Page 60 of Lane

“Just dinner then?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“Count me in. Do I have time to shower?”

He nodded and took my hand, his feet hitting the floor. Raiden handed me my tablet, opened the door, and shut off the lights. Hand in hand, we walked to the elevator and took it upstairs, where Lane waited on the couch.

“I see you’ve brought our man home.” Lane grinned. “I was going to get you, but Ray insisted he do it.”

“I’m going to shower quick then we can go.”

“I’d ask if you want company, but we’ll be late if we join you.”

I almost asked for a rain check. We hadn’t been together intimately since the shooting. Like finding his voice again, we’d let Raiden initiate when he wanted to touch us like that. Holding them was enough for me.

The shower was rushed but thorough. I wasn’t in a hurry to get to Jordan’s, rather to be in front of the men I loved again. The sudden urge to tell them came over me. Raiden couldn’t mistake it for me feeling sorry for him.

I dried off and dressed in a pair of jeans and a gray sweater. They were in the kitchen waiting for me, both leaning against the counter.

One foot went in front of the other until they were within arm’s reach. I took their hands and said, “I love you both. I’m not sure it’s the right time to say it, but I had to tell you how much you mean to me.”

“Al,” Lane whispered. He squeezed my hand and brushed his lips over mine. “I love you too.” Then he did the same to Raiden, repeating his words. “I’ve never felt like this before or said the words to anyone who wasn’t my mom. This is big.” He gave a watery laugh.

Raiden put an arm around each of us and pulled us in for a hug. “I love you so fucking much. I hope neither of you have plans to ever leave me because I’m not letting you go. Our lives are uncertain. We have no idea what each day will bring. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe, Lane, and to bring us home to you, Alton, every day.”

“And I’ll watch your back too, Ray,” Lane added.

“I’ll be here to bandage and stitch you up when you’re hurt.” It wasn’t an if they did, but when. I’d already stitched them both at different times. I doubted they would be the last.

“We should go before Jordan sends my brother down to get us. Mom’s helping Vail cook.”

I smiled. Lily found a way to fit in here. I wasn’t sure if she would. Dexen also offered for her to stay with him and his partners. He’d upped the security around them, always having guards on their house and following them to work. JJ and Greer weren’t happy about it, but they understood why. They also carried guns wherever they went. I would have if I could, but I wasn’t bringing a gun into my practice. Jordan did assign one of his men to me, one I didn’t know well. He didn’t enter the exam rooms, but he was there when I came out and he drove me wherever I needed to go.

Entering Jordan’s home, Lily’s laughter was one of the first sounds I heard. It caused my lips to lift. She wouldn’t heal for a long time, but these moments where she could laugh and forget for a few minutes how the love of her life was gone would help carry her through. That and the love and support of her family and friends.

Vincent stood by the elevator, keeping guard. Hartley was on the couch with Jordan beside him. Reghan leaned against the wall in the kitchen, Barrett in his arms.

Reghan caught his brother’s arrival and smiled. “Mom’s outdone herself. Just wait until you see.”

Jordan’s home was open from the kitchen to dining area to living room. Everyone could talk without being cramped into one space.

Raiden peered over his mom’s shoulder. “Mac and cheese?”

She gasped and turned to hug him. “Your voice is back. I knew you’d talk when you were ready. My boy, I love you.”

They embraced as I averted my eyes. This wasn’t meant for anyone but family. She would always have a special connection with Raiden, just as his brother would.

“I made your childhood favorites,” she said, returning to the stove with a quick swipe of her eyes. “Chicken nuggets?—”

“Homemade,” Vail cut in. “I like to make them from scratch.”

“Yes, dear, I’m not discounting your talent,” Lily said. “We have mashed potatoes with gravy and homemade biscuits.” She cut a glance at Vail, whose cheeks reddened. It was obvious she was teasing him. I couldn’t see her getting angry at anyone who didn’t deserve it. “For dessert, we have peach pie. Vail took me to his favorite store to find good peaches. If they had been in season, it wouldn’t be an issue.”

“Wait until you try the pie.” Raiden grinned. “It’s amazing.”

“It also doesn’t last long. You have to eat it before it goes bad, which was never a problem in our house.” She stirred something on the stove. Everything she said and did would remind her of the husband she lost. There was no way to fix what had happened, but there were enough of us around her that she wouldn’t feel alone.

Lane entered the kitchen, hip checked Raiden out of the way, and started asking Lily questions about the gravy. He was good at distracting her. I’d seen it multiple times this week.

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