“No. As I said, we were having a … thing.” I halt there to see if he’ll give me something, anything. Crickets. After a sip of soda, I continue, “It’s weird that no one mentioned them coming. Must’ve been a spontaneous visit. Want to go up with me?”
“Nah.” He falls forward onto his palms, joint still hanging from his lips, perching in a handstand on the wall. There’s a ten-foot drop on the other side. A few years back, he toppled over it and broke his arm, so Axel lined the other roof with a foamy crash pad.
We’re kind of a full-time job. Even as adults.
Jax lifts onto one hand, removing the joint from his mouth with the other, his blue mop dangling, eyes brighter than the sky, face lit up with stoned pride for his ease of tricks. “I got a manager off this afternoon, so I’m pulling double duty at the shops.”
He oversees the tattoo and piercing boutiques. It’s a perfect fit. The artists adore him, and it affords him plenty of time for his creative projects.
For a while, Axel allowed me to be part of the music acts, which is my great love. I enjoy strumming the guitar—acoustic or electric, depending on my mood—or even singing and working backstage. But the guests started ogling me and making not-so-subtle offers, which made Ryker and Axel lose their minds. Some of the propositions were a little creepy, and being onstage isn’t necessary for my love of music, so there was no point in fighting them on it. I get bored doing any one thing for too long anyway.
To an outsider, it probably appears that I’m merely a glorified assistant now, delivering messages and keeping a pulse on the happiness of our employees. But people view me as a friend and confidante. They talk to me, so when something is off, I can easily sift it out.
It’s a key part of that princess role I play, and something about the way others need me, seeking me out for solace and camaraderie, makes me feel useful, worthy, valued. I’d like to be considered capable of more demanding roles, but I’m not sure I’d prefer them to what I’m doing now.
Jax and I chat for a while—gossip about his crew at the shopsand the mural he’s emblazing on the wall. But my mind keeps wandering to the fact that Ty is probably up in my penthouse.
So, once our lunchtime has concluded, I hustle back to the North Tower while Jax heads over to his shops. I love our home—Art Deco ambience, blending nostalgic details with modern style. Despite the opulence, it’s cozy and always buzzing with life.
Except for now, apparently. When I walk into the sprawling apartment, it seems far too quiet for anyone to be entertaining guests. But after spotting a baby seat for Felicity—Wells and Ivy’s daughter—it’s clear that I’m mistaken. In keeping with the hushed tone, I creep through the main living area and turn down the hall with my brothers’ offices.
It’s the conference room that roars to life. I consider knocking, but the thought of Ivy here without anyone telling me, in some private conversation, has me pressing my ear to the door instead.
“Look.” Axel’s acidic tenor seeps out. “It’s not that I don’t see the angle or the potential that the information in the book holds. It’s enraging, to say the least. Of course I want to bury that asshole for what he did.Afterburning him alive.”
Way to prove my point, big bro.I’m filing that sentence away for the next time he tells me someone I’m associating with is too dangerous.
“And we can do exactly that,” Wells answers. “All we need is your go-ahead, and we’ll set it all in motion.”
“No,” Ryker sneers—never one to dance around things or use a lot of words.
Liam’s voice rings out next; his mellow air is unmistakable. “Don’t you think you should present the information to them before—”
“I’m only going to say this one more time,” Axel roars. “I want Jax and Rena as far away from this shit show as possible. There’d better not be one goddamn word about this leaked to them.”
What the hell is going on? Maybe this is still about that attackat the dress shop. Although I don’t know why Jax would be mentioned. He wasn’t there. Axel is crazy protective over us both though.
“Makes sense.” Gage’s gruff timbre filters into the hall as my chest threatens to cave in on me. “You’ve been hiding this a long time. They’re both adults now. They could find out one day on their own, which would be worse. Might not be so different from when your parents did. If one of them gets sick … Tell them now and—”
“I made a deal with Balzano,” Axel cuts in, his voice so full of angst that it pains me. “The details about that fucking fire don’t matter at this point. The consequences are mine to grapple with however I see fit.”
The fire? Made a deal?He couldn’t mean the fire that killed my parents. No way. Axel has done some wicked things, but he’d never be involved in anything that hurt our mother.
“Axel,” Wells growls, “this is not the time to fall on your sword.”
Axel’s icy tone slices through the door and dank air and reality I’ve assumed my whole life, sharper than any blade. “This isn’t about me. Jax and Rena are as good as dead if they ever find out they’re his.”
RENA
The room spins and shakes and blurs as my mind clings to the wordsfind out they’re his,like it’s some sort of convoluted lifeline.That we’re whose? What the hell is he talking about?
One hit of Jax’s joint was not enough for this fuckery.
The chatter is silent for what feels like days but is likely only seconds, until Axel makes an announcement. “Shit. Rena’s on her way up. We’ll need to pick this up later—”
“No need for that,” Ryker snarls. “It’s settled. Burn the goddamn page. And until you agree to that, you keep your fucking distance from them both.”
“Ryker,” Ivy sings, “we won’t divulge anything you don’t want us to. We love you guys. Don’t turn this into a war. We’re on your side.”
