Page 82 of Stealing Blinds

It used to be mind-boggling that she was so young and wild, but so willing to shackle herself to a future that would have tighter reins than Axel had ever had on her. Marriage and kids weren’t really on my agenda, so I was surprised they were at the top of hers. But I think I see the appeal now.

“That’s why I’m calling.” She peers quickly over her shoulder toward the door. “Things have gotten pretty intense here. I honestly don’t know everything. The guys keep a lid on it until they can’t, and while that used to bug me, with all the little ones now, I just … don’t want to know.”

This is what I expected, so I don’t hold back. “Was it Axel or Jax who put you up to calling me?”

Her brows furrow. “Neither. You think they’d use me to manipulate you? And that I’d go for it?”

The fact that she knows what I’m referring to but is still indignant has me baffled.

“I considered it.”

“Well, they wouldn’t,” she scoffs. “And I definitely wouldn’t. Maddox called me.”

“Mad?” I repeat, struggling to keep up. “About what?”

“He said you met someone. That she’s great, but it’s messy.”

I huff a sardonic laugh. “That’s accurate.”

“Don’t tell me why it’s messy.” She peers over her shoulder again, nervous someone might walk in maybe. “If it comes down to it, I will have to make decisions that are best for this family. For Ty and the babies and everyone else here.”

“Of course you will.” My head starts pounding again, so I jump up and pace. “What the hell is going on, Rena?”

“You’re not getting it. That doesn’t matter.” She sighs, her eyes watery. “I want that for you.”

I shake my head. “For me to make difficult decisions?”

“For you to have someone to make difficult decisions for. Maddox didn’t tell me much, which is best. But if they’re pressuring you to leverage your relationship, it’s not coming from me. Mom would want you to have a life like this—or your version of it. Not kids necessarily, but whatever that looks like. Choose it.” As easygoing as Rena is, she can’t mask the hint of panic in her voice.

That throbbing in my temple is mimicked in my thudding heart. “You guys have had more serious threats?”

“This is the life I chose, Cash. Like I said, I don’t know specifics. I’ve gotten really good at reading between the lines though, so I know enough. And you putting the good in your life at risk won’t make enough of a difference for what’s happening here.”

“I appreciate that.” I heave another ragged breath. “Being an adult fucking sucks.” That at least has her giggling again with an emphatic nod before I offer a more serious, “I’m always here.”

“I know.” She blows a kiss to the screen. “I miss you so much. I gotta go, but I’ll call again soon. Oh, and Maddox promised me real-time footage of you being whipped, so if you could really lean into it and give me one hell of a show, I’d be ever so grateful. You know I live for glimpses of La Lune Noire mayhem and you guys making asses of yourselves.”

“On it,” I deadpan. “Thanks.”

“Love you,” she warbles.

“Love you.” I end the call, toss my phone onto the lounger, and dive back into the deep end.

There’s a boulder planted on my chest. I’m so fucking stressed. There’s no way I could sleep after that. So, laps it is.

Maybe the most fucked-up part of all of this is no matter how twisted shit gets, all I want is to talk to Sylvie. Which makes very little sense. We’ve had a handful of deep conversations. That’s probably no big deal to her. But to me? It’s everything. I’ve never talked to anyone like I find myself opening up to her.

After about twenty minutes of exhausting myself with freestyle swimming, I jut out of the water, letting the night air and scent of chlorine feed my lungs. I shake out my hair, wipe the droplets from my face, and turn to find the most breathtaking creature there ever was.

And the boulder is back.

She’s kind of a mess. In the most exquisite way. Her dark hair is swirled into a knot on top of her head, her eyes are red-rimmed but honest, my T-shirt is devouring her petite frame, and her cute little toes are perched on the first step inside the pool.

“Good to see you, Palmer.” I swim until I reach the depth where I can stand, wading there so I don’t close in on her too quickly. “How long you been there?”

“A while.” She rolls her lips, peering at the city before looking back at me. “Ten or fifteen minutes maybe.”

“You okay?”