Page 55 of Peacemaker

Chapter Seventeen

Ribbons of Truth

I stopped on the way home and picked up seven red roses, seven boxes of chocolates, and seven balloons, because I wanted to do something nice for the ones I cared about and with everything hanging over our heads, I knew I might not get another chance.

I didn’t pick up lunch, because Jin would have been upset. He wanted to take care of the housecleaning and the cooking, and I wasn’t going to interfere with that.

I found them all gathered in the kitchen, of course. Angus sat at the head of the table, regaling them with some exaggerated—maybe—stories from his youth, and even though I’d just eaten a late breakfast and could barely waddle into the kitchen, the scent of whatever Jin was cooking up for lunch made my mouth water.

Angus caught sight of me standing in the doorway. “Trin,” he roared. “What do you have there?”

“We having a party?” Shane asked, leaning back in his chair.

Clayton walked to me and took the bag of chocolates and the flowers, then carried them to the table. When he put everything down, I stood there with all stares on me, feeling a little shy.

Jin turned from the stove, a long, wooden spoon in his hand, and watched.

“I…” I shrugged, then strode toward them and one at a time, I began handing out candy, roses, and balloons. Maybe it was silly, but we all needed a little silly in our lives.

Leo blushed like a teenager when I handed him his goodies. “I can hardly believe it. You got me gifts?”

My heart melted at his genuinely happy surprise. Even though he was sitting, I had to tiptoe to kiss his cheek. The half-giant was a little over eight feet tall. At five-nine, it wasn’t often a man made me feel short, but next to Leo, I was practically pocket-sized.

“You have one left,” Shane said, stuffing chocolates into his mouth. “You have a sweetheart hidden in the basement that we don’t know about?”

I winked at him. “Nope. I have a friend, though.”

Jin hunched over the stove, stirring the pot of stew so hard his entire body shook, pretending he wasn’t paying attention. But he darted a glance over his shoulder at me, then away, then back again.

When I walked to him and touched his shoulder, he started so hard he dropped the wooden spoon into the pot, cursed, then grabbed it out with a pair of tongs. I stood watching his awkwardness patiently, and finally, he set the spoon on the stove and stood like a plank of wood, staring at the floor.

“Thank you for taking care of us, Jin.”

He didn’t meet my eyes as he gingerly took his gifts. When he held them in his large-knuckled hands, he cleared his throat and then without a word, turned and fled the room, gifts squashed against his chest, balloon floating out behind him.

No one laughed. I’d have throttled them if they’d dared.

Shane polished off his chocolates and stood. “Guess I’ll finish cooking lunch.”

“You can cook?” Rhys asked doubtfully.

“Yup.” He wasn’t lying. Shane knew his way around a cook stove. He puckered up when he reached me and waited for me to lean in for a kiss. “Thanks, baby hunter.”

“Trin.” Angus scooted his chair back from the table and patted his lap. “Come here.”

I sat on his lap and wound my arms around his neck, ignoring the sheen of darkness hiding behind his eyes. I nuzzled his throat, drawing a growl from low in his chest, and when I inhaled, his perfect scent seemed to saturate every part of me. For a few seconds, there was nothing else.

But finally, I pulled myself away, got to my feet, and began to pace the floor, touching each man as I walked by him. “Crawford told me the mayor is thinking of arresting me. He believes if he holds me, he can control all of you. And Amias.”

“He’s right,” Leo said.

Angus nodded. “He called me before you got home.”

I stopped pacing. “Delaney called you?”

“Crawford did. He’s worried about you. I told him we know how to take care of our girl.”

I watched as Rhys helped Shane carry freshly baked bread and stew to the table. “He didn’t tell me he wanted to talk to you.” I sat down at the huge table, though I wasn’t going to eat. “He can be an asset to the supernats if we can ever come to trust him.”