Page 47 of Steal Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 1)
“Sorry,” I mumble. “I just had a bad dream.”
He nods, his hazel eyes darkened with concern. “I know. You were shaking, kitten.”
“It was … it was a really bad memory,” I mutter.
Royce’s voice reaches me from the driver’s seat “You okay Sloane? How’s the pain, princess?”
“Still dying.” I let out a weak laugh and reassure him when I meet his green gaze in the rearview mirror. “I’ll be fine though, I just need some more pain killers.”
“We’re twenty-five minutes from the house,” Blaine states as I turn my gaze toward him and he frowns at my tears. His rough thumb wipes them away as I offer him a small smile and River lets me curl up between the two of them again. Kaden lets out a groan adjusting his large body and then turning back.
“Sloane, why are you crying?” He asks alarmed.
“Are you in that much pain?” Royce asks his voice filled with guilt. Oh man. I feel bad. I shake my head.
“No, I had a bad dream about the night I left my ex. That’s all.”
“Oh …” Kaden mutters looking down and frowning. Royce grips the steering wheel harder and the car is shrouded in silence. It’s not uncomfortable but just full of pregnant meaning. Forgive my pun. What I wouldn’t give to be able to read their minds, honestly. But at the same time, how do I explain to them that despite the way our lives collided, I’ve never felt so accepted, so cared for and ultimately so safe? Even with River, despite the fact that he used to scare the shit out of me. So safe that I forgot to use protection … twice. And where my ex would have flipped out and gone on a rampage of blind fury, blaming me, the guys were there for me. With them I can be myself without fear of repercussions. It’s liberating.
We turn off the coastal highway and begin to drive east, further into the state. I can tell we are right outside Seattle because of the skyline in the distance but soon the thick foliage covers my view. When we finally reach a massive metal gate with an owl in the center of it, my eyes go wide. Well, then.
So I wouldn’t call this a safe house, this is really a mansion. How did they afford this shit? The gates open as Royce presses a finger to the small pad next to the driveway, revealing a true masterpiece of glass and wood. My mouth pops open slightly and it's an odd feeling because all I can think about is how much I love it. I’ve always been rather impartial to design and architecture but this is breathtaking. We pull around the circular driveway, a stunning landscaped design of bushes in the center. I swallow.
“Holy shit.” I admit freely.
Blaine chuckles. “Definitely one of our better buys.”
I can’t help the genuine excitement I feel as I slip out from the car, the blanket still around my shoulders, and begin to look around. I can briefly see the Pacific Ocean behind the house, its waves rolling lazily on a sandy beach … I wonder if this is a private beach? I can’t see any other houses around as it is. Royce offers me a shoulder squeeze and unlocks the front door, ushering me in.
Instantly I am looking around in quiet wonder. What? Come on, you would too. The entire main floor is filled with expensive polished wood and the kitchen is all marble. Comfortable masculine furniture fills the space and the large expanse of windows out back shows off a dock and boat house that almost blend into the natural surroundings. I drop the blanket on the sofa and look at the staircase leading up, promising myself that I’ll explore that later.
“We will need to go get some food.” Royce points out.
River groans and immediately stretches out his large body, those muscular arms above his head and my eyes straying to where his shirt rides up slightly. Damn those abs.
“Like something you see, kitten?” He wiggles his eyebrows making me giggle. Ew! I giggled. Never again. Right …
“Here honey bunny.” Blaine winks offering me some medicine as Royce sorts through a pile of mail. Kaden is already setting our bags down and looking over the place. I swear the man must have been a spy or secret agent in another life, he’s so watchful and perceptive. It’s sort of hot. Actually, it’s really hot.
I take the medicine and then sit on a counter. Royce flips through the large pile of mail and I begin to help him organize it. When I come across a cream colored thick envelope, almost satin-like paper, I smile.
“How much you want to bet this is an invitation?” I wave it before handing it over. He smiles amused before looking down at it. I find it odd they get mail here but then again, if you think about it, addresses can change often over four years of college, so it makes sense to have shit go to a permanent place.
Royce opens the envelope with a blank face and pulls out what appears to be a wedding invitation. Told you! His eyes darken as a distraught and almost sad look crawls across his expression. He calls Blaine over.
Now, Blaine is a relaxed guy. Really. So when his jaw clenches and a furious look comes over his face, I freeze. He lets out a curse and storms across the room toward the back porch, walking outside. What the fuck is that about? I look at Royce who’s deep in thought. River sits next to me and offers me a raised eyebrow in a ‘what the fuck is going on’ expression. I feel better not being the only one who is confused. Even Kaden looks perplexed, leaning against the counter as coffee begins to brew.
“Royce, is everything ok?” I lean forward, placing a hand on his wrist. His eyes snap to mine and he stares at me for a minute before nodding. He takes off toward the backyard and opens the full length patio door that leads out back, turning to talk to Blaine.
The two of them look like they’re having a very heated discussion and I have to admit that I feel a bit nervous because … well, sometimes people getting angry freaks me out. I mean Pierce’s temper has always scared the shit out of me. I swallow because when the two of them walk back in, I have a feeling that things are about to change.
???
Blaine
I haven’t felt this angry in a very long time. I feel betrayed but I shouldn’t expect anything less from her. That woman hasn’t been a mother to me for a very long time and she’s never been someone I could rely on. I follow Royce back in, knowing that now is the time to explain ourselves. Might as well rip off the fucking bandage.
My eyes soften as they land on Sloane, who despite trying to act relaxed, is watching me cautiously. Her large green eyes are tracking my every movement and I try to relax my body because I’m starting to understand just how bad her ex really fucked with her. I mean shit, she flinches whenever someone raises their voice. I walk over to her stool and lift her up so that she is sitting on my lap but her body is still a bit tense. I don’t like that at all. I love Sloane relaxed and happy, as she always should be.
