“We’ll have two refs cover the fight,” Ford decides. “Make a big deal out of it. Build up the hype.” He grins. “Damn, Jag. You really are a genius. With a brawl like this, we’ll clean up so much with the winnings, it’ll be like you didn’t dip into your account to buy her house at all. Hell, you might even make money from it.”
A stone falls in my gut. “Exactly.”
“Next Saturday, here we come.” Ford jogs up the stairs, taking them two at a time until Roman, Hawke, and me are the only ones left in the family room.
“All right, I’m gonna head home,” Roman announces.
“You’re not staying here?” I ask.
“Nah, I should probably check on my place.” He moves toward me and offers his hand, pulling me into an embrace and slapping my back. “Glad you’re safe.”
“Thanks, man,” I murmur.
Letting me go, he heads out the front door, but I stop him at the last second. “One more thing.”
“Yeah?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Morgan, uh, he mentioned the haunted house. Not sure what he knows, but…”
“I’ll do some digging,” Roman promises. Tossing his car keys into the air, he catches them, then strides out the door until it’s only me, Hawke, and the crackling fire. With an exhale, I squeeze the back of my neck again, massaging my sore muscles from the stiffness that’s built up over the last twenty-four hours.I need some damn sleep. Everything will look better in the morning. It’s what my mom used to say. The sentiment has proven true more times than I can count over the years, and I’m grateful for it. The wise words from my past. The promise of tomorrow. I let the reminder ground me. Sleep. I just need some sleep.
“All right, man,” I mutter. “I’m exhausted. I think I’m going to try to get some rest.” With a sigh, I wipe my palms against my thighs and start to stand but hesitate at the last second.
Scrutiny. You can’t see it, but damn, can you feel it when it’s directed at you. And Hawke? The man’s staring at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“There a problem?” I ask.
“Does Violet know?”
“Know what?”
“What you’re giving up?” It isn’t the question. It’s the way Hawke says it. The subtle inflection. The disappointment and resignation. Fuck me. Does he know? The truth? Between Roman and Hawke, not much slips past them. Were they watching? Despite my insistence of going alone? If they’re good at anything, it’s blending in and being ghosts, and I knew I was being watched, but I never would’ve guessed it’d be my own brothers following me. Or maybe brother, as in, singular.
My eyes thin as I slowly push to my feet, refusing to show my hand without confirmation of what he does or doesn’t already know. “What are you talking about, Hawke?”
“Five times what it’s worth.” Hawke whistles. “It’s what you offered, right?”
So, he was watching. Sneaky sonofabitch.
“You really think I was going to let you go in there alone?” he challenges, reading my thoughts.
“Does Rome know?” I ask.
Hawke shakes his head, and relief floods my system. Good. It’s one less thing for me to worry about. One less person for me to justify my actions to.
“You could always buy her a different place, you know,” Hawke adds. “Maybe even one on the right side of town.”
“She’s given up enough for her dad,” I remind him. “And if you’re worried about money or the business?—”
“This isn’t about money.” Picking up a picture of my mom and sister from the mantle, Hawke examines it. “That’s Ford’s thing, not mine.”
I nod, knowing he’s right. Hawke’s never cared about money or status or…anything at all, really, outside of his family. “And the business?” I prod. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
“Right now, I’m talking about you and Violet.”
My brows wrinkle. “What about Vi?”
“I like Violet. I like her a lot.” He sighs. “I just don’t want you to regret it.”
