JARED-1(Lane Brothers, Book 4)(23)

I rise ten minutes later with a loud stretch and make my way to the bedroom, feeling my heart pump and my dick stand up when I see that my baby has kicked off the sheets and her T-shirt has ridden up and exposed her panty-covered sex to my gaze.

If I were a better man I’d walk straight to the bathroom and rub one out to get my dick in hand, no pun intended. But I’m not. I hit the bed, slide directly between her legs, and open my mouth, groaning at the scent and taste of her morning heat.

She smells musky and sweet and her sex is so warm, it feels like a furnace against my face when I bury myself there and start rubbing myself all over her, wanting her scent all over me before I get into anything more intense.

I’m so wrapped up in my need that I’m about to shred her underwear and expose her to my mouth and gaze when my phone beeps. The curse I let off is vile and I roll to my feet, looking longingly at my utopia before answering with a snarl.

“What, asshole?”

“Dude, catch the news, man. Dobson was found in his house this morning. He’s dead, man,” Miah tells me and I freeze, closing my eyes.

“How?”

“You know how.”

My heart plunges and I sit down heavily, wincing when the bed rocks and Paulie lets off a groan before turning onto her side and stealing my prize right out from under my nose.

The news is not a shock. I rub at my face when fatigue hits me. This is just so predictable that I’d laugh if not for the fallout that will be coming.

I know how Dobson died. I can see it without ever looking at the scene. One shot to the heart and a smile around his neck that is the signature of only one man I know.

Roman.

Years ago, before he left the service, that was his calling card when he posed as a Russian assassin. The fact that it’s showed up now is telling, and I can draw one of two conclusions from this.

It was either a message to us, letting us know that he’s alive, or he’s going after those who are turning against the Patriots. Either message is bad news, because if the wrong people should hear about this, Roman will be dead in the water without backup.

He hasn’t come after family, and until then he’s still one of us, and we never leave a man behind. Not even if he’s dead.

“Call Case and tell him I need to see him.”

“He’s already on his way. Bronx is with us today, so it’s just you and the big man looking after the hens.”

That makes me smile and I can very well imagine Clari’s face if she ever learns that he refers to the women as hens.

“I got it.”

So much for sleep and a little AM delight, I think, rising to my feet with a regretful look at Paulie before hitting the shower. I guess there really is no rest for the wicked.

By the time I’m showered and dressed, Case is waiting downstairs and pacing like a caged tiger.

“Hey, man,” I call, giving him a one-armed hug and shoulder slap as he sits and starts piling his plate with food while Ma bustles around getting things ready for when the women come down for breakfast.

“What you got?”

“Those people are nuts, man. I’ve never seen so much yelling and fighting in my life, and I went to Iraq, dude. That mother is a straight-up asshole, and the father…what I wouldn’t like to do to that animal,” he snarls, pushing his plate away and groaning when Ma enters with cookies and milk.

“You want some dessert, son?” she asks, ruffling Case’s hair and giving him a head peck before leaving again.

Ma loves the bastard, and he’d just about hang the moon for her if she asked him to, but then I ain’t surprised since Ma loves to collect her ducklings and Case’s own family members are all assholes, to be honest.

“Thanks, Ma!”

“You’re welcome, honey!”

I roll my eyes at his look of adoration and shake my head.

“If George catches you looking at Ma, he’ll cut you deeper than a man should ever be cut, son,” I warn.

Case blushes and throws me the bird.

“She’s my ma too, asshole, so chill out. Now like I was saying. I’ve been watching the parents and I even took a look into her sister. The chick is married to a guy from an arranged marriage her parents cashed in on big time, but from what I can see, those two actually love each other to bits. They got a kid, a two-year-old little boy named Paul.”

That has my brows rising and I close my eyes, knowing what they used against Paulie before she even has to tell me.

“They used her sister and the kid.”

Case nods and eats his cookies even though the guy looks green at this point from too much food. I shake my head when he takes another plate and Ma bustles out again.

“Eat these, man. I beg you.”