My eyes slid to the side and I bit my lip.
He chuckled and came closer. “But then again, I’ve always loved explosives, Stephanie.”
The doorknob slipped out of my grip when Har yanked the door open. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Har’s growl should have taken my attention, but there was something about Roman’s tawny eyes which held mine captive.
“Goddammit,” Har clipped out.
Roman held his hands up in front of his abs. “Chill, Prez. Just warning your woman. Even if you haven’t told us she’s your woman.”
Har’s arm wrapped around my waist. “You come back to bed.”
I shook my head and fought against his pull. “I’m hungry, and I was on my way to make some eggs.”
Roman lifted an eyebrow at that for some reason, but gave Har a wave with two fingers and went to his room.
“Eggs can wait, babe,” he murmured in my ear.
“I’m hungry, Har.”
“You making some for me, too?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
He let me go. “Then be quick.”
When I was one step away from him, he swatted my tush, making me jump.
Twenty minutes later I walked to Har’s room carrying two plates heaping with scrambled eggs, sausage links, hash brown patties, and biscuits. When I opened the door his eyes were soft, but once he caught sight of the food they widened.
“Are you trying to feed me or clog my arteries?”
My head tilted. “Feed you. As ripped as you are, I have no doubt you’ll work off the calories at some point. Besides, I told you I’m hungry.”
We settled at a small table in his room, and ate in relative silence since I couldn’t hold back my groans of relief.
My phone rang with Suzy’s ring tone and I frowned.
“This can’t be good,” I said, as I walked over to my phone.
“Why’s that?” Har asked.
“It’s my sister, but she shouldn’t be calling me at eight in the morning on a Monday,” I explained, while accepting the call.
“Hey, Suzy, what’s up?”
She sighed. “You won’t believe this, but your douchebag ex just came by the gym. He asked if I knew where you were.”
I shook my head. “Wycliffe was there?”
“Yeah, stunned the hell out of me, too. I tried to get his real name, and that scared him off. I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I couldn’t help myself.”
I sighed. “No, I would’ve done the same thing. This doesn’t make sense. It’s been two years, why in the hell—”
Har grabbed my phone from me. “Hi, Suzy, this is Har. Did you see what kind of car he drove when he left?”
I crossed one arm across my chest and propped my elbow on top, putting my fist to my lips to keep quiet. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t have asked her that, but I hated the idea of this guy knowing where Suzy worked. Then I realized, if he knew where she worked, he could follow her home.
Would this shit ever end?
“All right, no, it’s all good. I just hoped you had more for me to go on. Here’s Stephanie,” Har said, handing me back my phone.
“Hi. Sorry about that. I didn’t know he’d do such a thing.”
She giggled. “I’m not surprised. He was always protective of his sister and mom, that doesn’t just go away.”
I nodded. “Right. So, did he say why he was looking for me?”
She blew out a breath. “Honey, my mouth ran away from me when I figured out who he was.”
I sighed. “You’re gonna have to be careful when you leave there.”
“He’s not going to post pictures of me on —”
“He could follow you home, Suze. And who’s to say he hasn’t become more aggressive?”
Har’s voice startled me, and I saw he was on his phone. Before I could make out who he was talking to, he walked out of the room.
Susy kept silent, and I said, “I’m sorry, Suzy. I never thought—”
“Don’t apologize, Stephie. You can’t control what this asshole does, and it damn sure isn’t your fault he’s back.”
Har’s door flew open, and Brute strode in with his hand out. “Gimme the phone.”
Suzy heard him, and muttered, “Geez, who else wants to talk to me. I mean—”
“Sammy does. Hang on.”
I gave Brute the phone before his glower set me on fire.
“Susan. You don’t leave work until Turk shows up, got it?”
These guys. So bossy, and pushy.
Then his words fully registered.
“Y’all didn’t need to tell Turk,” I cried.
Brute arched a brow at me just before he grinned. “Funny, your sister says you just told her she had to be careful when she left. No better way than with a Riot brother at her back.”
My lips pursed and I gave him a hard look and he chuckled. Then he responded to something Suzy had said. “If he’s got that, we definitely want the parking lot footage. Most of that shit’s gone digital now, so he can email it direct to our treasurer, Block.”
Har strode into the room and put his cell phone on the dresser. He jerked his head toward Brute, “He talking to your sister?”
I nodded.
Brute smiled. “Well, you drag your ass over here, you’re more than welcome, Susan. You give us advance warning, we might even put together a low-country boil.”
I looked at Har. “Can I get a low-country boil?”
He stroked his cheek while giving me an assessing look. “Maybe. You gotta be good, though.”
My eyes narrowed, but Brute interrupted my look saying, “Yeah, she’s standing right here, giving Har a dirty look. Take care, Suze.”
With the phone at my ear, I said, “So, are you all sorted thanks to the alpha men surrounding me?”
She chuckled nervously. “I suppose so. I don’t like Turk having to swing by when I get off work, but I guess I have to get over that, huh?”
I laughed. “Yeah, you will. Somehow I suspect you’ll have no problems doing it, either.”
Har
HE LISTENED TO STEPHANIE and her sister for a few minutes before he remembered he hadn’t finished his breakfast. Since the food was cold, he took both plates to the
