“Don’t shut me out,” he murmured. “I need time, and I know it’s not fair to ask, but...just don’t push me away, even when I’m being a selfish bastard.”
It seemed as if an eternity passed as he waited for her to say something. Instead, she reached out, took his hand and turned to go up the steps.
“Laney.”
She stopped but didn’t look back at him. Ryker moved up to where she stood, lifted her in his arms and carried her the rest of the way.
“This is more,” he told her. “Just let me catch up.”
When she laid her head on his shoulder, Ryker knew he was breaking ground on learning how to live with a heart that actually feels. Now if he could only figure out a way to make sure she didn’t get hurt...and prove to Braden and Mac that he wasn’t just messing around with their baby sister.
Fourteen
Laney was no closer to finding the traitor than she had been three days ago. Her family was counting on her. Thei
r reputation, their...everything hinged on her finding the person who dared go against them. Until they knew who was behind the leak to the Feds, they were each taking turns manning the main office. Laney still wasn’t convinced this was where everything went down; the clues the internet was giving her could be deceiving.
Mac and Jenna had decided to stick around through the holidays and definitely until this mess was cleared up.
Working in the office of her ancestors, Laney started looking at keystrokes with a program she’d downloaded. Every laptop in the office had to be checked. They had eight. The Boston office had to be ruled out first. Even though the new offices seemed coincidental in timing, if someone were going to attack, they may do it from close range where they could keep an eye on most of the key players.
Laney reached for another cracker. Normally she’d scold anyone for eating around their computers, but time was of the essence and her little one demanded some food.
“Anything?”
Laney didn’t spare Braden a glance as he stepped into the office. “Not yet.”
“How are you feeling?”
She hadn’t seen him in three days, since the night of the party. He’d texted her to talk work and ask if she was feeling okay, but that was it. Ryker’s name wasn’t mentioned, and Laney was perfectly fine with that. The more her brothers stayed out of her personal business, the better.
“Hungry. I’m either tired or hungry. It’s a cycle.”
“Zara is out running errands. I’ll have her bring you something.”
Laney shook her head. “No need. I practically packed my kitchen in my bag because I knew I’d be here all day and evening.”
Braden took a seat across from her. “You can’t work yourself to death. You’re expecting. I know how tired Zara was.”
Her fingertips stilled on the keyboard as she glanced over the screen. “I’m sorry if this hurts you.”
Braden shook his head. “You being pregnant isn’t what bothers me.”
Laney tried to keep the anger at bay. If they were all going to move forward, they had to stay levelheaded and remain calm. And after Ryker had spent the night simply holding her, Laney had a newfound hope that things would work out. They had to.
“You don’t want to hear this, but Ryker and I aren’t just fooling around.”
Braden crossed his ankle over his knee and curled his hands over the sides of the chair. “No, I don’t want to hear that my best friend, a guy I call my brother, is taking advantage of my sister. It doesn’t sit well with me.”
“You think that’s what this is? That he’s some sex-crazed maniac and I’m his poor, unsuspecting victim?” Laney shook her head and reached for another buttery cracker. “You have no clue, then. I love him.”
“Damn it, Laney.” Braden jerked forward in his seat, his hard stare holding her. “You’re going to get hurt. A guy like Ryker doesn’t do relationships. Have you ever wondered why he hasn’t had a woman around us? That’s not his style.”
“It wasn’t your style, either, until you got trapped with Zara. Now look at you.”
That narrowed gaze didn’t intimidate her. She took a bite of her cracker. “If you’re done throwing your unwanted opinions around, I have work to do.”
Braden came to his feet and blew out a breath. “You’re going to get hurt,” he repeated, his tone softer now.