Vail sat up next to me and touched my left shoulder. “What happened? Is it my mom?”
“No,” Aspen said gruffly, shoving Cillian out of the way as he stepped farther into the room. But he wasn’t in a suit anymore. I loved seeing him in everyday clothes and wasn’t disappointed with the pair of black jeans and the black long-sleeved shirt that clung to his bulging muscles. I couldn’t tear my gaze off him.
I stared longer than I should have, not hearing a word he said. “Sorry, Aspen. What?”
“The Giordanos attacked Elio Folliero’s mansion. He wasn’t home, but they killed some of his men and injured his second-in-command. They’ve started a full-out war.”
“Oh, fuck me jiggles.”
All four of them glanced at me in confusion.
I giggled. Yep, Igiggledagain. Fuck my life and this Oxy.
7
VAIL
The private planewas more elegant than the hotel room we’d had at the Courtesan and that was saying a lot. I’d never flown anything other than coach on a commercial airliner, normally to get to conferences, and truth be told, I was much fonder of trains than planes. It was difficult to argue with the sinfully soft gray couch I sat on, which stretched out along the side of the plane with unobstructed windows behind me, in case I wanted to turn and stare out that direction, and across the way as well. If I wanted, I could lie on the plush black carpeting at my feet and sprawl out like a starfish. It was almost a dream.
The plane shook, though not much, and I blew out a long breath as I grasped the cushion under me to fight off the panic. Beside me there was a golden metalwork lamp with a fine filigree pattern that reminded me of Italian craftsmanship, and it must be connected to the table it sat on because it didn’t vibrate or move at all. Fallon had his head against my shoulder and I drew a blue fleece blanket up over his front and carefully tucked it around his chin. My right hand throbbed as I smoothed out the blanket.
I ignored the pain because it was nothing compared to what Fallon was going through. Now that some time had passed, I didn’t think anything was broken—on me, that is. Fallon was a mess. I sighed and brushed his hair back from his forehead. His swollen eye looked abysmal, but the doctor had said it would get better on its own.
Everyone was busy, so I took my phone out of my pocket and checked my email while I focused on the comforting heat of Fallon at my side. My heart froze as I saw a message from my publisher. I opened it and was baffled at the note and attachment.
Dear Vail,
We’ve decided to break your book into two parts so we don’t have to ruin the launch date we have set. We think it will be beneficial in the end. Please finish the edits on this manuscript by next weekend.
The connected file indeed saidPart 1. I shut my eyes and shoved my phone back in my pocket. I didn’t have enough mental space to deal withthe book that couldn’t happenon top of everything else that had occurred tonight.
Rowen came over and took the seat on my left, smiling at me. His red hair gleamed in the low light and his grayish-blue eyes were as caring as ever. My heart gave a hard thump as his smile stretched wider. He grasped my right hand and held up an ice bag. I smiled at him. Of course he’d noticed I was hurt. Of everyone I was entangled with he was probably the most in tune with me. My thoughts were a scattered mess as he lifted my hand and kissed the bruise forming on my knuckles before he settled the coldness on my injury. He let out a comforting little sound as I flinched. There was something that seemed like worry in his eyes as he glanced at Fallon, and I didn’t exactly blame him.
“How’s this?” Rowen asked, running a finger over the pulse point on my wrist.
“Not bad.” I shrugged. “Nothing compared to Fallon.”
“Aye, but he did that to himself.” Rowen shook his head.
“I did this to myself as well.”
“No, ye fuckin’ didn’t. He did that, too. If he hadn’t been so hell-bent on proving he still had fightin’ chops when he’s been out of his regular training for so long....” Rowen stared at Fallon as if he would happily wring his neck. “He could’ve gotten himself killed. I’d love to know what was going through his thick, empty skull.”
Frowning, I sighed. I didn’t like being irritated with Rowen, and he liked Fallon enough that he’d been worried for him the same as everyone else had been tonight. But I hated the way they treated Fallon, now that I knew he was constantly trying to prove his worth to his relatives. I was beginning to think of my guys as my chosen family, and I didn’t want them to make Fallon feel bad. Family should make you feel loved and cared for, or at the very least, safe enough to be yourself. When did I start feeling protective of Fallon?
“I don’t like it when everyone is mean to him. I wouldn’t be happy if everyone picked on you,” I said quietly, and Rowen’s eyes widened. “I... I love you all. Cillian won’t care if I say the same thing to him, but I’m asking... could you maybe not imply there’s something wrong with Fallon every single day? Could you simply step back from those conversations? Maybe if no one else is participating, Cillian will drop it.”
“We have to toughen him up,” Rowen said, his lips twisting down in a corner, not quite a frown but clearly not happy. “Ye love us?”
My heart raced and I didn’t know how to have that conversation, so I didn’t. “I don’t ask you for many things. Please.”
Rowen shifted in his seat and rested his head back, and I cupped his cheek, pressing my mouth to his. He leaned against me and my stomach tingled happily as he sucked on my bottom lip. “Ye still care about me?” he whispered into the barely there space between us. “Ye’ve got Cillian and Fallon and... Aspen, I think.” He glanced around as he named the rest of the men flying with us and my heart beat faster. I didn’t like the tone of his voice.
“Yes, I do. What do you mean ‘still’? Every day I feel more for you. I... I love everything you do for me.”
He smiled and stared into my eyes like he was searching for something, and I’d give it to him if he only told me what he wanted. “I like having ye in my bed every night and seeing yer face every morning.”
“Good. You’re a priority for me.”
