holden have bothered with a shirt, which would usually be pretty damn distracting. But the flashing red and blue lights, accompanied by a pealing siren of the police cars tearing across the tarmac, quickly steal my attention away from the boys’ naked chests.
What the fuck?The low rumble of voices tells me everyone is thinking similarly to me, but all we can do is watch Declan make his way down the stairs, gesturing for us to follow. So, like obedient children, we gather around the bottom, not far from the stairs. I wrap my arms around me to protect myself from the chilly night air and shuffle closer to the guys, eager to steal the comfort and protection their bigger bodies give from the elements.
Two plainclothes police officers get out of an unmarked vehicle and head toward Declan, where they have a few words before making their way up the plane steps.
“Jilly!” Chris cries, but James shakes his head and holds him back, stopping him from following the officers.
“It’s ok; she knows what’s happening. She just had to stall her for a moment or two.”
Sure enough, a couple of minutes after the two detectives disappear, Jilly appears at the top of the steps and hurries down to join us.
“What’s going on?” Oliver hisses, but before she can respond, there’s a commotion at the plane’s entrance. The detectives exit with a struggling Veronica between them, the woman handcuffed and screaming profanities. They transfer her to the uniformed police officers who help her into the back of one of the marked vehicles.
We watch on in amazement as they depart, leaving the detectives to shake hands with Declan, then Thomas, before they take their leave.
“Will someone please explain what the fuck just happened?” Jacinta demands, hugging herself against the cold Connecticut nighttime air.
“Come on, let’s go back into the plane where it’s warmer, and I’ll explain.” Declan climbs the stairs, expecting us to follow, and, well, it’s butt monkey freezing outside and I forgot to put on shoes, so he doesn't have to tell me twice.
When we all get comfortable in the lounge, he tells the story. “When Veronica announced she was pregnant and the circumstances surrounding it, I, of course, got on the phone to Forrest immediately. He’s already filed some injunctions against her—something along the lines of stealing your sperm, entrapment, and one for paternity. Forrest says he doesn't think they will stand up in court because there doesn't seem to be a precedent, but he’s sure he can have at least the paternity test enforced. While he was doing that, he discovered there was a warrant out for her arrest. It turns out her roommate had to go to the hospital, where they discovered she had strychnine poisoning, and the only person she had been in contact with for the twelve hours before falling sick was Veronica. When they searched the house, they found a bottle of rat poison in Veronica’s room with her fingerprints all over it. She’ll be going to jail for a long time, so even if the baby turns out to be either of yours, she won’t be able to have any contact with it. Forrest is making sure of it.”
The room explodes. I hear Jilly ask Holden about the baby and his mumbled reply in return. Jilly looks decidedly ill by the time he finishes, and Chris and James wear twin appalled expressions.
“Holy fuck.” Jace just looks stunned, his expression almost comical. Poor guy is getting a trial by fire. At least he’ll have an idea of what it means to be close to a Summers; Jacinta deserves to have a guy chase after her despite the attached baggage, and this family comes with an entire warehouse of suitcases.
“Yup, this is what all of us have been through our whole lives,” Jaxon explains sadly. “It’s why we don't trust easily and have a very,verysmall circle of friends. We prefer the company of each other more than anything. The only people who’ve managed to break it are Hope and these guys.” He points to the two pilots and Jilly.
“Yeah, if your friendship with Harlow, and by extension of that, all of us, is going to last, you need to prepare yourself to weather the storm.” It’s probably the nicest way he could tell the guy that he’d better find his balls if he’s going to start something with Jacinta. They do one of those man nod things, ya know, where there’s some kind of unspoken understanding, so at least Jace seems like he’s getting the picture. I think? Fuck, for all I know, it could mean ‘dude, I need to piss,’ though I’m betting on the whole brother and possible suitor approval thing as the winner.
“How long until we can get that paternity test?” Thomas asks Declan.
“It depends on how long it takes to process her and if she lawyers up. It could be a couple of weeks, or it could be a couple of days, especially if they imply that by cooperating, they might go easier on her. Forrest has organized an OB to be available as soon as she consents.”
“Will they really go easier on her?” I ask, hoping that’s not the case. The idea of her doing what she did is despicable, and I’m feeling a little protective and possessive of my men. The idea of them being so violated in this way is making something murderous peek out of me.
“Nope, but she doesn't need to know that. She’s looking at attempted murder for what she did to her roommate. There’s not a lot that’s going to make them more lenient.”
“Well, now that that’s done with, how about we all head back to bed so we can get started early in the morning? I've arranged for you guys to stay at the Neighpalm Hotel here,” he tells James, Chris, and Jilly. “Take a couple of days off. I advised Dad of the situation, and he let me know that Chuck and Melinda are thrilled we’re coming and have rooms waiting for us all. I’ve arranged for a security company to check over a couple of rental cars for us and deliver them in the morning.”
Despite the late hour and everything that just occurred, a wave of excitement thrums through my body. I’ve been so busy I haven't had time to dwell on it, but god, I’ve missed my family. My brief visit with Max just wasn't enough. I have no idea how I’ll cope with living on the opposite side of the country if I decide to stay in California, and that’s something I need to seriously start considering if I’m committing to this seven-way relationship.
I wish everyone good night and head back to my bed, followed by Kai. When we climb under the covers, I let him spoon me, but both of us are quiet. I’m sure he’s thinking about the possibility of being a father despite what I believe are slim odds. And, well, I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed tomorrow night. Will there be a fight about who gets to sleep in my little apartment with me? Because goodness knows there’s not enough room for all six men. Kai’s breathing evens out, his arm growing heavy as he falls asleep, but my mind is restless.
It’s playing over the last few days—my date with Thomas, the dinner with the Dobrov’s, Veronica’s dropped bomb, and then the utter satisfaction I felt at seeing her taken away by the police. Poor Thomas and Kai, what a horrible thing to be happening to them. And a selfish little part of me also whispers,But what does that mean for me?
