Page 57 of Jonas

“You good?”

Zane’s question jolted me out of my thoughts.

“Getting there.” Jonas nodded.

“Life’s too short. Get there faster.”

I waited for one of them to explain.

Neither did.

And just like it never happened, Zane went back to his conversation with Layla.

“I’ll ask Ivy to drop off the ginger tea that helped with her morning sickness.”

Layla acquiesced. Not verbally, but with a grateful smile.

“But she’s leaving Rose at the office. The last time you held her you wouldn’t give her back.”

Rose was Zane’s daughter.

It was cute the way he frowned at Layla when talking about her hoarding his baby.

“I was practicing,” Layla demurred.

“Practice with someone else’s kid.”

“Whatever.” Layla rolled her eyes. “If the world only knew that big, bad Viper King was really a soft teddy bear who doesn’t like to share baby cuddles, no one would be afraid of you.”

“Bullshit,” he spat. “There’s nothing in this world more dangerous than a man who loves his baby girl. This is not a touch her and die scenario. If someone’s gotten close enough to touch, I’ve failed. It’s a, look at her wrong and I’ll make a meat suit with your flesh scenario.”

I wasn’t sure if that was the most disturbing thing I’d ever heard or the sweetest.

“On that not-so-lovely visual, I think I’ll go empty the contents of my stomach before I head home.”

With that, Layla pushed back from the table and darted from the room.

Kevin finally spoke up.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, brother,” Zane returned.

So his speech was just as much for Kevin’s peace of mind as it was for Layla’s health.

Yeah, I totally liked Zane Lewis and his brand of concern.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Kevin,” Zane called out. Kevin halted midway up the stairs and looked down at Zane. “Call Myles, tell him if they don’t already have Kent, abort mission. I want him and Gabe back at the office. Then call Owen, I want Blue ready to spin up in an hour. You, Cooper, and Layla are in charge of getting their families to the safehouse Kentucky. Coop will drive back separately.”

“And if they have Kent?” Kevin asked.

“Drop him at the safehouse near Dulles. If he chooses to leave, that’s on him. I’m not expending the manpower to give him a babysitter.”

“Copy that.”

“Nebraska, call your parents,” Zane continued issuing orders. “I want both of them in DC.”