Page 88 of Allegiant

“None taken, kid.”

Cade shoots me a look as Rowan confirms he truly has no idea who lives next to him, who he’s been baking, shopping, and doing laundry for.

“I don’t get why you’re here,” Rowan says, sliding onto the stool next to Larry. “You’re the one who told Samson to show me his family home.”

“Yeah, but then you didn’t come home,” Larry says tightly. “Had to make sure you were safe and not being kept against your will.”

His eyes linger on each of us in turn before stopping on me. I shake my head minutely. Rowan’s not a prisoner here, but I’m also not prepared to let him leave.

He must see something in my face that satisfies him as he turns back to his plate. “Never can trust people these days.”

“Aw, you do care about me.” Rowan lights up, putting an arm around Larry’s shoulders and delivering a smacking kiss to his cheek. “I knew it! It was the brownies, wasn’t it? No one can resist them.”

“Hell no.” Larry sniffs. “Just didn’t want someone new moving into your apartment. I’d have to get used to a new person. And they might be even more annoying than you.”

Larry can protest all he wants, but given he strolled into our home, armed and ready to fight for Rowan, we all know he cares. He’d already gone up in my estimation when he called me to say Rowan needed me, but now?

I think I might feel just as protective over the old curmudgeon as Rowan.

“I do think it’s in our best interests that we have that discussion,” Wylder says. “Now that you’ve eaten, we can make sure we’re all on the same page.”

“What page?” Rowan’s head snaps up. “What are you talking about?”

Larry ignores the questions. So do I, but I have to grit my teeth to stop myself from speaking. Keeping who we are, what we do, from Rowan feels harder with every minute I spend with him.

Larry studies Wylder shrewdly. “Is there a page we all need to be on?”

Translation: Is there a situation involving Rowan I need to know about?

He nods. “We believe so.”

Translation: There’s a big fucking situation.

“Okay.” Larry nods. “Best show me to your lair, or whatever the fuck it is you Buckinghams use.”

My lips twitch, and they’re not the only ones. I think Larry will have a few loyal fans here by the time this meeting’s through.

Rowan gets to his feet to follow, something Wylder notices immediately. He catches my eye and shakes his head firmly. My heart sinks, but I nod in agreement. Rowan can’t come to this meeting and be kept in the dark about The Firm. Or about how much danger he’s in.

The first, I don’t give a shit about. But the second? If Rowan knows there’s some crazy fucker who’s taken a hit out on him, he’ll be terrified. Fuck, it might even put him off performing, the one thing that brings him the most happiness. I can’t have that. I won’t.

I’ll destroy anything that threatens to dim Rowan’s shine.

I catch Rowan around the waist and pull him to me. “Why don’t you go get dressed and see what Neo and Ansel are up to?”

Rowan grins. “Hate to point this out, but you’re the one just in a towel. At least I have a robe on.”

I grunt. “Yeah, but it’s not the same. I don’t give a fuck if they catch a glimpse of my balls.”

“We definitely give a fuck,” Dalton calls over his shoulder as he hustles after Wylder and Larry. “Put some damn pants on.”

I flip him the bird over my shoulder before turning back to Rowan. His eyes are soft, his grin slightly goofy. “But you care if they see mine?”

“Damn fucking right I do,” I growl, sliding a hand under his robe to palm his naked ass. “This is all mine. Don’t you forget it.”

He gives a small groan, his hands twitching against my chest. “This level of possessiveness shouldn’t be attractive.”

“Might want to tell your cock that.”