Hours later, I was pacing the floor of the suite, cycling between irritation and fear. Buster had kept me practicing until my arms felt like noodles. He’d finally let me quit, after commenting that we needed to work on my endurance.
I’d been so tired I couldn’t even summon anger at his observation, instead collapsing on the sofa. A glance at the clock revealed we’d been working out for three hours, three hours! But, as I was about to ream him for commenting on my endurance I saw him check his phone with a worried frown.
It dawned on me that we hadn’t heard from Ian or Michael, after they’d assured us they would only be gone a couple hours. I still didn’t know what business they were attending to, but it was apparent Buster did, and their lack of communication had him worried. Concern tightened my chest as Buster handed me a bottle of water. He attempted to give me an easy grin, but I could see through it. He’d used the long workout as a distraction, but without it, worry quickly set in.
My unease didn’t have a clear cause. They could have had car trouble or been delayed. I didn’t even know where or who they were meeting with. Michael had business meetings all the time, and I hadn’t imagined there would be anything different about this one.
“Where are they?” I asked Buster abruptly, and as his gaze shifted away, I knew it was the question I wasn’t supposed to ask. “Buster, you’ve been distracting me. I want to know why. Are they in trouble?”
He met my eyes then.
“Define trouble.” He crumpled the empty plastic bottle in his hand. “They had a meeting. Didn’t tell me much about it, to be honest. Bloody buggers.” He shook his head. “I had a feeling it was something out of the norm. Especially when they wanted me to stay with you. But I don’t know what they were doing.”
“But you know where?” I persisted, ready to go wherever they were and make sure they were okay. I might feel as strong as a wet noodle at the moment, but if they were in danger, I would help them. Buster’s phone rang the next moment, and from the relief that flashed across his face it was one of the brothers.
“Michael.” His voice was clipped, tension radiating from him as he listened. His eyes flickered over to me a couple of times and I sat up, watching him. He stepped away, his voice too low for me to hear him, and I stood up to follow him. A reluctant smile crossed his face at the sight of my clenched fists and determined frown. “Feisty. She’s feisty. We have our hands full with this one.” He busted out laughing at whatever Michael said and motioned to me. “Ian wants to talk to you, lass. And I’m to warn you … I will tie you up, if necessary.”
I scowled at his threat and jerked the phone from his hand.
“Are you okay?” I demanded to know. Their safety was my first priority after I had the niggling thought that whatever business they had somehow involved me. If they’d been harmed on my account I would have to bust out my new moves on someone.
“We’re fine, Jane. I swear to you.” Ian’s voice reassured me faster than anything did, and I allowed the sound to soothe away my nagging fear. “Now, I need you to stay at the hotel, while Buster assists us. Can you do that?”
“What? No. I’ll come with Buster and help you.”
“No, no. I don’t want you here. It’s no place for you.”
“I don’t care. Where are you?”
“I’d rather not say.” I started to sputter, and he interrupted. “Jane. Love. I know you are unhappy, but I promise to explain when we get back. Will you please do this one thing for me? Stay in the suite and be safe.”
“I don’t understand why you think I’m not safe or why I need to stay in the suite to be safe. Or why you need Buster if you’re okay. You will explain yourself, Ian, but right now, I’m more concerned about you, so I’ll do as you ask. But I will be waiting.”
“I will, love. Now, give the phone back to Buster please. And Jane, you have my word.”
I handed the phone back to Buster with a narrow-eyed glare, and he took it from me gingerly. “Mate, I should warn you. I taught her more than a few moves this afternoon, and she looks angry enough to use them on you.” He smirked at whatever Ian replied, and I frowned. I didn’t like the feeling of being left in the dark.
It occurred to me maybe I should wonder about the situation I’d found myself in with the brothers, but I couldn’t believe they meant me harm. Even if current circumstances were suspect.
Buster finally hung up the phone and eyed me.
“Drink plenty of water, eat a dinner with protein, and I recommend soaking those muscles, so you don’t find yourself sore in the morning,” he rattled off. “I’m going to get them, and I’ll bring them back as soon as possible.” He took in my mutinous expression with a laugh. “They have no idea what they’re getting themselves into with you, do they?” He held a placating hand out. “Please stay in the room. I don’t want to deal with them if anything happens to you.”
I nodded tightly and watched him leave.
That had been seven hours ago.
Michael had called three hours ago to tell me it was taking longer than they’d thought, but when I’d tried to question him, he’d hung up on me. To say I was angry was an understatement, but now my anger was laced with fear.
What did I know about them? About the business they operated? Their personal lives? Michael admitted Ian was a troublemaker, and even though I’d never witnessed it, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d done something he shouldn’t have.
I started to pace, restless from the never-ending loop of questions running through my head.
I’d picked at the dinner I’d finally ordered, unwilling to admit I missed listening to Ian tease Michael over his snobbish habits. I hadn’t bothered with a long soak either; afraid I’d miss their return. I might pay for it later, but right now, I just needed them to walk through the door.
As if my thoughts conjured them, I heard the click of the lock and spun around. The reaming I planned to give them stilled on my tongue as I saw the exhaustion etched on their faces.
“Where’s Buster?” I asked instead, as they closed the door behind them.
“Afraid to face your wrath, love. You made a believer out of him in short order, it appears.” Ian sat down on the couch gingerly, and I noticed bruising on his face. I went over to him and ran my fingers gently over the bruise. I sighed, my anger draining out of me as I took in his appearance. He was disheveled and my nose wrinkled as I realized he smelled kind of funky too. A half grin appeared on his face at my look. “Bit of a stench.” I nodded in agreement, scooting back a little. He laughed and leaned toward me playfully.
“No!” I protested, leaning away.
“Children,” Michael sighed. “Ian, please. You do stink.” He walked toward us, three glasses cradled in his hands. He handed one to Ian, who took it with a groan of appreciation. The other he offered to me with a challenging look. I took it, taking a small sniff of the liquid, and blinked at how strong it smelled. He raised his glass to me and smiled. “To family, whether born or claimed.”
“Family,” Ian echoed, tilting his glass toward us. They studied me, waiting, and I lifted my glass.
“To the truth,” I answered them with a pointed stare. Ian nodded, and I took a rather large sip of the liquid in my glass. The burn caught me by surprise, and I choked as my eyes started to water. Ian managed not to laugh and brought his hand around to rub circles on my back.
“Small sips, love, small. It’s strong if you’re not used to it.”
“Yes,” I gasped as I got the coughing under control. “That’s terrible.”
“Acquired taste,” Michael said, sitting down on the table in front of us. “We owe you an explanation, but first I owe you an apology.” He stared at me intently, and I waited. “I shouldn’t have hung up on you earlier. It was unaccountably rude of me. We should also have told you where we were going.”
“Which was where? Does it have something to do with me?” I glanced between them, and Ian nodded.
“We located the people who conn
ed your parents.”
I leaned back with a sigh, my suspicions confirmed by Ian’s answer.
“We couldn’t allow them to get away with what they had done to you.”
“And what exactly were you planning to do?” I demanded to know.
“Beat them to a bloody pulp,” Ian answered candidly, tossing back the amber liquid in his glass.
“And did you?” My eyes scanned him, cataloguing injuries. He had a bruise on his cheek, skinned knuckles, and a cut along his forearm. Michael was his usual impeccable self. He acknowledged my raised eyebrow with an offhanded shrug.
“Ian took all the fun.”
I shot up with a growl and stomped to the bathroom.
“Love, I’m sorry. Don’t be angry.” Ian’s voice followed me, and he leaned against the counter studying me.
“I will be angry if I want. What were you thinking? Both of you! I expect better of Michael. And you!” I dragged the first aid kit out and pointed back to the living room.
Ian filled the small bathroom with his presence, and the bourbon they’d given me had my head swimming. I didn’t trust myself so close to him in an enclosed space.
He went back to the sofa, settling in the corner as I opened the kit and found the alcohol swaps. I wasn’t nearly as gentle with him as he’d been with me, rubbing the wipe over the scratches on his hands roughly. He took the abuse without complaint, eyeing Michael over my shoulder.
“Tell me the rest,” I muttered, grabbing a cold pack out of the kit, activating it as I set it against his cheek. Next, I found the ointment and took a moment to calm myself before I applied it.
“They were a nasty bunch. When we arrived, there were more than we anticipated,” Michael began.
“Michael’s normal thoroughness failed him in his outrage,” Ian interjected with an amused chuckle. Michael’s expression was pained as he nodded.
“He’s quite right. I was not as meticulous as I should have been when investigating. I missed a few pertinent details.”
“Details that caused us issue,” Ian added, as I took care to rub the ointment gently into the cut on his arm. It was a little deeper than I liked, and as I inspected it more closely, I cried out, “Is this a knife wound?”
I gave Michael an accusing stare before turning my gaze back to Ian. His mouth opened and closed as he debated what to tell me.
“The truth, Ian,” I said in exasperation.
“Yes, one of them had a small knife, but I removed it from him quickly enough,” he said with a bright smile, seemingly unconcerned by the entire situation.
“You could have been killed.” My heart thumped heavily at the thought, and I felt sick. Ian’s hand was in mine and he tugged me toward him, wrapping his uninjured arm around me.
“No, love. Impossible,” he murmured gently, and Michael rested his hand on my shoulder, sandwiching me between them.
“I would never allow that to happen,” Michael assured me and I took a deep breath.
“See? Michael is a man of his word. Nothing to worry about.” Ian’s confidence flabbergasted me.
“You don’t know that. You both could have been killed! And for what? Me? That’s not okay,” I told them passionately, unable to decide if they were lunatics or heroes.
Ian held me away from him, and both he and Michael glared at me.
“You are family now. What they did to you was unacceptable and needed to be punished,” Michael declared, his jaw rigid as his hand tightened on my shoulder.
“This wound is nothing. I would do it again in a second to ensure your safety,” Ian promised, and the strength of their sincerity had me blinking back tears. Sometime over the past week, they’d claimed me as one of their own, and I wanted them to understand the feeling was mutual.
I reached behind me blindly, my fingers closing around the glass I knew was sitting there. I brought it around and tipped it toward them.
“To family.”
I swallowed what liquid remained in the glass, anticipating the burn this time and managing not to cough. They gave me proud smiles, and I shook my head.
“So what were these details?” I asked, ignoring the fleeting thought that Buster should be here.
My fingers fumbled with the tiny butterfly bandages, and Ian settled his hand over mine, stilling them. He took a couple and opened them for me, and I carefully set them over the deepest section of the cut, pulling the skin together.
“Apparently, the people you were supposed to stay with have done this type of thing before.” My shocked gaze met Michael’s as he spoke. He gave me an apologetic look. “Those two guys who followed you were not a coincidence.” Horrified tears escaped me as I considered the implications of what he said, and Ian cupped my cheek swiping the tears away gently. His jaw was solidly clenched, and I could only imagine what they’d discovered.
“We informed the local police, and our presence needed explaining. We wished to keep you out of the business entirely, but we required Buster’s assistance.” I nodded, turning my face into Ian’s palm as his fingers gently massaged behind my ear. I bit my lip as a dizzying rush of relief coursed through me at how close an escape I’d had.
Ian rested his forehead against mine and whispered, “My indomitable Jane.” The brush of his lips against my eyebrow sent electricity sparking through me. “You fought back, a fact for which I am abjectly grateful, and you’re safe with us now. We won’t allow any harm to come to you.”
I tightened my fingers around his, meeting his eyes. “And no harm to you.” I turned my head, including Michael. “You either. Heck, let’s include Buster while we’re at it.” He smiled at me faintly, and I noticed even after the long day they’d had he remained ramrod straight and proper. Exhaustion tugged at me, the rollercoaster of emotions from the day sapping my strength worse than my workout with Buster.
“Love, go to bed. We’re here now, safe and sound.” He tilted my head up and met my droopy eyes. “You’re falling asleep sitting here. Go.”
I stood up, closing my eyes as the room swirled around me. Ian tightened his grip on my arm as I swayed.
“It appears she’s drunk,” Michael observed helpfully.
Ian turned to him with an exasperated expression. “One can only wonder why.” He studied me and, with a sigh, swung me into his arms.
“Whoa,” I murmured as the movement worsened the spinning sensation in my head. I couldn’t summon the energy to protest, so I rested my head against his shoulder instead. I caught sight of Michael’s amused grin and pointed at him. “You’re a bad influence.”
“Now, there is a rare turn of events,” Ian remarked, shifting me closer to him. “I’m the good brother for once.” I nodded against his shoulder, his next words so low I wasn’t sure they weren’t a figment of my imagination. “I think I rather like it.”
Chapter Seven
The next morning I stumbled from my room to see Michael seated at the table reading the paper. He tilted the paper down to observe me, and I stared back at him in surprise. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock.
“What are you doing here?” I finally asked, dropping down into the seat across from him. It was already nine o’clock and long past when Michael would normally have left. He poured me a glass of orange juice as he replied, “I wished to see you before I left for the day. I won’t be able to join you for dinner this evening, and wanted to assure myself you’d suffered no ill effects from yesterday.”
“I didn’t get beat up yesterday. That was Ian.” I looked around inquiringly. “Where is he, by the way?”
Michael smiled in response, his own gaze inquisitive as he studied me. “Your persistent affection for my brother surprises me.”
“Why?” It seemed an odd comment for him to make. I’d witnessed his own devotion to Ian more than once and couldn’t comprehend why he’d think I’d feel any differently.
“He’s a complicated soul. One might dare say, lost. Demons haunt him.” My puzzled expression had him redirecting. “It is odd,
that you haven’t had to bear witness to any of his tangents. The anger, rage truly, that appears at times. The fights and drunkenness, the utter lack of care he has for people, women especially.” I shook my head, not liking the fact that he was saying such things about Ian when he wasn’t here to defend himself. Michael understood my expression and raised his hand in entreaty. “Please, forgive me. You haven’t seen any of the things I’ve mentioned, and I hope you never do, but whatever haunts my brother didn’t disappear with your arrival. It’s shifted, buried perhaps, but not gone. I only wish to warn you … should you see it. You are not the cause or reason for the demons that plague him. Do not take to heart his words or actions should he be beset by them at some point.”
“You’re right. I haven’t witnessed any such behavior. Ian has been a gentleman; kind, caring, and attentive. All signs pointing to a good man.” My spurt of anger ran out as I saw the contrite expression on Michael’s face. I sighed, recognizing my short acquaintance with Ian didn’t make me an expert, not like his brother at least. “You’re his brother. You know him better than I do. I’ll take your words under consideration.”
“You say that.” I raised a curious eyebrow. “That I know him better than you do. But I’m no longer certain of that fact. He is different with you, and perhaps my words this morning are presumptuous.” He paused, looking uncomfortable. “I only wished to warn you. I don’t wish to see you leave us and I didn’t want ….” His words trailed off as I nodded.
“I understand your intention, and rest easy, Michael. I will take care with my feelings.” I tapped my finger on the table then. “But I will judge him by his own actions and not your prior experiences.”
“Fair enough.” He raised the teacup he was drinking from, tapping it against my orange juice glass. “He went to the gym downstairs this morning, ceding to my wish to speak with you privately.”
“And did he know the topic of our conversation?” I bit out, the thought making me inexplicably angry. The brothers had their own relationship, one that had spanned a tumultuous childhood, and I didn’t wish my presence in their life to drag up past issues.
Charming Jane_A Reverse Harem Romance Page 11
