A Real Bad Boy(40)

Pretty sure I was correct.

"Janson, I see you brought the wayward sister." Greyson looked at me,  but he didn't make an effort to hug me or yell. His eyes were just  vacant.

I swallowed hard. He was angry as hell.

"What are you doing, Greyson? Let them in." I could hear Joanna's warm  voice from across the condo. It sounded like she was in the kitchen.

Greyson opened the door wide for us, and we filed in one at a time, but his eyes never left me.

He was clearly furious.

"Hello, so good to see you," Joanna said as she walked out into the living room.                       
       
           



       

I only had one word to describe her. Huge. I saw her entire belly before I even saw her, the bulge making my eyes go wide.

She just laughed at me.

"I see you have met your nephew, and trust me, it's not nearly as bad  seeing it from your angle as it is every day when I wake up. I always  wonder if I am going to topple over." She smiled wide and grabbed me in  for a hug.

It was awkward, but we managed. "I'm so glad that you are safe. All Greyson has done is worry."

"Thanks," I said as I brushed off my awkwardness.

"I made a small ham dinner; I hope you don't mind. I'm starting to learn  how to cook, and I have a big family meal coming up with your mom. I  want to get all of the recipes down by then." Motherhood suited her. She  was glowing, her face rosy as she smiled at me.

"Sure, not a problem."

"You want to come help? I need someone to set the table and chat with."

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I wasn't going to have to sit there awkwardly with Janson and my brother.

"Sure, I think I can do that." I would do anything for a reprieve from the two of them.

"Great," she pulled me into the kitchen. "So, tell me all about Chicago.  I've only been there once, for a conference," she said as she sat me  down at the table and handed me a bowl.

"You mind making the salad? It's just some greens, veggies and a light vinaigrette. It shouldn't be too much."

"Chicago? Well, it was good." I could tell by one look from her that it  wasn't going to be enough. "I mean, I got to play my violin every day.  For once, I didn't have to cave to anyone's expectations. No school, no  pressure."

"Yeah, but it can't all be like that, right?"

"No, my friends started summer session at the end of June, and things kind of... devolved."

She nodded. "I know what you mean. I was due a week ago, but now the  doctor thinks the conception date was off. I swear this little bugger is  never going to come out. But they say he is healthy."

A nephew. I had a nephew. I mean, I knew that. We all knew that, but it  didn't seem real. Not until I was looking at her engorged stomach.

"But you are still up and moving around, cooking a big dinner," I said.

"Yeah, because it's the only thing that can keep my mind off it. I've  been cooking up a storm. And baking. I'm not allowed to take cookies  into the factory anymore. They already have a stockpile in the break  room." She shrugged and smiled. "But I have two pies for tonight."

I nodded. "Does it hurt?"

"Sometimes. He kicks. A lot. And for a while we weren't sure if he was  going to turn or not, but now he's exactly as he should be and we are  just waiting." She shrugged. "But sleep is hard, and Grey is barely  getting any. Especially with you gone. He'll sleep better knowing you  are home."

And awkward silence fell over us. She was trying to show me how worried he was, but I had already known.

I just didn't want to think about it. So I closed my mouth and worked on  the salad. "I think it's done," I said finally, double checking all of  the ingredients.

"Great, go ahead and put it on the table, and I'll call the boys." She stood up, but the way she wobbled only made me stand.

"Don't worry, I'll do it," I said as I turned and walked out of the  room. They were both in the living room with drinks in their hands.

"Dinner is ready," I said as quickly as I could, but as I turned, a hand grabbed my arm.

At first I thought it was Janson, and all the hairs stood on the back of  my neck, but when I realized it was my brother, fear coursed through  me.

He'd never been like Dad, but I was always afraid.

"I'm glad you are home," he said as he pulled me into a hug. "But I  swear to god, if you ever do anything to endanger yourself like that  again, I'll kill you." He chuckled. Who was this man and what had he  done with my brother?

"No, he won't," Joanna said from the kitchen. "He just won't sleep."

"Fine, I won't kill you, but it'll be worse than having to hide out in an old safe house."

I crossed my arms. "How long is that going to be for?" I asked.

"Depends on you. Are you going to run off on me?" Janson asked. He  looked at Greyson, who seemed only to understand what he was saying.

But something was going on between them.

I didn't answer. It wouldn't be fair to lie.

"Exactly. Now eat your meal." He pushed me towards the kitchen table, and I walked, trying not to be angry.

But I couldn't help but shift my gaze between Greyson and Janson. What  were the two talking about? There was obviously something going on  there.





Janson



It's not every day your best friend threatens your life. But mine just did.                       
       
           



       

"Keep her safe or I will kill you." Those were the words that came out  of his mouth, and I could tell he meant them. He cared about his family  so much that I didn't doubt a single thing that came out of his mouth.

I still didn't expect to hear anything so grave from him.

"You know I always take my job seriously. Every order you give, I  follow." It was the only way I could think to change the subject, and it  had worked. He knew I was trustworthy. Knew I would do exactly as he  asked.

Still, the way he looked at me let me know that if he ever found out  about Kathryn and me, I would be toast. I had to make a decision. Take  the risk or stop it now.

I could stop it now, at least I hoped.

But as I looked at her, as I watched her walk towards Joanna and sit down, I doubted that was actually the case.

I couldn't forget the feel of her skin or the way she captured all my attention.

I needed to.

But I couldn't.

"Earth to Janson," Joanna said as she held the potatoes, staring at me.  "You going to come sit and eat or just stare at the food all day?"

"Sorry, I was just thinking about some responsibilities I need to  fulfill," I said as I sat down. "I haven't been to my place in a few  days."

"Well, swing by on your way back to the safe house," Greyson said as he stabbed his salad with a fork.

"You sure that's a good idea?" I asked. Bringing her into my condo? I didn't know about that.

"Yeah, why not? I'd have her stay there if I wasn't worried my dad would  come snooping around at any time." Greyson said. "But I think she'll be  fine for a few hours."

I was more worried about what I'd do to her if I brought her back to my place. It was almost too much temptation.

But an order was an order.

"All right, I'll do that."

"Why are we so worried about Dad?" she asked.

I could feel the fear prickling the back of my spine. Didn't she know?

"Kathryn, you left. You abandoned the family. Do you understand what  that means to him?" Greyson asked. He slammed his drink down on the  table just a little too hard.

"No, I mean, I figured he would barely notice." She shrugged. "He never  seemed to have much time for me anyway, always so busy with his  business." Kat bit her lip. She always did that when she was lying. Had  since she was an unruly teen. Both Greyson and I registered it.

"You are a traitor in his eyes. He'll see you punished. Not killed, but  it'll fucking hurt. I need to work on him to get him to calm down."

She swallowed, and I watched her go white as a sheet. "Like, will he-"

"You don't want to finish that question. I've put a lot on the line just to go and get you," Greyson explained.

"Yes, but she's family," Joanna said. "Why don't we worry about that later? My ham is getting cold."

James Fitzgerald was a monster. He would send someone, someone like the Butcher, after his own daughter.

We all knew the truth.

We were just dancing around it.





Kathryn



"This is your place?" I asked as I looked over it. I'd expected  something different than the industrial brick-walled condominium that  stood before me. It looked like something out of a movie or a TV show.  So pristine it couldn't possibly be real.

"Yeah, this is my place. What do you think?"

"It's rather... sterile." My brother had a fancy condo, but it wasn't so  industrial as it was contemporary and it looked lived in. The addition  of baby furniture added to that appeal, I guess.