Miah-1(Lane Brothers, Book 2)(38)

“Ma’s been talking, huh?”

“Has she ever been. I’m glad you and I finally got together, because I do not want to know what she had planned for us after listening to her plan a matchmaking scheme as well as a general plans his attacks.”

“I warned you about Ma being intense, babe. But I’m glad she’s getting involved. I tried to talk some sense into the guy earlier but he’s being stubborn again.”

“A Lane family trait from the sounds of things.”

“Hey! I was not being stubborn. I was trying to protect you from myself, Clari. There’s a difference here and you know it. Jace is just afraid to even try because he hurt Tracy years ago.”

I snort.

“I’m worried about all of this happening so close and soon. Roman’s in danger, Jace is miserable, I never see Jared unless he pops in to visit Josh, who, by the way, is swearing thanks to Jared’s potty mouth. Everything is so unsettled because of this mission. Promise me that you won’t get hurt, Miah,” I beg.

I’ve had this bad feeling for days, and I can’t shake it.

Ellie once told me that anticipation and fear are worse than actual pain, and I know now what she was talking about.

“I promise to do everything to ensure that we all make it through this unharmed. That’s the best I can do, babe. I won’t lie to you and say that I feel great about all of this garbage being right on our doorstep. Even here, with all the safety measures in place, I worry that one of these animals will get to the people I love.”

Dammit, way to kill the peaceful mood, Clara.

“You shouldn’t, you know. You’ve seen how pedantic George is about security, and at least one of you soldier boys is always hanging around to keep an eye on everyone.”

He sighs, a sound I’ve come to despise because I know that it’s him worrying again and I hate it. And I hate that my crazy ex-boyfriend gives him another thing to worry about. The calls and the texts have remained constant, but I refuse to burden Miah with the knowledge that Nick’s threats have escalated. Once Roman’s position is more settled and Miah loses that haunted look he’s been sporting, I’ll apologize and tell him everything.

For now, I’ll just keep myself safe by following the security team’s instructions and being alert.

“Babe? You okay?” he asks sleepily, pulling me from my thoughts with a guilty jolt.

“Yeah. Just thinking that this mess isn’t going to go away anytime soon, but I’d really like to take Josh to the zoo for his birthday, if we can manage it. He’s been harassing poor Jude about it all day, and she didn’t have the heart to say no.”

“That, we can do. I think. I’ll have to talk to Jared and Jace about it and see about security, but I don’t see why not. Now go to sleep.”

I obey and let the worries and doubts be replaced by the security I feel in his arms and the fact that I love him as much as he seems to love me.

I’m going with the flow, just like I told Miah to, and right now I’m glad that he continues to see something in me worth loving.





Chapter Fifteen


Miah

I’m woken from a sound sleep to the sound of my door banging open against the wall and a harried Wyatt falling into the room at a sprint.

“It’s time! It’s time! Get the hell up and do something, Ellie’s water just broke!”

Clari groans and pulls the sheet over her head, her chuckles husky and way too sexy for my comfort with my older brother standing not three feet away and practically ripping his hair out by the roots.

The situation would be laughable if not for the fact that Clari is naked beneath the thin sheet, and I don’t want anyone within spitting distance when she’s still warm from sex and cuddly.

“Wyatt, calm the hell down and go back to your wife so we can get dressed, asshole.”

He turns in circles before facing me with a look of pure dread and husbandly fear.

“But, but she’s still got a whole week before she’s due, Miah.”

“Bro, that kid can’t possibly have any more growing to do with the way poor Ellie’s been looking lately. Everything is just fine, okay? Now take a nice deep breath and calm the fuck down before I slap you for acting like a little bitch.”

His eyes spark and I breathe a sigh of relief that the rational Wyatt is making a return.

“You can try, asshole. I’m still bigger than you. Military training or not, I’ll kick your ass to hell and right on back so you can go crying to your mama,” he says before turning on his heel and storming out with a huff.

“Get dressed! We need to leave soon.”

I lift the sheet to see Clari laughing so hard that her eyes are watering.