Page 52 of Revenge & Truth

“Babe, I know you’re having trouble believing us when we tell you we’re all in, but that’s the fucking truth. It’s clear getting you to rely on us will take some work, but I appreciate the challenge,” Jace shared, kissing me again before taking my hand and leading the way out of my rooms.

Dropping us off at the elevator, Jace leaned in to kiss Braxton but paused to look at me. “Let me make this clear to both of you. No matter what the situation is between Braxton and me, you never have to ask to show affection to your boyfriend. You’ve brought me into your relationship, and as I’ve told you both, I will never be a stumbling block to that.”

Jace squeezed my hand reassuringly. “I hear you loud and clear, Astin, but in the same regard, I don’t want to step on your relationship. So, if you’ve set a rule for him like the other day when he wasn’t allowed to come for the day, just give me a heads up so I don’t cause him to get in trouble.”

“Easily done,” I agreed.

Jace grabbed hold of Braxton’s face and kissed the man like he wasn’t ever going to see him again. “Be good, Brax. I love you, and I’ll see you later.” Stepping back, he grinned and pointed at us both. “You two have a great day and try to get some work done, would ya?”

Flipping Jace off, I went to push the elevator button, but Braxton beat me to it. Boykov chuckled as he joined us. “This is going to be an interesting morning if the two of you are teaming up.”

“What does that mean?” I asked with a huff as we stepped into the metal box.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Boykov answered, clasping his hands and fixing his attention on the descending numbers on the screen.

With a grunt and a sideways glance, I shook out my skirt, making sure it wasn’t tucked in some awkward spot before meeting the leader of a biker gang. While the Rebel Order was far more pleasant to deal with than their predecessor, they were still men. The less opportunity I gave them to piss me off, the better it was for all involved.

Stepping into my office, I made a cup of coffee and snagged a muffin that someone thought to leave on the tray. I spotted a note on the napkin and paused to read it…

Have a good day, omae. I’ll let you know as soon as matters are dealt with.

-L

P.S. Please eat something.

It was clear these men were on a combined mission to get me to rely on them, and they were making compelling arguments. Who could turn down food when it came with a super sweet note? Smiling to myself, I sat at my desk and proceeded to unwrap the muffin and pop a chunk in my mouth. I groaned when the cinnamon chip flavor flooded my mouth and thanked my lucky stars Glenda was in charge of the food in this house.

A hand rested on my shoulder, causing me to snap my attention to Braxton. He nodded his head toward the seating area of my office. Following his gaze, I found two burly bikers reclining in the two armchairs and feet propped on the antique mahogany coffee table—the table my mother had shipped from her home in Nepreea.

Why?

Why the fuck did people make me become the bitch in situations like this?

“Now I know I must still be sleeping because who in their right fucking mind would dare to treat my office like a goddamn clubhouse,” I snarled, locking eyes with Jimsom, the Rebel Oath’s president.

The man’s green eyes flicked down to his feet then back to me as he set them on the floor. His vice president, Tinker, didn’t seem to grasp my meaning, causing Jimsom to punch the man’s leg. “Get your fucking foot off the furniture.”

Tinker scowled and like a fucking child, dragged his foot off, making a horrible squeaking noise as he did it. Shooting up from my seat, I made to explain the error of his ways, but Braxton was already gripping the man’s shirt and yanked him out of the chair only to drop him on the floor. Braxton then pulled out a knife, cut the laces to Tinker’s boots, and ripped them off his feet. Then in a move I couldn’t be prouder of, he chucked them in the fireplace that had a brightly burning fire.

“The fuck,” Tinker yelled as he scrambled to his feet. “Those are my goddamn boots, you crazy motherfucker.”

Braxton didn’t utter a word. He merely came to stand in his spot at my shoulder, a satisfied smile lingering on his face. I had to use all the skills I’d developed in my life to keep from laughing my ass off. Instead, I cocked my head at Jimson, clearly asking if he was going to handle his second or if I had to.

“Tinker, sit the fuck down and shut your fucking mouth,” Jimson barked, grabbed the back of his second’s cut, and dragged him away from the fire. “It’s your own damn fault for losing those boots. Now you’re gonna have to deal with it.”

Satisfied he had things in hand, I grabbed my coffee and walked around the front of my desk to lean against it. “Either one of you care to tell me how you ended up in my office before me?”

“The security guy at the front door walked us back,” Jimson answered.

“I see.” Leaning back, I hit the button for Ryker’s office, guessing that’s where he’d be.

“Astin, is everything all right?” Ryker asked, picking up on the second ring.

Picking up the receiver, not wanting to share the whole conversation, I explained what just happened. “So now I need you to find who that person was and bury him where they can be of use fertilizing our garden.”

“I’m on it,” Ryker assured me, his words tinged with the violence I knew was about to come.

Hanging up, I took a sip of my coffee, savoring the knowledge that Ryker was about to remind his people why he was given the position he had. It wasn’t just because of his connection to me or my father—he had a darkness inside him as well. The difference was it only came out when I was in danger.