Page 38 of Lethal Attraction

“Nope,” I rock back on my heels before snatching my helmet. “Great meeting, guys. I’ll catch you later—”

As I try to sneak past, Rowan grabs the neckline of my suit, pulling me back into the living room as I close my eyes.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Loxley asks excitedly. “Al, did you know about this?”

“I plead the Fifth,” my best friend says.

“You did!” Addison accuses.

Bailey lifts a brow at me. “A doctor, huh?”

I bury my face in my hands as I groan. “It isn’t like that—”

“Sure it isn’t,” Theo smirks. “He only defended your honor and basically told Brooks he rearranged your guts professionally. No big deal.”

Bailey slaps the back of his head. “Her brothers are here.”

Theo fixes his glasses as he winks at her. “They already know, Princess. The whole room does now.”

“And we’re rightfully traumatized,” Atlas mutters.

Rowan pinches the bridge of his nose. “From the conversation, it’s obvious Reed isn’t buying Brooks’ story. It seems like he’s a skeptic on the syndicate being real.”

All eyes shift to me.

“What?” I snap defensively.

Rowan gives me a stern expression. “Is this serious between the two of you?”

Oh, no.

He wants to talk about my love life in front of the others. I would rather fistfight a fucking bear.

“Can we not do this in a room full of people?” I mutter.

Bailey takes the hint, rallying everyone else. “Let’s take a break and give them some space.”

Theo and Dom follow after her like some lost puppies, and the other assassins she brought file out onto the porch. When it’s just my family left, everyone waits for me to answer.

“I don’t know!” I exclaim.

Addison places a hand on Rowan’s bicep, and he leans down as she speaks to him softly. “It’s new between them. Try not to rush an answer out of her.”

“I know, Sunshine, but this is a time-sensitive situation. I’m thinking about the safety of the compound and whether we need to add a civilian doctor to our protection detail.” He says as he brushes her hair behind her ear.

Normal families ask if your new boyfriend likes football. Mine asks if he requires tactical surveillance.

His wife smiles. “And I love that about you, but see it from your sister’s perspective. She doesn’t know if they’re serious yet. She needs time.”

He nods in understanding before sighing. If there’s one thing I envy about Addison, it’s her penchant for being my oldest brother’s voice of reason. Since she’s come into the picture, Rowan has backed off his overbearing tendencies a little. The brunette has done wonders for his anxiety, and he isn’t as uptight as he used to be. She shouldered some of the burden, giving him the space to rediscover himself and take a step back from his constant need for control.

They’re a match made in heaven.

“We’re happy for you,” Loxley says as she links elbows with Atlas. “If things do get serious, we want to make sure Reed is protected in this mess.”

My second oldest brother gazes down at his wife softly, a smile upturning his lips as he rubs a hand over her growing stomach. “We protect what’s ours, Thal. If Reed is important to you, we’ll do anything we can to make sure he’s safe.”

My family can be chaotic, argumentative, and disorganized at times, but one thing has never changed. We look out for each other. Rowan made sure Atlas, and I were able to love whoever we wanted with his rule changes, paving the perfect path for Atlas to rekindle things with his high school sweetheart.