Elaina

by Jennifer Hanks

“Okay!” I yelled back, uncertain she heard me over the music. I followed behind her until I saw Pike on the other side of the bar, his eyes scanning the dance floor and I pulled on her arm. She looked back at me and I pointed to Pike motioning to go towards him and she steered us through the crowd until we were only a few steps away from him.

  His gaze shifted and landed on us just as I was about to call out to him. His body jerked and he looked around the room behind us before stepping forward, getting right into my space.

  “What are you doing here?” He said loudly in my ear.

  I leaned in to talk in his ear. “Paige wanted to see this place and I told her I’d have a drink with her and then I could tell you in person that I was heading home.”

  He nodded, but his eyes kept doing the scanning thing all around me. It was obvious even Paige saw it because she looked at me with an odd expression before shrugging her shoulders in an, ‘I don’t know what he’s doing’ kind of way.

  “I don’t think you should be here Lanie. It’s not safe. It’s too hard to keep an eye on you.” He pulled me towards the bar and stood me beside it on the far end. “Just wait here, I’m gonna fill in a few of my guys and then I’ll follow you home.”

  Talking to Pike on my couch today, he seemed fun and easygoing, but this was not the same guy. He seemed agitated and maybe even a little angry at us for coming. I wasn’t sure whether that irritated me or made me scared to think they knew something about the robbery that they weren’t telling me.

  I leaned in to Paige when she came to stand beside me. “He said I need to leave. It’s not safe here.”

  She shook her head in confusion. “But he’s here and like five other security guys. I see them with their earpieces in.” She pointed across the room and I frowned because she was right, I saw a bunch too. I scanned along the dance floor and saw another security guard, one Pike was talking too and so I continued my gazing when my eyes as if on their own snapped back to the dance floor. I pushed forward, believing my eyes were deceiving me, ignoring Paige calling my name knowing she was right behind me until I came to the edge of the dance floor.

  I heard her gasp and felt her arm link with me and pull me tight to her side. He was there. Jake was there and he was dancing with her. Julie. They weren’t just dancing, they were wrapped tightly around each other, moving slowly, their bodies in perfect rhythm with each other. It was beautiful to watch two people so lost in one another, so obviously in love, tangled up swaying in perfect sync to the song.

  He must’ve felt my stare because his head jerked up and his eyes shot around the room until they finally landed on me. Paige pulled at my arm, but I couldn’t move. We locked eyes and his face paled, that was clear even in the dim lights, but he didn’t pull away from her, he didn’t come to me, he stayed wrapped around her and stared at me. I felt an arm cross my shoulders and heard Pike’s voice in my ear whisper, “Let’s go Lanie.”

  I closed my eyes needing to stop seeing them together and dropped my head, my face pointing to the floor, allowing Pike to steer me across the room. Paige stayed beside me until we got outside when I shook free of everyone, gave Paige a hug and without a word, climbed in my car and started it up.

  Sitting in my car, I watched as Pike said something to Paige and she nodded before he jogged to his truck at the front of the lot and got in. Once he backed out, I did the same and pulled out onto the road, heading home.

  Home.

  To be alone.

  I should’ve never thought I could be anything else because when you’re reminded that you can’t, it only hurts that much more.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  JAKE

  “Brother, don’t do it.” Cam had his hand flat against my chest, locked in the back office of the bar with Striker by the door. “We’re going to get Julie. She’s already talking, just ride it out for a little while longer.” I looked into his eyes, my mind stuck on repeat of Lanie’s face when she saw us. “Please.”

  “Did you see Lanie’s face Cam?” My voice was hoarse.

  He shook his head. “No, I didn’t, but I’m sure I didn’t need to.”

  “She just stood there man, staring at me, like, I don’t know, like she couldn’t believe I’d hurt her that way. No drama, nothing, just stood there.”

  “She’s not one of your usual women Jake. I don’t think you’re going to see much drama with her.”

  “I’ve never had that, man. I don’t know what to do with that. Julie would’ve thrown a fit, probably physically attacked whoever I was dancing with and then got in my face.”

  “Do you like that shit?” Cam asked, seriously.

  “I never cared either way because I never cared if she was pissed. But with Lanie, I feel like a douche, like I want her to scream in my face because I deserve it.”

  I was pacing the room feeling caged and itchy, wanting to go to her, tell her the truth, that it’s all pretend, that I would never choose Julie over her, that I’m only doing what I’m doing because my brothers need me, but I can’t tell her shit. I have to keep lying and hating myself a little more with every single lie.

  “Jake,” Cam’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “I know you feel like shit right now and I can see how this is tearing you up, but think about the end result, for you, for Luke, for Braydon.”

  I stopped pacing, threw my hands on my hips and threw a glare in his direction. “Would you do this to Sydney? If you were in my situation, would you play these games with Syd?”

  He pulled his hand back and then put both hands on his hips. “I did do this shit to Syd and I hated every fucking minute of it Jake, but in the long run we got a fucking drug dealer off the streets and I was able to keep Syd safe.” He lowered his head before continuing. “I’m not proud of it Jake but I felt like I had to do it. Originally for Pike, but then for myself and Syd. You know the story, man, you know I’m right.”

  He was right, I did know the story. I knew he believed Pike died on the last mission they ever took together when they were marines. The only thing Pike ever wanted to do was finish that mission, and get home to find the man responsible for his sister’s death. When he died, Cam took the blame for that and made it his mission to avenge both of their deaths. Our family lost two years with my brother while he went so deep undercover with the DEA, he lost himself, until he found Sydney, the one person it turned out who could help him avenge those deaths and bring Cam back to life, bring him back to us. Their story’s amazing, but it’s rare that love can withstand that kind of abuse, especially in the early days, and my time with Lanie had just started.

  He put his hands on my shoulders. “Give me a little more time. I promise I will do whatever it takes to help you fix this shit with Lanie, but I need more time.”

  I looked over his head at Striker, the man who came back from the Navy with Brody, a man of few words, but I’ve paid attention over the last year and usually when there’s something important to say, he has the right words. He’s a scary bastard, but he’s loyal and that means a hell of a lot in my book. Maybe that’s why I can’t stand who I’ve had to become and what I’ve had to do.

  “What do you think?”

  Striker’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “You need to finish this for your brother and your boy.”

  I closed my eyes because he was right. I needed to do this for Braydon too.

  Striker angled his body in front of the door when we heard a knock before he pulled it open, stepping to the side only after he saw who stood on the other side.

  Pike walked through, his expression unreadable. He’d followed her out of the bar when she left and what did I do, I kept dancing because I was playing a game instead of being the one to follow her home and beg her to understand my reasoning.

  “She good?” Cam directed his question at Pike, but I felt his presence come closer to where I stood, my eyes locked on Pike.

  He ran his hand over his shaggy dirty blond hair. “I have no fucking clue.”

  “What do you mean?” I
got in his face. “I thought you were getting her home.”

  Pike’s hand came out to lay against my shoulder. “I did, man, so did Paige. We followed her home, I checked the house, she thanked me, and in a really nice way kicked both of our asses out.”

  “Did Paige leave too?”

  “Yeah, she said Lanie usually needs some time alone to process, she said she’d keep checking on her, but…”

  When he hesitated, I persisted. “What?”

  He rubbed his hand across his forehead. “I don’t know. It was something she said and it was really nothing, but it keeps replaying in my mind.”

  “What the hell did she say?”

  He dropped his hand back down to rest on his hip. “I asked her if she was okay and she said, ‘I’m fine, I completely understand.’”

  “Completely understands what?” I asked, impatiently.

  “No clue, man, that’s all she said and sent me on my way.”

  I ran my hand along the back of my neck, agitated. “Cam, brother, I can’t do this to her.”

  He sighed. “Jake…”

  “You don’t understand. A few weeks ago, she overheard me saying to Julie I’d never want someone like Lanie. I explained I’d only said that because I was trying to protect her from Julie. I figured if Julie didn’t think she was a threat, she’d leave her alone, but I didn’t want her to hear that, she did and she was hurt. I’d just got done convincing her that I’m not the douche I was acting like and now this.” I threw my hands in the air. “How the fuck am I going to come back from this?”

  Another knock on the door was the only sound in a completely silent room. I guess nobody knew how to come back from this or if I even could. My gut told me it was the latter.

  Striker yanked it open and Gia poked her head in. “She’s looking for you.”

  I nodded and she backed out, Striker closing the door again.

  Cam ran his hand along the back of his neck. “I don’t know man, I really don’t. All I know is if I send Nick into that den of criminals, the answers we need won’t come any time soon and I know, from my time undercover, that he’s not coming out of that the same man he was going in. I don’t want to see another good man lose himself to that fucked up world.”

  “I don’t want that either.” I admitted. “But I can’t lose her.”

  He straightened. “You won’t. I need some time, Jake, but I’ll think of something, I promise. We’ll find a way to get you out of this. Just give me some time, okay?”

  I stared at him, confident he would try his hardest to make that true, but not sure I believed it was possible. I nodded, feeling like I’d already lost the best thing I’d just found.

  “You good?” Cam asked.

  “As good as I can be.” I glanced around the room. “Let’s just get this shit done.”

  He slapped me on the back of my shoulder. “Thanks man.”

  He gave me a chin lift.

  “Jake.” Striker’s low voice echoed through the quiet room. I lifted my head to meet his glare. “She’ll be there. The good ones like her, like your brother’s have, they’ll be there. She’s stronger than you think and in the end, she’ll be there and she’ll understand.”

  “And if she doesn’t?”

  He shrugged. “Then she wasn’t who any of us thought she was and she sure as hell doesn’t deserve you or this family.”

  I was surprised by that, by his words, although I shouldn’t have been. I knew how much our family had come to mean to Striker, who grew up with no family of his own. He’d tell anyone who asks and has said it many times, that he has two brothers in this world and neither share his blood. Kyle who he met in foster care and kept safe until they both joined the Navy together. Kyle works for Elite Securities as some genius hacker and Brody, who Striker met while a SEAL on the same team.

  “I’m starting to believe I don’t deserve her.”

  “That’s bullshit.” Striker’s voice was gruff. “Brody’s the best man I’ve ever known, I’d lay my life down for him and he’d do the same for me, I know that without asking. Way I see it you were all raised by the same two people and I’ve watched you all put your asses on the line for each other. The way you’ve taken all of us in, given us a family, we know what that’s worth because we never had it. As far as I’m concerned you all deserve the best life can give you.”

  I took his words in, appreciating them, but even more appreciating the man they were coming from. He’d dropped his eyes to the floor, probably as surprised as the rest of us that he’d let something so personal show so I moved to him.

  Standing in front of him, I put my hand to his shoulder and leaned in, not able to contain the grin tugging my lips. “Do you need a hug?”

  “Jesus Jake.” Cam cleared his throat.

  “Fuck off.” Striker replied, but I watched his lips twitch like he was trying not to smile.

  I leaned forward and grabbed the door handle, pulling it open, but before I stepped through I looked back. “I hope you know you have more brothers than just Kyle and Brody, man.” I smirked before heading back into the hallway and yelling out behind me. “Whether you want them or not!”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  JAKE

  I frowned when my phone rang, interrupting my workday. I considered ignoring it, but my hope was that it would be Cam giving me the good news that I could quit this fake relationship with Julie. I pulled the still ringing phone from my front pocket and swore when it wasn’t my brother or any of my brothers as a matter of fact.

  I pushed talk. “Cole, what’s up?”

  It wasn’t all that unusual for Cole to be calling me. We were both about the same age, him being stuck in the year between Ben and I and growing up we spent a lot of time playing and then partying together when we were older. We’d lost touch in the last few years, spending less time together with him starting up his own garage and Ben and I taking over the construction business my father and his father built.

  “I’m calling to let you know something about your girls’ car.”

  I threw my hand on my hip. “Lanie?”

  He snickered. “You got another girl I don’t know about?”

  “Not one I want.” I mumbled.

  “What?”

  I cleared my throat. “Nothing man, what’s going on with her car?”

  “Remember when we brought it in and you and I spent time talking with our dads?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I had the new kid I hired replace her tires.”

  “Right, I remember. Did he screw them up or something? She hasn’t said anything.” Although how would I know? We haven’t actually spoken.

  “No, nothing like that. He rolled them outside and stacked them against the side wall like we do, but I hadn’t looked at them.” He paused. “Until today that is.”

  That was weeks ago, I had no idea why that was a big deal now. “And?”

  “The tire that was flat on her driver’s side was slashed on the backside.” Concerned laced his voice.

  I straightened, a pit forming in my stomach. “Someone cut her tire?”

  “Looks that way.”

  “Couldn’t have been from a piece of glass or something?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

  He sighed. “Not a gash like that.”

  I ran my hand across the back of my neck. “Damn it.”

  “I heard from Paige that her place was broken into.” He continued.

  “Yeah it was. You thinking they could be connected?” Fear bubbled in my gut.

  “I’m thinking you should call your brothers.”

  I nodded even though he couldn’t’ see me. “Yeah, me too. Thanks for letting me know.”

  “No problem, sorry I didn’t take a look at them before, just assumed it was regular wear and tear since her other tires weren’t in great shape.”

  “Me too actually.” I paused, but pushed forward, something else on my mind. “I’m surprised Paige told you about the break in. It didn’t seem like
you two were all that close.”

  It was obvious even over the phone that he was gritting his teeth. “We’re not. She was upset and I asked why. It was the most normal conversation we’ve ever had.”

  I glanced back towards the house, checking up on my guys. “What’s up with you two anyway? Why all the animosity?”

  He grunted. “Let’s just say, Paige thinks she’s too good for a grease monkey like me.”

  I threw up my hand in a wave as Chase approached the house and gestured him inside to wait for me. “Makes sense now. You asked her out and she blew you off?”

  “Nah, man, I didn’t even get the chance to ask before she let me know exactly what she thought of me.”

  I frowned, because the little bit I knew of Paige, that didn’t sound like her. “Sorry, man, I wouldn’t have expected that from her.”

  “Yeah, well maybe I only get that part of her sparkling personality.” He said sarcastically.

  I chuckled. “Sounds like it.”

  He let out a frustrated sound. “Alright man, I’ll hang on to those tires just in case they want to take a look.”

  “That’d be good. Thanks.”

  “You got it. Have any time for a beer soon?”

  I thought about the last time I went out for a beer with my brothers, but shook off the anger brewing. “I’ll text you soon as I get a chance, and I’ll drag Ben along too.”

  “Sounds good man. Later.”

  “Later.” I disconnected, the pit in my stomach still lingering and pulled up my favorites list, found the name I needed and pressed call.

  “Yeah?”

  “Nice way to answer the phone. Real professional.”

  Cam chuckled. “I saw it was you, ass wipe. What do you want?”

  “Cole just called me. He had a kid in his garage change the tires on Lanie’s car a while back when she had a flat and he finally took the time to look them over.”

  “So?” Cam said.

  “So, he said the flat one was slashed and it wasn’t from glass or anything.”

  “Fuck.” Cam’s voice was tight.