Judge (Shady Valley Henchmen 1)

Two belonged to the Bratva. Another had been the house of the man who used to own the warehouse back when it was open and raking in huge profits. Two of them had been built by the Albanian mafia before the Bratva drove them out of town. They were still sitting empty. The last one had been built somewhat recently, and no one could ever actually figure out who built it there. Or why. It wasn’t like our town was the kind of place your average rich person wanted to move to.

Our house was a two-and-a-half story white colonial with black shutters and a green front door.

It was a six-bedroom, five-bath, five-thousand-two-hundred square foot home.

As big as it was, though, it could feel very cramped, could pinch just a little too tight, since all of us still chose to live there.

Why, I had no idea.

My brothers could all afford to move out on their own. I was the only one stuck there because of finances. And, I had to admit, I was pretty sure some of that was by design.

They made sure to pay me just enough that it would mean pinching pennies if I wanted to be able to save up and move out.

They still wanted me under their thumb.

And, I guess, in this situation, it was nice to have them all around.

“Looks like Nyx was here already,” Cillian said as we moved in the front door and into the living room that, admittedly, looked a lot more picked-up than usual. “She said she wanted to come by and make sure your room was all set up for you,” he explained.

She really was the best.

I knew that she was still feeling irrationally guilty, and that taking care of me in the softer, more feminine ways she knew my brothers wouldn’t was her way of trying to assuage that guilt.

And while that was completely unnecessary, I had to admit that by the time I gritted my teeth and got to my bedroom, it was really nice to have fresh bedding and a scrubbed bathroom.

She’d gathered up all the crap I’d strewn around when I’d been packing for our trip, and put it all back in the places they belonged in a way only a best friend could do.

“She set you all up,” Rian said, sounding jealous as my gaze fell on my nightstand, finding a couple bottles of water and iced tea.

On my bed, there was a basket almost overflowing with all my favorite snacks. My remotes were lined up next to my laptop and my tablet.

She had the cords of all my electronics attached with little cord holders to the side of my nightstand. Two of them were familiar. The third was new. And, I figured, likely belonged to my new phone.

In my bathroom—the only private one save for Cillian’s in the master bedroom—was set up with fluffy towels, a robe, and several sets of comfy pajamas.

“I love that woman,” I declared, kicking out of my shoes, and getting into the bed.

“Here,” Cillian said, shaking the last pill out of my bottle for me, then twisting open the iced tea. “Take this. You need to relax after that car ride. We will get plenty more from Dr. Price.”

“Thanks, Cill,” I said, taking the pill as he pulled the blankets up over me.

“Can I get you anything else? Want me to order some food?”

“Not yet. Unless you guys are hungry. I just want a nap.”

“That’s good. I’ll tell everyone to leave you alone until the doc is here.”

And with that, he was gone. As were the rest of them. I could hear their voices from the floor below, and found myself turning on the TV just to feel a little more alone.

Because I was pretty sure all the hours of trying to hold it together were almost done. And I was going to have a pretty epic cry-a-thon.

I was just about to reach for the tissues when a newly familiar chime made me reach for the phone I’d put on the charger instead.

Chances were it was Nyx, but there was no denying my heart did a little skipping thing in my chest.

As it would turn out, though, that heart skip was the correct reaction. Because it wasn’t Nyx. It was Jass.

- Get home okay?

The ride was rough. But I’m settled now. Nyx set me up with everything I need around my bed.

- That’s good. How are you doing?

Hurting. I just took my last pill.

- I will drop more off.

God, that was hotter than it had a right to be.

Especially given that the pills he would drop off would likely be illegally obtained. So it shouldn’t have felt sweet.

And yet…

That’s sweet, but I have the doctor coming over soon. He will fill my meds.

- If he doesn’t give you enough, let me know.