Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga 10)

“Objectively?”

“Let’s just say I get where he’s coming from.” Talon sighed.

Of course Talon understood. He was in a precarious position. Colin had hurt Jade, so he wanted to hate him. Yet he was also a kindred spirit to Colin in a way, as they’d both been brutalized at the hands of Tom Simpson.

“I’ll go talk to Jade,” I said.

“I’ll go with you.” Talon stood.

“And I guess I’ll call the elder Morse and set up a meeting,” Bryce said.

“I’ll be going with you,” Joe said.

“He may not be willing to meet with you,” Bryce said.

“That’s why we’re not going to tell him.” Joe smiled. “But I don’t want you going alone.”

“I can take care of myself, Joe.”

“You think that’s what this is about? You’ve held your own against me for thirty-plus years.”

“Then why?”

“Because he’ll fuck with you, Bryce. He’ll use your father against you. I’m not going to let that happen. Plus, he and I have history to settle.”

I excused myself, Talon following me, to speak to Jade.

She was in her bedroom, dressed and looking better than she had in a while, so that was good news. Talon entered and I followed.

“Hey, blue eyes.”

Her face lit up. “Hey, yourself.”

“Marj and I need to talk to you.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, fine. But… Crap. You tell her. I’m still not sure I like this idea.”

I gave Jade the lowdown on what Ted had been saying and about my visit with Colin at the smoothie shop. “If you talk to him, maybe you can figure out what’s going on.”

“Sure. I’ll be glad to do my part,” she said.

“And I’ll be with you,” Talon said.

“Tal,” I said. “He may not be completely truthful if you’re there glaring at him.”

“He’s got to know that anything he tells me will go straight back to my husband,” Jade said.

“Good point,” I said, “though he might be more willing to talk if you’re alone.”

“I’m…not sure I want to be alone with him.”

“What if I’m with you? He’ll see me as much less of a threat than Talon. He and I were friends once.”

“No,” Talon said flatly. “I’m there, or this isn’t happening.”

I huffed. “Tal, stop being all Alpha for one damn minute and think about what’s best for the situation as a whole.”