Chapter Nine

JACESON

I absently stir the glowing coals of the fire to keep myself occupied, repositioning the logs, and watch the tiny embers float in the air. James is being a little extra tonight with our unexpected guest, almost manic as he paces back and forth from one end of the patio to the other.

Not that I can blame him.

It's rare that any of the guys invite a chick back to the house, but there is something different about Rue that draws me to her, and it isn't just her mesmerizing looks. There is a glow about her, like she's a star in the dark sky, shimmering a bit brighter than the others.

Despite her bruises, it's as if life hasn't had a chance to tarnish her yet.

I'm struggling with the need to protect her innocence and dirty her up at the same time. While I can appreciate women, they usually don't hold my attention, not like they do for the others. Sure, they are pretty and smell nice, but they cause too much drama.

I have enough of my own baggage, not to mention keeping James in check, that I just don't have time for anything else. I like my solitary life. Shit gets complicated when a woman is involved. I figured I would wait until college was done and we were settled before even thinking about adding more to my life.

Rue makes me question my plans.

She's like the calm in the center of a storm.

She doesn't see the need to chatter incessantly, and being near her is peaceful. The way she's able to calm James with just a look is almost magical. I never thought I would see the day. I'm almost afraid to breathe around her and break the spell.

It almost makes me want to talk to her just to see what makes her tick.

Her slightly smoky scent has a hint of flowers in it, the fragrance addicting. The light, airy scent doesn't threaten to chase me away like so many others. It's almost soothing, inviting me to linger.

It's not an overwhelming odor that other women drench themselves in daily, ranging between shampoos, conditioners, hair goop, makeup, deodorants, and perfume.

Part of me wants to run the hell away from her, yet my feet remain rooted to the spot. She quiets the chaotic voices in my head the way only speeding down a track at a hundred miles an hour can do. I crave the peacefulness she exudes, and I have to know if it's a fluke or if there's something special about her.

"Fuck it," James mutters, then heads toward the house with a determined expression on his face. "I'm going to see what's taking them so long."

I mentally sigh, debating if it's worth trying to hold him back. Maybe it's better to know now if Rue can handle his full exuberance. No one can put up with him for long. With the guys around to help, it's barely manageable. I almost feel sorry unleashing him on her, but it's better to know now before things go too far.

Before James can escape, Gunner reaches over and grabs the back of his shirt, nearly pulling my twin off his feet and strangling him at the same time. James yanks on his shirt, almost wiggling out of it before Gunner speaks.

"They are on their way down." He nods to the far window. "The lights just went out."

When James relaxes, Gunner gingerly releases his hold. My brother is a tricky fucker and sometimes too clever for his own good. It gets him into way too much trouble.

James tugs on his shirt, fussing with his clothing. James' style is deceiving because it makes people think he takes special care in his appearance. Very rarely does he give a shit what he looks like. I usually lay out something appropriate for him to wear after he showers.

He only takes notice of what he's wearing on important occasions. That's when I realize he's wearing a new pair of jeans, clean shoes, a shirt that?—

Wait, is that mine?

Even his hair is slicked back with product.

Fucking hell.

My eyes widen in surprise, and my chest tightens in a weird sort of panic. James adores women, often treating them as goddesses, but they are interchangeable for him.

Tonight is the first time that he's taken special care to impress one. He's not a slob by any means, it's just that he has a natural style that is effortless for him. I'm so distracted that I don't notice the stick I'm using to stir the coals is actually on fire until heat hits my hand and I look down. With a curse, I toss it into the flames, then shove to my feet, taking a step toward my brother like I could hold off the train wreck that is about to happen.

But I'm too late.

Just as I take a step toward him, Rue sweeps onto the patio.

Part of me instantly relaxes, my anxiety easing and the noise in my head quieting. I shake off the effect, wanting to snatch my brother away before he can fall any further under her influence.

If she hurts him, I doubt he'll ever recover.

While he's a massive man whore, he doesn't get attached easily. Before I can warn him not to let down his guard, he bounds toward Rue with a massive smile.

"I thought you'd never get here!" He snatches her arm and drags her away from Ellis.

Ellis is usually pretty laid-back, but he frowns after James, not that my brother notices. It's only when Rue glances back at him with a gentle smile that his expression softens and turns rueful.

By the time she turns back toward my brother, he's guided her to the chair next to mine. "You can sit here." He leans forward and sweeps a hand over the seat to make sure it's clean.

Instead of being offended or annoyed at being dragged around by a stranger, she gives a husky laugh, like she's not used to making the sound, and graciously sinks into the chair. "Thank you!"

I slowly sit back in my seat, giving my brother a warning look to slow down, which he totally ignores when he grabs the nearest seat and drags it so close to her that their chairs collide. When he's satisfied that he can't get closer, he plops his ass down with a satisfied smile. "Much better."

He rubs his hands together, and then his eyes widen before he pops back up once more. "Wait! Have you ever had s'mores?"

Excitement sparks in her teal eyes, and she shakes her head. "No, I've never been camping."

"Wait here." He holds his hand out like she's a dog he's trying to make sit. "I think we have the ingredients."

He doesn't even wait for an answer as he dashes into the house, his feet skidding across the floor in his rush. Even from here, I can see him ripping the cupboards apart as he hunts down his supplies.

The guys are used to his frantic nature and single-minded focus when he's on a mission.

People usually consider him flaky and high maintenance. Keeping him entertained is a full-time job, one that most people consider too much work.

Hicks curses and heads into the kitchen to keep it from becoming a disaster zone. My twin will empty every cupboard and drawer until he finds what he wants.

"Should we help?" Rue grabs the armrests, ready to stand, and looks at me for the answer.

Seeing her next to me, looking up at me with her innocent eyes and lush mouth, I feel my dick instantly demand attention. I grunt in annoyance and lean toward the fire before she notices the direction of my thoughts.

She misreads me, her face instantly blanking of all expression. It happens so fast that I blink in surprise. Realizing she thinks I'm annoyed with her, I grimace and shake my head. "Nah, he's on a mission right now. You'll only distract him, and he'll forget why he went into the kitchen in the first place."

With a hesitant nod, she relaxes back into her seat, but it doesn't erase the tension in her body. She stares absently at the flames and twists her rings around on her fingers. Gunner casts me an annoyed look, while Ellis tilts his head, a puzzled expression on his face as he studies her, completely oblivious to the way I fucked up.

This is why I don't socialize.

I don't know how to put people at ease.

I make them uncomfortable by staring too long or not looking long enough, or some shit that James tried to explain to me once. The rules for social niceties just escape me. Even in kindergarten, I didn't understand sharing, talking, or smiling. I live in my own little bubble. I still don't understand why people gravitate to others. I mostly find people annoying as fuck. Why would I want to spend more time around them?

Even with the guys trying to teach me, I'm still baffled.

I glance at my brother as he buzzes around the kitchen like a hummingbird, knowing what he's trying to do. It's obvious that Rue had a shitty childhood and he's trying to pick activities she might enjoy.

It's sweet of him, something he does instinctively as the caregiver of the group.

It's also one of the many reasons why women fall so easily into his bed.

I'm not envious of his ability to charm people, even with the perks. Being around people gives me the heebie-jeebies. I swear they are like vampires that suck the energy from my soul.

That's why I like bikes and cars.

I get back the love and care I put into the machines.

Drumming my fingers against the chair, I struggle to fill the awkward silence. Small talk is a foreign concept to me. That's my twin's job. Most times, I just walk away if anyone tries to engage me. As Rue's eyes dart around the patio, she slowly becomes more and more quiet and withdrawn, and anxiety tightens my chest.

"Nice weather we're having, huh?" I ask, wincing at my idiot ass.

When Gunner snorts, I turn my glare on him, but the fucker just smirks, leaving me to flail about on my own.

"Oh, um…" Rue looks up at the sky in confusion. "I guess? I don't get to spend much time outdoors."

My gaze drops, and I notice her pale, flawless skin. There is a glow to her that invites my fingers to reach out and touch her, curious to see if she is as soft as she looks. I nod belatedly, slightly disappointed in her answer but not surprised.

She doesn't seem like the tomboy type.

Rue falls silent again, and I can't get over the impression that I'm fucking things up somehow. For the first time in my life, my lack of communication skills makes me feel inadequate. I look toward the kitchen, silently urging my twin to hurry.

I huff in annoyance and roll my eyes when I see my idiot brother has his arms full of every sweet he could find in the kitchen. Hicks is blocking his way, pointing to the counter while trying to reason with him.

It's a hopeless cause, but we all hope it will work one of these days.

I glance at Rue again, opening my mouth to say who the fuck knows what, only to find her not paying us the least bit of attention. She's tense, her eyes darting around almost frantically. Her knuckles are white, and she's practically wringing her hands as she searches the darkness, fidgeting in her seat as if she's ready to bolt at any second.

Instantly on guard, I signal the others, and we all search for what put her on edge, but none of us can find anything out of the ordinary.

Could she be afraid of the dark?

When she looks at the house, her face whitens, and I'm instantly on my feet. My actions startle her so much that she flinches, nearly tipping her chair over as she scrambles to stand. Shoulders heaving, she backs away, then blinks and seems to return to herself.

"Are you okay?" Ellis circles the firepit, his brows dipped in concern, only to get distracted when he slips on…ice? What the fuck? It's nearly seventy degrees outside. He barely catches himself in time to prevent himself from landing in the firepit.

Gunner bristles and peers around the yard, trying to figure out what set her off, but I already know what he'll find—nothing.

Something triggered her.

Though she's blinking her eyes, it doesn't disguise that they are awash with tears. "I…I…I should go."

She doesn't spare us another glance as she flees, her feet almost going out from under her as she steps on the ice. Again, what the fuck? I'm distracted when she bursts into the house, not sparing the other guys a glance in her rush.

James instantly drops the items in his arms, not caring as they scatter across the floor. He steps over the chaos he created with practiced ease, moving to go after her, but Hicks blocks his way and the two of them watch her practically sprint out the door.

Feeling partially responsible, I follow her at a distance, the need to make sure she is safe pushing me hard. Something about seeing her run from me has acid swirling in my gut. "I'll make sure she gets home."

"Gunner, go with him," Hicks orders, then he turns toward James and points to the disaster zone of a kitchen. "You, clean up your mess."

James barely hears him as he gazes at the empty doorway. He turns toward me, and I nod at his silent plea. "I'll make sure she's safe."

Jameson might act like an overeager puppy, but that just means his senses are sharper than others. He's subdued as he follows the command, concern clouding his eyes. The dark part of him that seeks vengeance for women who have been wronged makes an appearance, but he wrangles his violent impulses back by sheer will alone.

He knows better than anyone else that it's too soon for her to speak about her trauma.

If he pushes, he'll lose her, and he won't risk it.

The outside air is brisk, almost cold, which is weird since it's August. I pick up my pace as Rue hurries across the yard. Gunner follows like a hulking shadow, never saying a word or making a sound. While he might be big, people often underestimate how fast he can move.

He's silent and deadly.

"She's running from us," Gunner mutters, his face a hard mask, but his blue eyes are devastated. His hands are balled into fists, and I know he's fighting the impulse to snatch her against his chest and kill anyone who dares to get close.

"She's running from her past," I correct, though it's hard to tell the difference right now. I move faster when her slim form almost disappears in the darkness.

"She should be running toward us, not away," Gunner grumbles, obviously pained by the turn of events.

By the time we reach the edges of her driveway, she's fumbling with her keys. We wait patiently at the bottom of the porch steps until she gets the door open. She slips inside but stops short of slamming it in our faces. Though she doesn't look at us, I can sense her waiting on the other side.

"We'll wait until you turn the lock." I keep my voice soft, not wanting to send her spiraling more. "If you need anything, we'll be right next door. Okay?"

The door opens a tiny bit, enough for me to see her peering at us. Whatever frightened her is still riding her hard, but it's no longer in control, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Rue nods gratefully, then she shuts the door with a soft snick.

A second later, the lock engages.

We stay a moment longer, part of me hoping she will call out for us, but the night remains silent. It's only when the light in her room flicks on that I reluctantly climb down the steps, not even aware I crept onto the porch to stand below her window.

With a heavy sigh of defeat, Gunner reluctantly falls into step beside me, casting a murderous look at the closed door like he wants to beat it down. The walk back across the yard is silent. As we near the house, Gunner looks at his car with a conflicted expression.

I give him an out. "Why don't you stay here tonight? I'm sure Hicks will want a rundown on what happened."

Gunner nods absently, heading toward the house without a second thought, glad to have the choice taken from him. "I need to get up early to work in the morning."

"I'll go with you." I run a hand down my face, the long day leaving me exhausted. I twist then turn my head from side to side, popping the bones in my neck as I prepare to deal with my twin.

The other three are waiting for us in the kitchen, Hicks with a beer in his hand. Gunner doesn't even glance at them as he heads toward the fridge to grab one for himself, then he offers me one.

While I normally don't drink, I know I won't be able to unwind without one. "She's home safe."

Like a dam bursts, James takes that as permission to speak. He talks so fast that his words nearly trip over themselves. "What the fuck happened? I was only gone for a few seconds. What did you fuckers do?"

"We were just watching the fire and waiting for you to return," Ellis answers, looking bewildered.

"Why the fuck would you think we did anything?" Gunner immediately goes on the defensive, probably because he wonders what we did wrong like I do.

Were we at fault?

"I'm not sure what happened," I answer, hoping to bring my brother's anger down a few notches before he goes ballistic and we won't be able to settle him for the rest of the night. "She was fine, watching the flames, then she started fidgeting and looking around like she was being watched. She?—"

"Or maybe she was casing the place?" Hicks suggests, his eyes narrowing.

"No, dumbass. She didn't even blink when we showed her around your McMansion or the other treasures that casually decorate the place." James huffs, a fierce scowl on his face as he glares at us. "If I had to guess, I think she has more money than even you."

"Or that could be why she is rich," Hicks muses, his green eyes turning cynical. "She's a professional thief."

"What do you think?" James turns toward me, outrage making his pale blue eyes almost white, his glare a silent demand that I defend her.

All the guys turn toward me. Gunner and Ellis appear curious, while Hicks has already made up his mind. I cross my arms, absently rubbing my thumb along my bottom lips as I go over everything that happened since we met her.

Though I'm not quite a professional thief, since I don't steal anything for hire, I do have a knack for infiltrating any place I want, bypassing security, and picking up anything that catches my eye.

"She could be on the run from a job gone bad, beaten up, and then tossed out of a crew." I shake my head before I'm even done speaking, dropping my arms to my sides and shrug. "But I doubt it. She's watchful enough to easily pull off tricks, and her expression is innocent enough to fool any mark, but I don't get that vibe from her."

James emphatically nods, sticking his nose in the air as he turns to face Hicks with a glare that screams I told you so .

Hicks notes the look but remains completely unfazed. "Look, she's obviously in some sort of trouble. I'll call Mrs. Killaghan in the morning to see if she can shed any light on the subject. If anyone is after her, we'll stop them."

Tightness goes out of my spine now that we have a plan in place. James looks a little too pleased, and I narrow my eyes when I detect a hint of smugness he's trying to hide. That look never bodes well for us.

It usually means some sort of mischief is afoot.

Just what the hell is my menace of a brother up to now?

Before I can figure out what he's plotting and put an end to it, Hicks sets down his beer and leans against the counter. "Until we figure out who's after her, we need to keep our hands off her." He speaks over everyone's protests, shouting to be heard over the noise. "She needs our protection, not us lusting after her."

Everyone tenses at the warning and falls quiet, glancing at each other to gauge who might be interested in Rue. Ellis doesn't look happy, Gunner is wearing a mutinous expression, and even the normally stoic Hicks, who's able to conceal his thoughts, cracks slightly, revealing that he's drawn to her as well.

Fuck.

My heart sinks.

As much as I don't want to admit it, I'm also intrigued by the girl.

What concerns me most, however, is my brother. I expect my twin to throw a tantrum, not liking being denied anything, but he seems eerily calm.

Too calm.

My instincts practically quiver.

The fucker is up to something.

"And after?" Gunner grumbles, the grumpy fucker clearly not pleased with the competition, and it would be competition from the way the guys are eyeing each other.

Face impassive, Hicks just shrugs. "Once the fucker who touched her is found and buried, then all bets are off."

The kitchen goes silent, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I'm not surprised no one protested the idea of killing to protect her, I'm just not sure how I feel about us fighting over a girl.

Especially Rue.

It just seems…wrong.

Despite the short time we've known her, she feels like one of us. While I think of these assholes like brothers, damn if my mixed-up feelings for her are anywhere near sisterly. No matter my reservations, her fate is already sealed. None of us have any intention of letting her go, not with dark bruises standing so vividly against her pale skin and danger stalking her every move.

No, Hicks is right—we need to focus on keeping her safe, not getting our dicks wet.

I'm used to abstaining, since sex is just an itch I can take or leave, but I suspect even I'm going to struggle to be around Rue and not react to her allure. Even when she's not close, she haunts me. I'm not sure I like the disruption to my life, but I can't deny she has a positive effect on the guys.

I suspect she's going to turn our lives upside down.

Hopefully, we're all still standing when things settle.