ESTELLE
The guys never left the house. Rome called all the way from Guardion to check on his best friend. Striker, Cenric, and Beck just arrived. I wasn’t even aware that Sax just called everyone on his list. The house was filled with testosterone, but everyone was happy. That was all that mattered.
“How’s our boy?” Moses might have noticed that I stayed at the corner while I enjoyed watching the guys share their funny stories.
“Aside from broken ribs and bruises, I think he’ll live. He barely told me what happened, other than the other who punched him. What do you think?”
“Gabe wouldn’t stop looking for Jasper anyway. At least, he found the answer he’d been looking for.”
“Did he tell you anything?”
“I picked him up from the private airport when I received a call from an associate. I took him to the hospital for a checkup, but the doctor cleared him. All he needs is painkillers and rest, but all he did was complain and wanted to go home.”
“Thank you for being there when he needs you.”
“He’s more like being always there all the time when I need him.”
“He looks up to you. I notice how he looks at you. He sees you as his second father.”
“He’s like my second son, Estelle. I will do anything for him.”
I smiled. My heart warmed. “Just make sure not to allow him to see the Titanic.”
Moses chuckled. “I think he’ll stay away from trouble for a while. He will focus on you and raising a family. I’m happy he found you, Estelle. He will stop working too hard.”
“I don’t think so. He’s a stubborn man.”
“Who’s stubborn?” I didn’t even see him coming over to us. “Hey, boss. You’re not drinking?”
“I’m meeting someone later.”
“A date?”
“Yeah, a sixty-year-old official is my date tonight.”
“Oh. Do you need an extra detail?”
When I met Moses’ gaze, I shrugged. “I told you.”
“You stay at home, Gabe. Don’t be stubborn. You’ve worried us already. At least heal properly before you go back to work. That’s an order.”
“I still have to hire someone as my COO now that Jasper’s seat is vacant.” Linden looked at me and then at Moses.
“Don’t look at me. I can’t help you with that.”
“What I’m trying to say is I’m asking permission to check the office on Monday.”
“No!” Moses and I said in unison.
“Just a visit, baby.”
“I have to go. Call me if you need anything. You can handle him, right?” Moses specifically looked at me, then at Linden. “For once, listen to your wife.”
“Yes. Thank you for coming.”
When he left, Striker and Cenric came.
“Hey, C. Tell Sadie Jasper loves her very much,” Linden whispered to Cenric, but enough for me to hear.
“Will do. Thanks, bro.” Cenric patted his back with a nod.
“How’s the baby?” Striker asked me.
“Good. Thanks for being here for him.”
“He has my six all the time. He and Beck,” Cenric said.
“How’s London?”
“Stubborn. Working at home.”
“I know just a person,” I told Striker, causing him to laugh.
“You’re about to find out the real Gabe Linden.” When Striker turned to Linden, my husband was already glaring at him. “He’s a piece of work.”
“The last time I checked, you’re the piece of work. When I told you to stay put, you did the opposite. So as this guy.” He pointed his thumb at Cenric. “Remember, Beck?” he called Beck, which caught his attention.
“These two are a pain in my ass.”
“Our asses, you mean?” Beck joined us.
“Remember when Sadie kicked him out of the hotel room?” Linden high-fived Beck while Striker and I watched them. They had the longest working partnership together.
Amused, Cenric just shook his head.
“No. The worse part was when he followed his wife like a fucking stalker with his awful disguise,” Beck added.
“Wait. I remember something. Rome and Princess Carlott told me something at Zee’s wedding,” Striker said. His eyes lit up.
“Oh, no. Don’t. Cade,” Suddenly, Linden warned Striker from sharing something.
“Oh. That’s interesting. What is it all about, Striker?” I asked him.
Striker grinned. “Payback is a bitch, Linden. They wanted to set him up with a Caprian architect, something like his type.”
“What is your type, Linden?” My question made the guys laugh. Squinting my eyes dramatically, I just called him Linden.
“You’re dead, man. Choose your answer carefully,” Cenric said. “When women said they don’t get jealous, they actually are. Very jealous and dangerous.”
“Oh, I know my wife gets jealous.” He placed his hand on my knee.
“You did not answer her question,” Striker insisted.
“Shut up, Cade.”
“What happened, Striker?” I asked him directly.
“He couldn’t leave the Firm. So they didn’t meet.”
“My fate isn’t there. That’s the fact.”
“And here I thought you’re a manwhore.” Sax slapped Linden’s back.
“Whoa!” Striker reacted. “Easy. He may have broken ribs, but his legs are not. Careful, or he will knock you down in an instant.”
“Linden, find me when you’re free.” Kye just came by and left the living.
“Is Kye okay?”
“Yeah.” One word, but his eyes followed Kye’s back.
“Let me guess. You two have a secret meeting.”
“If ever, I will tell you after that. I promise.”
“Wait. I remember Princess Carlott said something about two more to go.”
“Oh. They call them the three musketeers.”
I laughed. “Yeah, right. You must be Aramis.”
Everyone agreed with me except, of course, Linden.
“That was ancient history. Nobody noticed that I stopped being a manwhore.”
They left except Sax. Lynx, Qamar, and Quinn were in the control room, whatever they were doing there.
“I’ll check what Kye wants with me.” Linden kissed me before he stood up.
Then Sax sat next to me. “Did he say something?”
“About what?” I turned my head to him.
“Did he find Jasper?”
“Yeah. Why don’t you ask him?”
“Linden never keeps secrets from us regarding mission, but this one is personal.”
“I’m sure he will tell if you ask. He’s your boss, buddy, best friend, and brother. Ask him because he didn’t tell me enough. I suppose he wanted to protect me because when I saw his bruises, I couldn’t breathe. It hurt. He’s still healing but wants to start working again, which worries me.”
“That’s him. That’s the man you married. You can’t change him.”
“I won’t. I love the man I married, being a workaholic, intolerable overprotective, loyal, even he’s domineering and unapologetic, and honesty, I love that about him.”
“So, you love him, huh?” He smiled.
“Yeah. I realized when he was out there. It was hard to breathe without him and not knowing if he was okay or hurt.”
“Good to know.”
“He fought with a man. And he said he met Jasper briefly, but he’s good. The rest, I didn’t pry, and I better not know after what he’s been through. I don’t want to relive that moment.”
“He’s tough. I know without a doubt, he’ll come back.”
“Thanks for not giving up on him.”
“He never gave up on us. He’s that kind of man. Once he’s committed, he never gives up.”
“So do you, Sax. So, how’s your lady friend?”
“Lady friend?”
“Hope.” I beamed as I watched his reaction, trying hard not to be obvious with his feelings.
“Oh, Padilla. Nah. She’s a badass.”
“And? You’re afraid that he’s more badass than you?”
“Kinda. She’s scary, Estelle.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You? Scared of Hope? Well, that’s a first.”
“There’s always a first to everything.”
“Why Kye wants to talk to Gabriel?”
“No idea. Probably about the assignment?”
“What assignment?”
“He asked Kye to check on someone.” There was a hesitation in his voice.
“Do you know who?”
“Ask him, Estelle.”
“Is it my father?”
“I don’t know.”
“You just said that you don’t keep secrets regarding missions. Is this personal?”
“Oh, boy.” He breathed exaggeratedly. “He wants to know about his ex?”
“His ex, huh?” I couldn’t ignore the pang in my chest. “Why would he wanna know about his ex?”
“You should ask him that. Linden would never keep a secret from you.”
“He actually just did.”