Rae had just reentered the dining room on my declaration, and stopped on a dime. “We’re still talking about this? I think my morning sickness turned to evening sickness.” Then she turned and disappeared again. She didn’t know it yet, but she’d just lost her place as my favorite sibling.
I pulled in a centering breath. “Look, I know you’re probably a little panicked right now, but it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Alittlepanicked?” my mom shot back. “I’d say we’re well beyond that.”
“Nothing has happened to me, okay? And nothing is going to. I’ve just had someone leave a couple notes and flowers on my car while I was at the bar. I found them when I got off work. That’s it. That’s all there is.”
“What did the notes say?” Dad asked.
I stared down at my lap, picking at my cuticles. It was a nasty habit I had whenever I was feeling anxious. “I... I’m not sure,” I lied, knowing what was written on the note wouldn’t help lighten my current situation one bit. “I don’t remember.”
“My beauty.” Everyone’s eyes shot to Raylan, who’d just thrown me right under the bus. “That’s what both notes said.My beauty. With a creepy ass-white tulip.”
I jumped in my seat when my dad’s hand came down hard on the table, making the dishes clatter. “That’s it, you’re moving back in here,” he declared as he pushed to standing.
“What?” I yelped, my eyes growing to the size of saucers.
“We’ll go back to your place and pack up what you need for a few days now, then I’ll have some of the guys help me move out the rest of your stuff later.”
I shot to my feet and braced my hands on the table to keep my balance when my legs suddenly felt like they would go out from under me. This evening had seriously gotten away from me. “Dad. No.”
“It’s settled,” he continued like he didn’t hear me. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go.”
“No. Dad, just... stop for a second.” I closed my eyes on a deep inhale, trying desperately to find my calm. “I’m not moving back in here.”
“Then you’ll stay with me and Rae.” I gaped at my brother. “You’ll be safe there.”
“I’ll be perfectly safe in my own house,” I shot back. “I’m not moving in with either of you. I’m staying right where I am.”
Zach gave me a look I’m sure he thought was intimidating, but had stopped having an effect on me years ago. “Your house isn’t secure. You don’t even have an alarm system.”
“I don’t need one,” I insisted. “I have animals.”
Zach rolled his eyes on a loud scoff. “Please. Out of all your pets, the most vicious is your asshole one-eyed cat. What’s he gonna do if someone breaks in, huh?”
I glared at my brother viciously. “You can talk shit about Pirate just as soon as you stop screaming like a little girl every time he walks past you.”
Zach slapped the table. “That cat is a goddamn menace!”
“I’ve taken care of it,” Raylan said, raising his voice to be heard over our argument. All noise stopped as everyone at the table turned to stare at him.
“You’ve takencareof it?” My brows climbed up my forehead toward my hairline What the hell does that even mean?”
“I called Rhodes the other day and set it up for someone from Alpha Omega to come and install a new top of the line system. They’ll be at your place in the morning.”
My mouth fell open, a flabbergasted scoff. “What?” I squeaked.
“That’s really good of you, bro,” Zach said with a nod of respect. Like his best friend hadn’t just seriously crossed a line. “Appreciate it. And whatever it costs, you let us know, and we’ll cover it.”
Raylan shrugged, their whole conversation happeningaroundme, like I didn’t have a voice in the situation. “It’s all good. It’s handled.”
“You’re unbelievable,” I snapped, my hands fisting into a white-knuckle grip. I couldn’t believe the gall of this man, thinking he had the right to intervene in my life in any sort of way.
Raylan’s gaze met mine, all gunmetal. “I think the words you’re looking for arethank you, Chaos.”
Yep. I was absolutely going to kill him.
Chapter Nineteen
