Page 26 of Emeric

“You’re fucking lucky Forest wasn’t with you,” Sheldon growled.

“Do you think I would have let anything happen to him?” Micah fumed. Not only was Micah followed and shot at repeatedly, but the front windows of Jordan’s steakhouse were riddled with bullet marks. It was bulletproof glass, so they didn’t break completely, although I wondered how much more they could have handled before they eventually gave way.

“Whether you did or not, it could have.” My best friend let out a breath. Normally, he would have been much more under control. To think of the guard who protected Forest being targeted sent Sheldon to the edge. The only thing saving Micah from Sheldon holding a knife or gun to him was that Forest was safe in the SUV with us.

It was obvious who was after Micah only wanted him. If they had come for Forest, all hell would have been unleashed. As it was, Jordan had sent us to the safe house to stay until this was resolved as a precaution.

Sheldon was grateful to know the love of his life would be holed up in that fortress, while Forest was content with the knowledge Sheldon and Micah were safe. Micah, well, he wanted to draw blood. I didn’t blame him. I did too. Every member of Jordan’s guard was family. We watched out for our own.

“They’re hunting them down tonight,” I said. “By the morning, they should have them.”

“I should be helping them,” Micah ground out. “I hate this shit. I can handle myself, but I won’t tolerate anyone else being dragged into it.”

“Which is why we’re heading to the safe house.”

Jordan said he already called ahead to tell Sylvan we were on our way. Any supplies we’d need were there, and enough firepower to take out many people. Between Sheldon, Micah, and me, we could take a handful of assholes, no problem. The layout of the safe house was mapped in our minds.

To say Jordan was angry was an understatement. Not only was one of his guards targeted, but his steakhouse needed new windows and probably a couple of new employees. Most of them knew the drill working for Jordan, and most had been there through multiple incidents. There was always a new person or two who couldn’t handle the heat when it was at their front door, breathing down their neck, trying to kill someone inside. I couldn’t blame them. Had I not been in this life and done what I did, I would have most likely felt the same way. The employees weren’t there to protect anyone.

The difference between the people after Micah and the other times one of us was under threat was that Micah knew exactly who these people were. Enemies from his last employment had shown themselves to get vengeance on him for leaving the way he did—without a backward glance. He didn’t like the way things went down at his old job, so he left, not bothering to say goodbye. He’d disappeared until he started working for Jordan. His old job was states away. Not thinking they’d bother looking for him, he didn’t see a reason for concern. But they said he stole from them. He swore he didn’t, and I believed him. Jordan did as well, which was why Micah was going to the safe house, and Jordan sent out Barrett, Reghan, Lane, and Raiden to hunt these fuckers down. And they would. There was no doubt about it. Barrett didn’t usually go on these missions, but he’d asked to go. As Sheldon was at times, I thought Barrett was bored.

Forest had to go as a precaution since Micah was his guard. If they’d been following Micah for a while, they’d seen Forest. Sheldon went where Forest did. I was backup if they needed it.

For the duration of the drive to the safe house, I kept watch in my mirrors to make sure we weren’t being followed. The last thing we wanted was someone on our asses, being led to the one place no one knew existed except the top people who worked for Jordan and those in his extended family. Plus, Sylvan was there. I would never want to put him in danger, and neither would Jordan.

We always prepared for someone to show up though. That was why the house was outfitted as it was, with guns hidden in most rooms, bulletproof glass throughout, an alarm system constantly being upgraded to stay on top of new technology, and anything else that was required.

On the outside, the home appeared to be a large place for someone who had money to live in. Hell, anyone who entered it wouldn’t know the lengths that were gone to unless they had inside knowledge.

After a final check of the mirrors, I turned onto the road the house was on, then into the driveway, stopping at the gates so we could get inside. I entered the code and waited for them to open. Sylvan would be alerted to our presence immediately.

We started down the long driveway slowly, as I spotted a familiar car in front of the garage. “I thought the issue with Mr. Webb was taken care of,” I muttered

“It was,” Sheldon said. “I guess Emeric is here for other reasons.” The mischievous tone of his voice made me want to smack him. Yes, we were here for a serious reason, but my mind immediately started running through scenarios about why Emeric would be here with Sylvan.

“Do you think they’re on a date?” Forest asked.

“Shh, beautiful,” Sheldon whispered. “Let’s not upset Ollie just yet. It will be more entertaining if we can watch this unfold naturally.”

“I hate you,” I bit out, anger rising inside me. I couldn’t even say why it was. I wanted Sylvan to be happy. Sure, I desired him. I desired both of them. However, seeing them here together made an ache form in my chest, like something was clawing to get out. Why wasn’t I asked to be a part of… whatever this was?

Hitting the button to open a garage door, I pulled the Navigator inside and shut it off, closing the door behind us. We always tucked the vehicles inside, out of sight. Leaving a giant SUV in the driveway was too much of a beacon. Although Sylvan drove one when he went out. That one didn’t have tinted windows in the front. It was a more standard Lincoln than the others. Just enough to deter a person from looking at it twice. After all, Lincoln Navigators weren’t an exclusive vehicle only driven by our boss and his guards.

One time, we were driving to a location to deal with an asshole, and Jordan was on speakerphone in the Navigator I was driving. He was in his Maserati in front of us. Another black Navigator passed us going the other way, and Albert evenly said, “Look, sir, one of your fleet got away. I wonder who stole it.” We all laughed; we couldn’t help it. Jordan growled and ended the call. I was sure he yelled at Albert; however, after years of working for Jordan, Albert was more than used to it.

I wished I had some of that humor now. I was jealous and angry that Emeric was here with Sylvan, while I wasn’t invited. There was no reason for me to be. I wasn’t anything to either one of them. So what if Emeric and I almost had a thing, or that I told him about my daughter? So what if I’d desired Sylvan for years and did nothing about it? Both were on me. It was my own damn fault I didn’t do anything about them.

As soon as we were inside the main house, Sylvan and Emeric were waiting for us.

“What are you doing here?” I asked far more angrily than I should have. My emotions weren’t even at the surface. They were overflowing, and I’d lost control of the filter between my brain and my mouth.

“Hello, Oleander,” Emeric greeted calmly. “It’s nice to see you as well, although I wish it were under different circumstances.”

“Uh huh, sure. What’s going on?”

Sheldon nudged me with his elbow but faced Emeric and Sylvan. “What Ollie meant to say was thank you for having us. We’re sorry to interrupt your evening. I hope there’s enough food because we haven’t eaten dinner yet, and some of us get cranky when we’re hungry.”

My head snapped in his direction. “I don’t get cranky. I’m pissed because⁠—”