“She hasn’t told you everything. She has ignored many of his activities. I don’t trust him. He’s not a good man, and a horrible father. I knew he wouldn’t be happy if she moved, but I knew the family would protect her if she did. Now that she has four mates, I wasn’t as worried.” She stands straight. “Don’t underestimate him.”
“We won’t.” If I didn’t know she had just gotten home, I would think she had overheard us speaking. “Thanks, Rylee.”
“No problem.” She turns slightly. “I’m a wonderful person.” She grins. “I’m going to sleep since I won’t be having any sexy times tonight,” she sighs.
“Sleep well,” I chuckle.
“Let’s hope.”
I watch her disappear before going back to Haven’s room. I shut the door and drag the chair to the side of the bed. I take off my shoes, settle back, and prop my feet on the bed. Watching them sleep, I know I won’t be getting any. I’m proud of Lawson, but I feel the need to watch over them. Haven seems so smallcompared to my brother, and it makes me want to protect her more. Having her move in will ease our fears for her safety. I want to show her our home. She will have plenty of beds to choose from, but I’m glad Hunter insisted we choose a house with an extra room. I don’t want her to feel pressured to sleep with one of us, and she can have her own space. Our world has narrowed, and we don’t care about anything but her.
It took all my control to let the moment be all about Lawson, but I know my time will come.
Once it does, I hope she can accept everything I am.
Chapter Sixteen
Haven
Iwondered why I woke up alone, with the blankets tucked around me. Now I know. After a quick shower and dressing casually, I walked out of my room and sensed a different vibe in the room. They greeted me, but haven’t said much since. Lawson is dressed, sitting beside his brothers, looking serious. They are hesitant. It doesn’t fit their personalities. I jump when there is a knock at the door. Bane moves quickly to answer, and I gasp as he helps the man on the other side bring in canvases. I slowly stand.
“He got them all,” Bane rumbles, and I blink.
“My mom’s pictures.” I swallow and want to hug him. “You promised, and you delivered.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Bane asks. I stop fighting the urge and walk to him, slide my arms around his waist, and hug him tightly.
“Thank you,” I whisper, grasping the back of his shirt tightly. He wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“I didn’t paint them,” he mumbles. “Thanks, man. Pay him.” I tip my head back to see Bane looking toward the couch. “My hands are full.” I bite my lip, and he looks down at me. His eyes narrow on my lips, and I part them. “Are you giving out a reward?” I frown, and he tightens his arm. “Hugs.”
“We can call it that.” I smile.
“I’ll take it, even though you don’t need to pay me back for doing something nice.” He leans down. “And you can hug me anytime, for any reason.”
“Noted,” I say, still grinning.
“Mmm…” he hums, bending further. “I changed my mind. I want another reward.”
“Okay,” I whisper. I expect a kiss.
“Move in with us.”
“What?” I gasp.
“You say I’m tactful,” Lawson grumbles.
“Your father is a dick,” Bane continues. “He searched your place after our guy was there. We don’t know what kind of threat he is, and until we do, we'll have him watched. You need to be safely behind our doors with the four of us. It never fails that when someone in this family finds their mate, shit happens. I haven’t seen it every time, but I’ve heard stories about it. Nothing will happen to you.”
“My father was there?” I whisper, my stomach cramping. I knew it was a possibility, and it explains why I feel watched more often than not. My place is under surveillance. I’ve been living my life ignoring the hints of his presence and telling myself I've put him in the past. Brian must have admitted that we broke up, but luckily he doesn’t know where I was going.
“He had two guys with him,” Hunter says. I pull out of Bane’s arms, his eyes narrow, but I avoid his gaze. “Who are they?”
“Big guys? Suits? One with blonde hair, the other with brown?” I ask.
“Yeah. That was the description we got,” Bane says.
I glance at him quickly and then away.
