“We’re not going anywhere until our men are out of the house,” I tell him.
He looks incredulous but then seems to accept the situation. “Just stay behind us, and if we tell you to do something, you do it straightaway, no questions asked.”
We nod and huddle behind him.
“This is all my fault,” Ivy whispers. “If I hadn’t called for help when Brendan started threatening me, none of this would be happening.”
Both Gia and I put our arms around her shoulders.
“It isn’t your fault. He targeted me first, and somehow the DEA knew this was happening and they’ve managed to get the asshole back into custody,” Gia says. “I’m curious as to how everyone knew this was happening, but please don’t blame yourself.”
Ivy nods after looking at us both, but nothing further can be said as there is movement from the back of the house.
We watch as Abatangelo and his men are walked, under guard, toward the trucks and then we have three relieved looking men standing in front of us. The guy, who told us to stay behind him, sniggers and moves away with his partner. Jarrod doesn’t look as relieved as Hunter and Julian do, in fact, he looks as though he’s struggling to get his temper under control.
Hunter moves forward and kissing Gia on the forehead, tugs her into his arms. I want nothing more than to fling myself into Julian’s arms, but Ivy looks as though her heart is breaking from the look Jarrod gives her. So I slip my hand into hers and with my other, I reach out for Julian.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” I whisper while giving him a one-arm hug.
Jarrod clears his throat. “We need to leave.”
Without another word he stomps off toward his truck, and a quick glance at Ivy, has me witnessing her upset at being ignored by him. I’m surprised that Jarrod hasn’t asked if she’s okay, but instead he seems to be in a temper over something.
I hide my frown and slipping my hand into Julian’s, offer Ivy a smile.
Gia wraps Ivy in a hug, and says, “My father is angry at the situation, not you Ivy. I promise. Just let him calm down…and, once I’ve kicked him in the butt for being an ass, please don’t break his heart.”
Ivy looks off toward the truck, and sadly says, “I’m not sure I’ll even get the chance to be part of it.”
“I think you’re already in it,” Gia admits, giving Ivy another hug. “We need to leave.”
Turning toward the vehicle, we slowly make our way over when I feel Ivy’s eyes on me. “You and Julian, huh?” she offers a weak smile.
I blush, and admit, “I may be, um, dating him.” His hand tightens around mine, followed by a chuckle.
Gia throws her head back and gives a loud throaty laugh. “Dating my ass!” She hoots with laughter. “One minute she’s complaining, ‘he won’t let me touch it’ and the next they’re sharing a room.” She giggles and finally shuts up when Hunter covers her mouth with his.
“You can’t resist teasing your friends, huh?” he asks, a soft smile on his face for his wife.
Gia shakes her head grinning.
At the trucks, Julian pulls me around the side of Hunter’s and hauls me into his arms, slamming his mouth down to mine. His tongue pushes for access and in that moment everything is forgotten except for what this man means to me, and what he makes me feel. I wrap myself around him while ignoring the background noise of a throat being cleared.
Julian is highly aroused with the length of him pulsing against my belly and as we devour each other, he jerks and swells to even larger proportions.
Julian gradually starts to slow the kiss down until I’m wrapped against him. He drops his chin to the top of my head. “I was worried,” he admits.
“He wasn’t the only one,” Hunter growls.
I turn and see my friend being hauled into Hunter’s truck. Julian keeps an arm around me and ushers me into the SUV. “We’ll head back together,” he tells us. “Stay close to the truck.”
Jarrod nods his head through the window of his, and I notice Ivy in the passenger seat as he slowly drives out on to the main street.
We follow in convoy and when we pull up outside of Jarrod’s house, I meet Julian’s gaze and realize he’s pissed. His eyes swim with fury and I have no idea why he’d be so pissed with me.
Before I can get out of the car, Julian hauls me out and over his shoulder before he strides into the house and upstairs.
I have an amazing view of his ass and wanting to lighten him up some, I slip my hands into the back of his jeans to his naked ass and squeeze. His breath catches and when I push my fingers between his legs, pressing against that sensitive place, he stumbles into our room.