It also makes sense that he’d be involved, because it tells me why my dad was targeted in the first place. Who better to control than someone you know?
“We have no proof, and honestly, we could just be making a few heavy assumptions here because we’re flying blind till Roman comes back with something,”Jace says kindly, making me think of Will’s words from earlier today.
They really are a loving bunch. Just the thought of Jace trying to play this all down to spare my feelings makes me almost squishy deep inside.
Not enough for a PDA moment, but close enough that I squeeze his hand with a shake of my head.
“You’re a terrible liar, Jace, you know that? If Dobs isn’t willing to help then we all know why. And I also know that my uncle is about as willing to go to Homeland Security as he is to break bread with a foreigner. He’s involved, or at least knew about this situation long before this. He just doesn’t want to do anything about it, I guess. How do we find out for sure?”
That gets me a smile from Miah and I forgive him for his bullying tactics and listen as he starts outlining a plan that should work, as long as Dobs is still my uncle and just lazy as opposed to part of the Patriots organization.
“I’ll call him and ask him to come down and help with Daddy’s house. I just hope it works. We need this done so I can stop stewing my kid in stress.”
“Good girl. Now lie own and take a nap. Miah’s going to keep Ma busy for the next hour, and I’ll make sure my sweet Ellie is occupied,” Wyatt says, blowing me a kiss. “I see why he fell for you, Mel.”
That’s about the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me, besides that time Will told me my ass was incomparable. I think I could really love the Lanes. It would just be easier if Roman were here.
“I don’t want to sleep. I want to call Roman and get the idiot out of harm’s way,” I gripe, standing with a yawn that makes them all laugh before shuffling for the door.
“Mel?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m real sorry about your daddy, sweetheart. He wasn’t my favorite guy, and a lot of the time I thought he was guilty and wanted to kill him with my bare hands, but he didn’t deserve to die the way he did. If you need to talk about it, I’m always here for you,” Jared says slowly, causing my stupid eyes to tear up again. “At least it will be better than having Ma cry all over you again.”
I laugh just as he wants me to and shake my head at the memory of Judith crying for Daddy, despite the fact that they never knew each other.
“I’m fine. Just get me my guy back.”
“Even if it kills me.”
***
Roman
I wake when the phone beneath my pillow keeps vibrating and it takes me a moment to realize it’s the burner I’ve been ignoring since I turned it back on a couple hours ago.
The caller ID shows nothing, and I know immediately that it’s not Mel trying to call me again, but one of my brothers. I shouldn’t answer, not with all my emotions still swimming all over the place, but I can’t help the need that courses through me when thinking I’ll hear one of their voices and be reconnected with them.
I miss them a lot, or more than a man of my age has a right to miss people I saw almost every day for over twenty years. The truth is that after being accepted into the fold by Cleo yesterday, I feel so dirty that I’m not sure I’ll ever be fit to see them all again.
She kept talking about my family, the parents I lost, and the destiny I’ve been ignoring for years while under the Lanes’ thumbs. At that point, I was just so relieved to be in with the woman that I hugged her back and even found myself smiling happily.
That gave me pause, and I began to doubt that I’m still a good guy.
Now with the phone ringing, I’m not sure I should answer it.
I do, and immediately start crying when Miah’s voice greets my ears.
“You’ve taken long enough to finally answer, asshole,” he snarls, not bothering to greet or acknowledge me in any way.
I understand his fury right now, and if our situations were reversed I’d cuss him out and find a way to kick his ass to hell and back, before hugging the heck out of him, of course.
Miah and I are best friends and have been since his parents took me in as one of their own. And when he finds out how this all came about and why he was handed this case in the first place, he’ll be even more pissed.
When my family finally knows the truth, there’s a chance I may lose them.
“Bro—”
“No. Don’t go that route with me, Roman. You’re walking a thin edge here and what’s worse is you’re making it so that the rest of us walk it, too, even if you didn’t want it that way. You need to get your ass home, and we need to come at this op from a different angle, Roman.”