because that’s more like something Blaire would try to do, I say, “Thank you.”
“It better be worth it,” he warns me and cringes when he takes a step back.
“You shouldn’t be on your leg,” I remind him and walk closer to him so he can lean on me. “Let’s take you back to your room or at least the couch. The doctors should check you.”
“What happened?” Beacon asks from the kitchen.
“Bennett left, Vance tried to walk, and…we better not fail him, or he is going to kill us in our sleep,” I simplify as I help Vance take a seat on the couch. He sets his feet on the couch’s armrest and his head on the other side.
Beacon smirks. “Was that a lovers’ quarrel, or did you two break up?”
“Shut the fuck up. Nothing is happening between us,” Vance warns him.
Beacon raises his hands and says, “I’m just saying we share a wall, and I know what I heard. You’re lying to yourself. But what do I know? Is ‘Yes, more…deeper…fuck me, babe,’ some kind of code you use during your missions and you were practicing?”
Vance glares at him and flips him the finger.
“Listen, this might not be the best time to bring this up,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck and looking toward the door to see if I have enough time to run before he tries to kill me. “But do you know of any agency or private investigator that can get me the information I requested?”
“What kind of information are you looking for?” Beacon approaches, a slow smile builds on his mouth. “The kind where you try to find dirty shit on a lawyer?”
I frown and nod. “Good guess. How did you know?”
He lifts a shoulder and says, “It’s a gift. What kind of dirt are you searching for?”
I stare at him and then at Vance. It’s a long shot, but maybe Vance knows someone who can help us. It’s not for me, but for Leyla. I explain to them who I’m investigating and why. When I’m done with the story, I hear Hayes ask, “Are you adopting because one of you can’t have children?”
Looking around, I realize all my brothers are in the room. What happened?
“Why are you here?” Maybe I should ask, “How long were you standing there?”
“Leyla called Blaire,” Hayes explains. “She heard the commotion. They are at the bakery with Arden. We came to check on Vance since his—”
“Don’t say another word, or I’ll take you down,” Vance threatens him.
“He’s grieving. He just broke up with the boyfriend,” Beacon says. “Denial is the first step.”
“I was going to say his leg hasn’t healed yet, and he shouldn’t be walking,” Hayes claims. “But, thank you for sharing the rest with us, Beac.”
“Any time,” Beacon says, turning toward me and saying, “I can help you with the investigation. Send me everything you have. Are you sure you want to know all the dirt?”
I nod.
He sighs. “Just don’t come crying to me. They dig deep, and there might be dirt that you won’t want to know about them.”
I grin and say, “I do, but who is helping you with the investigation?”
“That’s top-secret info,” he states. “I know the right people. I wish you had told me something like, ‘We’re spying on Parrish.’”
“That’s not necessary. I’ll get to him soon,” I offer. “By the way, he’s going to be visiting us often. He claims we won’t see him. Just be on the lookout, and make sure to follow the fucking rules. It’s not hard.”
“About the kid, you’re trying to adopt?” Henry circles back. “How would you do that if you left Colorado?”
“Not to be the bearer of bad news, but you can’t leave town for six months. Also, his family screwed Ley,” Beacon whispers the last part. “Clearly, some of us weren’t paying attention to the conversation.”
I glare at him. Henry mouths, asshole.
“Did you try IVF?” Hayes asks. “Trying to adopt when things are so shaky, not only between you two but living here, will make it almost impossible. You should try couples counseling first.”
I shake my head and say, “I’m going out for a ride.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Leyla
Two weeks and five days post-move, everyone is beginning to settle into their new roles. We’re still getting the hang of things. Blaire and I watch the guys fight, and sometimes I have to break up the brawls. For some reason, they listen more to me than to anyone else. Blaire says that it’s because I keep comparing them