I ease myself into a chair beside Gage, and it doesn’t hurt as bad now that it’s stitched up, just a weird tug. Or it’s because I’m still numb.
They pass bowls and plates around with biscuits, sausage, bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, and pancakes. Gage loads my plate up and his with everything that passes by, causing my stomach to rumble loudly.
He raises an eyebrow and looks down at my stomach. “Down, boy,” he jokes, pouring me coffee and a glass of orange juice.
“My hands work,” I remind him.
He shrugs. “I want to do it. Now shut up and eat.”
Everyone chuckles around the table, and I just shake my head. Flirty Gage, I can handle; attentive Gage, I’m not so sure about. It makes me want to examine everything I’m feeling, and being on pain meds probably isn’t the best time for that.
We all eat, safe conversation flowing around thetable. I want to know what the hell happened last night, but I’m content with eating and listening to them talk and laugh.
Les sits back in her chair at the head of the table after she’s done eating, looking at Micah at the other end. She looks at me and fills me in on their theories about what happened, convinced it was Viktor. I nod because there isn’t any doubt after his little tantrum over her dancing with Alexey and the fact he’s trying to steal her business. She looks back at Micah when she’s finished. “This ends now.”
He nods. “Agreed. What’s your plan?”
“I need to get Nina out of that house.” He opens his mouth, and she holds up a hand. “Non-negotiable, Micah. I already told you that.” He grits his teeth but nods. Something tells me they’ve already had it out over this. “We’re going to rush it and take her like a kidnapping. After his show last night, his place will be swarming with guards.” She shrugs. “They die, and that’s less we have to worry about.” It should scare me that it doesn’t bother me how she casually talks about killing people without batting an eye. “I cut off his use of my port this morning. Holden is doing his thing getting into his system to find out where else he’s using, and I can cut that off too unless I can get my hands on Spinner first.”
“So, you want to piss him off enough that he comes to you?” Evander asks, looking between Micah and Alessa.
“That’s the plan,” Micah answers. “It’s easier to fight someone on your own turf.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” I ask.
“We take it to him,” Ryder says with a scary grin. “Full force.”
“Les has people all over coming in; he doesn’t stand a fucking chance,” Gage adds.
“For now, it’s life as usual, but no one leaves this house alone,” Alessa says, looking between everyone, waiting for the agreement. Everyone nods, and she seems relieved.
“Wouldn’t it be safer to stay here?” Holden asks quietly.
“It would,” Ryder says, squeezing his shoulder. “But then it makes us look weak for hiding. We can’t have that.”
Alessa sits up, folding her arms on the table, looking at Evanderand Mateo. “Our show of alliance last night makes you guys a huge target.”
Evander nods. “We’ve talked about that.”
Alessa looks at me and back to them. “I want to offer you to stay here. Closer to Leo and under my protection.”
Mateo’s eyebrows hit his hairline. “You want us…to stay…here?”
Alessa raises an eyebrow. “I think that’s what I said.” She looks to Dex on her left. “That’s what I said, right?” she asks sarcastically.
Dex chuckles. “That’s what I heard, Baby girl.”
“I heard you, smartass,” Mateo laughs. “I just wanted to clarify.”
I know this whole thing started out rocky, and she only initially agreed to this alliance, so she didn’t have to kill me. Still, I’m happy they can sit in the same room and joke around.
Evander frowns. “That wouldn’t be an imposition?” He looks around the table, his eyes landing on Micah and lingering before looking back at her. “You seem to have a full house.” What is that look he gave Micah? I look at Gage to get his reaction, and for once, the nosey fucker isn’t watching.Of course.Maybe the pain meds are making me crazier than I thought.
She shrugs. “You can stay in the main house or the pool house. It’s four bedrooms and is fully stocked. Micah stays in there when he’s here.”
“That’s because he isn’t allowed in the main house,” Ryder jokes, earning a glare from Micah.
Micah flips him the middle finger. “Very funny, dickhead.” He looks at my brothers. “You’re more than welcome to the pool house with me.”
