“Well, I figured that you would want something more constructive to do with your time.” The way he said it was totally devoid of emotion, and I remembered. We didn't have a relationship.
At least not around Greyson.
We were pretending nothing happened. If my brother knew… we both would end up in serious trouble. The kind where we may not end up on the right side of okay.
“I can do that,” I said, honestly. I’d been hoping to get back to playing ever since I got back and it would give me time to focus on my craft.
“Good. Now we have some business, but Joanna would love to spend some time with you, Kat. So, my driver will take you there shortly.”
The men stood and left, leaving me in the condo by myself.
“That’s right I would. I’m surrounded by cranky-ass men, and I am about ready to freaking pop.” Joanna walked out of the hallway and smiled, her hand on her belly. She was huge and beautiful. And she looked positively exhausted.
“Is it that bad?” I asked, but I knew the answer before she even said it. “Of course it is. What can I do?”
“Take me out and get me pineapple smoothies. Greyson won’t let me go.” She pouted, physically pouted, as she sank down onto the couch and propped her all too swollen feet up on the coffee table.
“Ah, part of the captive program as well?” I asked, a big smile on my face. I didn’t know her very well, but I already liked her. I had a feeling we would get on fine.
“Yes. So. Smoothies?” she asked. The smile on her face told me everything I needed to know. She wasn't going to take anything but yes for an answer.
“Is there a shop around here?” I asked.
She nodded. “I’ll get you anything you like.” Her eyes sparkled.
“Do you want to break out?” I asked.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Janson
“I’ve got some news I’ve been waiting to share. Because we don’t have enough shit on our plate.” Greyson looked so tired as he said it. “I’m so fucking tired.”
“What?” I asked.
“David’s been spotted in town.” Greyson grabbed a pair of glasses and a decanter. Every time I saw him lately he was drinking something and it had me worried.
I didn’t want him to go down that road. It was one he’d been down before. Before Joanna. I’d watched him dry out twice and I didn’t want to make it a third fucking time.
“Don’t you think we should wait a while for that?” I asked. He’d been drinking a damn lot lately. “Might want to cut back a little, don’t you think?” We’d always been straight with each other.
He considered what I said, then pushed the drink away. We needed to figure out how to rule without vice. “You’re right. I’ve just been so worried lately.”
“But you aren’t your father.” I’d said it to him several dozen times over the years. And he said it to me in return.
“And you aren’t yours,” he said. It was the truth. I didn’t need to hear it, but it was something we reminded ourselves of whenever things got sticky.
It reminded us exactly who we were and what we stood for.
“So,” I asked. “What do we do?”
“We find him. We take care of him. We end this once and for all. That’s what we do.” Greyson looked more like himself as he said it, and I knew it was the turning point for us both. We had a company to run, a family to take over, and David was not part of that equation.
Kathryn
“Do you love him?” I jumped at the words as soon as Joanna said them. I wasn’t expecting anything like that to spring forth from her mouth. But she sat there, a smoothie in one hand, a funnel cake in the other, staring at me.
It didn't matter that we were sitting outside looking over the fall foliage as it draped against the Inner Harbor. No, she was asking me this very question right now.
“What?” I asked, like if I blinked and acted like I was stupid, she would forget she said anything.
It wasn't going to work. I could tell by the smile on her face that she was not going to let this go.
“I asked you if you love him. Janson. I see the way you look at him. I’m not a fool, Kat.” She shot me side-eye, and I knew there was no way I was going to get out of this one.
“Are you going to tell my brother?” I asked. I wasn’t ready to address her question.
“There are no secrets between us, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make an exception. Your emotional state is not any of his business. Or mine. But I’m nosy, and it seems pretty obvious.” She raised her eyebrow as she looked at me and I knew the truth. I couldn’t deny anything to her.
“I do,” I said slowly. “I have for a long time. He’s one of the few people in this whole fucking thing that seems to have a genuine heart.”
"Why? What made you feel this way?" she asked.
I didn't need to think about it. I already knew. I'd never told anyone this story before. Joanna was the first and probably the only person I’d ever admit it to.
"I was sixteen years old, and my first boyfriend dumped me. I remember sitting on the steps of the school just crying. No one was around, it was after tutoring, and Greyson was supposed to pick me up. But he was busy, so Janson came instead."
She nodded.
"I tried not to let anyone see me, but I was so heartbroken that I didn't care anymore. I mean, I thought about giving my virginity to that guy." It still hurt to think about it. "So there I was, bawling my eyes out and Janson just sat down next to me and handed me his pocket square. He didn't say a word for a long time. When I was finally tear-free, he looked me right in the eyes and said, 'This is just temporary. It feels like you are dying, but you aren't. Someone better will come along and sweep you right off your feet.'"
I knew at that moment that I wanted that someone to be him.
"And then what?" she asked.
"He asked me if I wanted him to beat the son of a bitch up. I laughed, and he took me home. But he was so kind to me that I knew there had to be more to him than just a thug. I'm still certain of it." I could feel my throat starting to close as I thought about it. It really was the moment I decided that I had more than just a schoolgirl crush on him. It's why I acted on what I wanted. Why I had him when I had the chance.
“Does he love you?” Joanna asked.
Dear god, that was not the question I wanted to hear. She knew exactly how to ask them so that they kept me off balance.
More importantly, I didn't have a good answer for it.
"I don't know if he loves me. I know that he is willing to see where this goes, but that's it."
"And where is it going?" she asked.
I shot her a look of annoyance. "Aren't you supposed to be the fun sister-in-law?" I asked.
She giggled. "I get to be whatever I want. I'm nine months and one week pregnant."
She had a point.
"I dunno. I don't know if Greyson will understand, so we've been keeping it hidden for now." I looked down away from her and over the harbor. It really was gorgeous.
"I hear you, but I know him. If he sees that you both actually care for each other, no one will get hurt." She smiled. "But you know if he hurts you, he's dead."
I swallowed. Hard. That was exactly what I was afraid of.
"How's your funnel cake?" I asked.
She grinned at me and then took a bite. "Perfect. Exactly what I wanted with my pineapple smoothie."
"You're past cravings now, aren't you?" I asked.
She nodded. "I am, but that's not the reason for the pineapple. It is supposed to help naturally induce labor. I'm holding out for it. My midwife says my dates may have been off, and I might actually be eight months, so they aren't ready to do anything drastic yet."
I nodded, that made sense.
"Are you ready to be done?" I asked.
She nodded emphatically. "I just want this baby out of me and in my arms."
A huge part of me wondered if I would ever have that. I wanted to say yes, but I honestly didn't know for sure. Would it be with Janson?
Could it be?
I didn't know the answer to any of those things either.
"Come on, let's go back to my place. I have a bunch of clothing I need to donate, and Greyson says you have nothing to wear? It sounds like a worthy cause to me." She stood, her big belly jutting out from her as she waited for me. I could tell by the smile in her eyes that she thought of us as family.
It was the first time in a long time that I actually felt a title like that belonged to a group of people.
Maybe I didn't need to go to Chicago to find what I was looking for after all.
Maybe I just needed to come home.
Chapter Twelve
Kathryn
“Are you sure I can do this?” I asked Janson as I looked down at him. It was my first night here. I’d been practicing for a week, and I still didn’t feel ready.
Just like I wasn’t ready to go back home. Every time the idea came up, I just pushed it away. I didn’t want my father to know I was here. Not yet. I needed more time with Janson.
I needed more nights with him. Every night that I spent tangled up in his arms was another one that made me want more. I couldn’t get enough of that man, and I knew as soon as I went back home it would all come to an end.
It was selfish, and I knew it, but I was too afraid, and no one was pushing me to do it. Not yet. I had to wait for Michael’s signal, and I knew that, but it was still terrifying.