“It sent everyone running back home,” X says in understanding. Of course his brothers would come running to his side if he’d been in an accident. “You were fine, but suddenly you had a wife with you.”
“She’s your sister now,” Kade corrects, reminding him that we’re family.
“That’s not what I’m pissed about. Of course she’s our sister now. The problem is you shouldn’t have sent us away. You should have told us what was going on.”
“Don’t,” Vaughn cuts in on X. “You know Kade. He’s our older brother and he stepped up when we lost Mom and Dad. I’m not going to fault him for doing something we’ve been letting him do all along.” X closes his eyes and his head drops. I can tell just watching them these three men fight as hard as they love. “I’m pissed too but I’m not going to take it out on him.”
“You’re right,” X agrees. I think it shocks us all. “He’s got a wife to do that for us now.”
The room goes completely quiet and the seconds tick by. “Did he crack a joke?” my sister finally asks.
Vaughn lets out a small laugh. “For X. Yeah, that’s the most you’re going to get from him.” He chuckles.
We all start laughing and the mood shifts in the room. “So we all stay put,” Kade says after a beat. “The feds are working shit out and no one knows we’re here. They know of you, love, but they don’t know where we are. If I’d known you had a sister I would have sent for her from the start to make sure she was safe too.”
“It was going to be a surprise,” I tell him. I don’t want Kade to think I was trying to keep something from him.
“Trust me. I was surprised,” Berkley says. “A giant showed up at my door demanding I come with him.”
“I was only half kidnapping you,” Vaughn defends, and my sister rolls her eyes but I know she’s fighting a smirk.
“I was kind of surprised you never asked about my sister,” I admit. There were pictures of her at my apartment. Well, there were, but Kade told me when we got married he was moving my stuff.
“I just assumed when you told me you’d lost your parents that you were an only child.” Both of us losing our parents was one of the things that bonded us together.
“There were pictures of her all over my place.” Okay, maybe not everywhere but there were a good handful.
“I know you’re going to think I’m full of shit but I’m pretty sure I haven’t noticed other women since you dropped into my life.”
Both Lula and Berkley let out an aww sound. It’s a little cheesy but I don’t care. I think his brothers are going to make some jab about his sweet comment but they both stay quiet. I kiss Kade and he stands up, lifting me in his arms.
“Don’t bother us,” he says when he pulls his mouth from mine before marching out of the infirmary. He puts me into one of the carts before taking off toward our house. I have to fight a laugh at how slow he drives even though I can tell he wants to go faster.
“I don’t think another toucan is going to pop out on us.”
“I can’t chance it. If one more thing happens to you I’m going to lose my fucking mind.” His grip on the steering wheel tightens, making his knuckles white.
“That’s not the kind of fucking I had in mind.” I bite my lip, a little surprised I said it, but Kade presses harder on the gas.
“This isn’t going to be fucking.”
“What will it be?” I look over at my handsome husband, who is clearly on edge, and excitement dances along my skin. I’m finally going to know what it’s like to have him in all ways and I know I’ll never forget this.
“A claiming. I’m claiming what’s mine.”
Chapter 12
Kade
When I park I grab Collins up in my arms and carry her into the house. I waste no time in going inside and straight to the bedroom as she buries her face in my neck and laughs.
“What’s so funny?” I ask when we get to the bedroom and I lock the door behind us. I don’t want any interruptions.
“I just remember everything and I remember how hard it was to keep our hands off one another for those three days.”
“I know,” I agree as I lay her on the bed and start taking off my clothes. “Why do you think I’ve been dying every time you touch me?”
She bites her lip as she sits up on her elbows and watches me undress. When I’m only in my underwear her eyes go straight to my cock as I push my boxer briefs down and it springs free. She licks her lips and I growl low in my chest.