something or is it just his general panic about siblings?”
She groans. “Just general panic. Colt was—he was a loving brother. Rough around the edges, sure, I mean, he’s a biker, but he really cares about her.”
I nod even though she can’t see it. “He met with the Butcher to save her despite their bloody history. That can’t have been easy, and you don’t do that without really caring about your sister. Ash will get over it. You know he’s just overprotective.”
She sighs, the squeaking of springs on the hotel bed in the background, and I wince. It must be freaking terrible there. “He’d probably be better about it if I hadn’t forced him not to come with me. I met Colt alone, and Harley just watched us with a sniper rifle because he’s a worrier.”
I laugh at her, a proper roar of laughter that only she can get out of me after the day I’ve had. “How did you manage that? I literally can’t imagine Ash agreeing to leave you alone for anything.”
She groans and says, hesitantly, “I threatened to fight them. Ash wasn’t prepared to get in the ring with me, and Harley had a little panic about hurting me. Blaise just insisted on me wearing a vest so that was easy enough.”
I almost snort with laughter, because of course she did. Of course she found the only kryptonite those boys have and exploited it for her own means. Ash would never raise a hand to her, not even to practice or joke around, and Harley spends half his time trying to throw himself in front of her when there’s fists being thrown, so that’s an instant no.
“I miss you so freaking much, Mounty. How many stops do you guys have left?” I mumble right as my security beeps, and I check on the tablet Jackson left me and see the Impala waiting for the front gates to open.
I hit the button and unlock the front door with a few taps of the screen. It makes things easier and far more secure, but I’m sure Harley will be throwing the tablet at a wall in frustration the second he gets home.
He hates this sort of thing.
“Eight more stops and then I’ll be on the way home. I told Ash we should throw money at the driver to just go non-stop until we’re home. We could take it in turns. Fuck, I miss my orgy-sized bed and not listening to Finn sleep talk and a real goddamn shower. Oh my God, I miss showers, Aves. The one on the bus is like a fucking cupboard, fuck knows how Harley even fits in there.”
I grin while she rambles on as Aodhan’s footsteps start down the stairs, a grin on his face as he sees the joy oozing out of me. I hear a door unlock and open down the line, signaling the end of our conversation while Lips has to entertain and babysit one of her many needy men.
“I’ll leave you to it. Oh, and Mounty?”
She hums under her breath, distracted at whichever guy has just wandered into her hotel room. I roll my eyes at Aodhan, but it has to be said.
“You would’ve kicked his ass.”
She cackles in evil joy. “Abso-fucking-lutely. I’d own his ass any day of the week.”
I hang up, and Aodhan ducks down to kiss me, cupping my cheek gently. “The Coyote did a good job; this place is locked up tighter than a nun’s asshole.”
I chuckle at him, and he sits down beside me, groaning and leaning back against the cushions like he’s carrying the weight of the whole world.
I refuse to think about Atticus right now and how just a few hours ago, we were sitting here and feeling so close for the first time in years. He once again has made his choice, and it’s not me. Not really, because my heart is being torn in half right now and if I think about it again, I’ll end up on the couch with a pint of ice cream and a movie binge like some pathetic, weak little girl.
Absolutely not.
“Do you wanna talk about it? Whatever the hell has you sighing over there?” Aodhan murmurs, his palm curving around my thigh in a subtle, but clear comfort. He’s good at that, the quiet sort of supporting someone without smothering them.
I refuse to live without him.
“Not really. Not right now, anyway. Lips ranted about it enough that I’m angry again and not just fucking moping.”
His eyebrows