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To his credit, Tate’s expression straightened, a small smirk still appeared at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t worry, your girl has already given me a proper tongue lashing about scaring my big bad mama bear.” He sighed but he was serious now. “I needed to decompress for a while and I knew you guys would want to party straight off. I needed to get my head on straight first.”
“And before that?” Now that he was okay and free, I wanted some damn answers. “I haven’t seen you or talked to you in months, Tate.”
He blew out a breath and took a sip of the steaming cup of coffee cradled in his hands. His familiar gray gaze cut to Jana and she gave an encouraging nod. “I needed to make sure the government couldn’t use any club business against me.”
The words hung in the air between us and I resisted the urge to look at Jana because I couldn’t bear to see her wearing an arrogant grin.
“Have a seat,” Jana broke into the contemplative silence and slid a tall stack of pancakes on the table, then eggs and bacon and fruit.
“How did you find me?” Savior was the only one who knew about Jana and he didn’t know her last name.
“Your phone. I knocked an hour ago and Jana was kind enough to let me in instead of calling the police.”
She grinned and blushed prettily. “I figured you probably had enough of them to last you a lifetime. Plus, the resemblance is strong, even with the different hair color.” Head down, she kept her focus on the breakfast while Tate and I caught up.
“You plan on staying at the compound?”
Tate shook his head. “Nah, I need my own space. I have a hotel stipend for a few weeks so I’ll use that while I figure it out.”
“Bullshit. I have a spare room. It’s only got a bed and a nightstand, but its yours for however long you want it.”
He grinned but I could see the strain it caused. “Thanks, Max.”
“I’m just so fucking happy you’re out, man.”
“Me too.” He smiled and for a moment I caught a glimpse of the boy he used to be before life had shown him what an unfair bitch she could be.
“Eat,” Jana insisted, “or I’ll start to believe you prefer prison food to mine.”
Tate laughed and it was genuine this time. “Yes ma’am. And if I’d gotten food this good in prison, it wouldn’t have been so bad.” He ate quickly and I could see a restless, unsettled quality that hadn’t been there before. “Would you like me to help with something?”
Jana frowned and shook her head. “No. You’re a guest.”
“Uninvited,” he added with a bit of anger.
Jana wasn’t fazed though, she turned big green eyes up at him and arched a brow. “That’s still a guest.” They were locked in a stare down and I didn’t know if I should intervene or not.
But Tate relaxed. “Okay then. Thanks for breakfast, Jana. It was nice to meet you.”
“You too, Tate. And I’m happy you got your freedom back.”
He blinked, uncomfortable for a moment with her words but then I saw acceptance dawn. “Thanks. Me too.”
The moment was so tender, so intimate I felt like an outsider and he was my brother. What the fuck was wrong with me? “I’ll walk you out.” I took a quick detour to hand off my house keys. “Use whatever you like, except my underwear and my condoms.”
Tate flashed a grin. “I’m all set in that regard, thanks.”
“You need cash?”
He shook his head. “No. What I need is someone who can go through my bank statements. Even though I’ve been cleared of the crime, the government isn’t willing to give up the money they confiscated from me. It’s a lot of fucking money, Max.”
I sighed, knowing that my morning plans with Jana were about to be derailed. Again. “Come on back in, you should talk to Jana. If she can’t help, she can point you in the right direction.”
“What? That little bitty thing in the kitchen?”
I grinned and followed behind him. “That little bitty thing is an accountant.”
“No shit? How’d you find her?”
