Page 65 of Thaddeus

This had heartbreak written all over it.

I wasn’t even sure I knew how to be in a relationship. Hell, I didn’t even know who I was anymore. I was sure, however, Thaddeus deserved better than me and one day he’d wake up and realize how stupid this had been. Us holding onto the past, like lightning would strike twice and we could have what we once shared.

Further, I knew I was gonna take the chance even though I was scared to death because I needed this time. He did have one thing right; it would be worth the pain I’d feel after he left me.

That was, if I survived.

“Well, well, well, look what we have here.” Max’s comment had my head snapping in his direction. “Looks like someone owes me a bottle of Grey Goose?”

Thad stopped our progress when we hit the bottom of the stairs and stood still.

“You?” Declan asked with a shake of his head. “I think he owes me a couple of cigars and a bottle of scotch. Not to mention, Zane’s giving me a raise. And I want it on record, we’re not ever doing this shit again.”

“It’ll be better if we just wait them out,” Thad whispered.

“Wait for them to do what?”

“Dish out their shit. There are only four of them, it’ll be quick.”

“You mean five,” Tatiana spoke up. “I think I remember you saying it was amusing when Brooks and I were working through our issues.”

“Issues?” Declan chimed in. “Is that what we’re calling that clusterfuck now?”

I was kind of lost and wasn’t sure what any of them were talking about.

“No. I said, it was amusing watching Brooks chase his tail while the two of you were dancing around each other,” Thad told her.

“Yeah, and I remember you fuckin’ with me thinking it was funny cuddling up next to her on the couch,” Brooks added.

Say what? Thad had cuddled Tatiana?

“That was not cuddling, that was working. It wasn’t my fault you were jealous. And besides, I think I more than made up for it with the pint of blood I gave your wife. And I picked out her wedding ring.”

Thad gave Tatiana a pint of blood? What? I was so lost.

“Dude,” Max interjected. “I picked out her ring.”

“The hell you did. I’m the one who found it in the first place,” Kyle said.

“Jesus,” Declan mumbled. “I’m putting Zane’s name in the hat for sainthood. Serious as shit, the next one of you fuckers who thinks about finding a woman, I’m castrating you. Straight out, chopping your balls off.”

“Don’t look at me, that’s never gonna happen. I’m a one-man show.” Max put his hands in front of him, warding off emanate castration.

“Yeah, ya are. And you have the callouses to prove it.” Kyle laughed.

“Fuck off, at least I’ve had a woman. I’m on the fence about you being a virgin,” Max groused.

“Brother, you’ve got to be joking. Kyle is a dog.” Brooks laughed.

“Now that you all have successfully scared the shit outta my woman, do you think we can cut the shit?” Thad asked.

“Right. Better to start as you intend to go and she needs to know straightaway what she’s dealing with,” Max told him.

“Well, that was easy.” I looked up at Thad. “I thought they’d give you more shit.”

“Don’t encourage them, agápi mou, they have more to dish out, trust me.”

“So while you lazy asses were all catching up on your beauty rest, Garrett called,” Declan said. My eyes zeroed in on the cut at his throat and I winced. He got so damn lucky. “Remember when we were investigating Al Issa and Tex found out Falcon Holding was really laundering money from the ancient artifacts?”