My brother stands. “I think you should go, Tare Bear.” His voice is low, calm. Placating. Calling me by my childhood nickname. This is exactly how Nolan sounds when he’s about to lay down something nonnegotiable. God. I hate that voice.
I raise an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You’ve been through enough,” he says. “You’re tired. You should rest. Let us handle this. Please.”
I love how he gets to decide how I’m feeling and what I’m up for.
Rafferty chimes in from where he’s been leaning against the fireplace, arms crossed. “He’s right. You’re smart, Taryn. That’s never been in question, so don’t give me that look. But this?” He nods toward the table where the burner phone and the Charon coin still sit. “This is clan business. And we wouldn’t be doing our job as your brothers if we didn’t protect you from it. It’s been a long day. Why don’t you go back to the guest room? Liam can come get you later.”
A burn creeps up the back of my neck. They mean well. I know they do. But it’s the same tired story—what I need, what’s best for me, decided by everyone but me. I start to rise.
Liam’s arms tighten around my waist, holding me steady. He doesn’t stand, but I feel him stiffen. His voice carries.
“I respect how much you love your sister,” he says, cool and clear. “However, she’s also my wife. Andmy wifeis perfectly capable of speaking for herself.”
I suck in a breath.
Nolan’s jaw tightens. “You think that means it’s your call?” His eyes narrow. My big brother looks ready to come undone.
“No,” Liam answers. “I think that means it’s hers.”
There’s a long pause. Nolan grunts. Rowan leans forward, fingers steepled. “So? What do you want, Taryn? You had a pretty big scare today. You don’t owe us anything.”
I take a breath and glance around the room. These men—brilliant, brutal, dangerous—are watching me now. Waiting. Both my brothers and my father know better than to speak now that the boss has asked a question.
“I don’t want a seat at this table forever,” I say. “I don’t want to be part of clan politics, and I’m not asking to be brought in on every move.” I look at my brothers as I say this, shifting on my husband’s lap. Nolan’s shoulders ease slightly.
“But this was aimed at me. My account started this. And if our enemies are going to try to threaten us into submission, I’d like to at leastparticipatein the response.”
Liam looks at me with pride in his eyes. I press on. “I offered to approach the Greeks.” I raise my hand before they can all protest. It’s not like Liam bit on that idea either. He may have thought about it, but his hesitation spoke volumes. After today, I realize he’s right. “I know now that wasn’t the best idea. I can see how dangerous they are. But, I think I may know someone who can help.”
Rowan tilts his head. “Who?”
“Elizabeth,” I say. “Well, her dad, the senator. You know he works within our world. And he has an issue with the Greeks. I think he’d help us.”
There’s a heartbeat of silence. And that’s when I feel it—something I never thought I’d have. Not a seat at the table. But a voice. And the man beside me—my husband—is the one making room for it. These men are considering my words. The fact that I’m still in the room is, unto itself, a miracle.
“I’ve never heard that Senator Sutton has an issue with the Greeks,” Rowan states flatly. “Are you sure about that?”
“I am.”
“The senator is loyal to The Family,” my father states. “He won’t talk to us unless Victor agrees to this.” He’s referencing Luca’s father, the Italian don.
“It’s probably a good thing that Victor’s son happens to have a very serious beef with the Greeks at the moment,” Liam jokes. My husband’s smile is back. “Maybe if Victor helps us, it’ll keep Luca from trying to finish off Timmy.”
“Luca isn’t the one who will be finishing him,” Nolan growls. “Fucking traitor.”
Rowan stands, ignoring my brother. “I’ll call Victor. Once that conversation is done, we can reconvene.”
“Do I need to call Elizabeth?” I admit that I’m a bit out of my depth here. However, I’d like to speak with my friend before anyone reaches out to her father.
“Not yet,” Rowan cautions. “I don’t want to get ahead of the conversation with Victor.”
I nod. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I know that I’ve already pushed my luck as far as it’s probably willing to stretch today.
“You’re welcome to stay here for now, or I can reach out later this evening. Whatever is most comfortable,” Rowan offers before he gives us a nod. “Nolan, we need to talk before you head downstairs,” and with that final comment, Rowan walks out of the room. My father walks over to kiss my forehead before he follows his boss.
After my brothers hug me, and Liam’s father pronounces that they are headed to his place in the city, my husband turns to me. “Do you want to head upstairs to rest, or should we head home?”
