Chapter 11

Max

Waking up in a strange bed was usually cause for alarm, but with Jana’s scent still lingering on my body and in my nostrils, I knew exactly where I was and reached out to her. The bed was cool where she’d slept after I’d made her nearly pass out from her orgasms and I groaned, sat up in her bed. The room was neat except for the evidence of our passion last night and this morning in the form of clothes strewn all over the room and pillows dotted the floor.

I stood and went to the master bathroom to wash up because the smells coming from the kitchen—bacon and coffee—had my stomach standing up to remind me I’d burned more calories than I’d consumed last night. I slipped on the green boxer briefs that hung on a drawer handle and made my way down to the kitchen.

I froze just before I reached the doorway as a male voice sounded. A familiar male voice. I looked around the door and froze at the figure sitting at the small round table and smiling bright up at Jana. “Tate?”

He and Jana froze, but gazes turned to me. “Big brother! Did you miss me?”

I could’ve throttled the little fucker, but I missed him too damn much and I was so happy to see him. A scowl was fixed on my face as I stalked to him and Tate’s grin faded. “Fucking right I missed you. Get your ass over here.” I pulled him to a big, emotional hug. It lasted longer than it probably should have, but this was my fucking brother. “Fuck, it’s so good to see you, kid.” His shoulders relaxed and I realized it was worried about how I’d receive him.

“It’s good to see you too, old man.”

“Not too old to kick your ass.”

He scoffed. “You and what army?”

“Uncle Sam’s,” we both answered with similar grins. “Where have you been?”

To his credit, Tate’s expression straightened, a small smirk still appeared at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t worry, your girl has already given me a proper tongue lashing about scaring my big bad mama bear.” He sighed but he was serious now. “I needed to decompress for a while and I knew you guys would want to party straight off. I needed to get my head on straight first.”

“And before that?” Now that he was okay and free, I wanted some damn answers. “I haven’t seen you or talked to you in months, Tate.”

He blew out a breath and took a sip of the steaming cup of coffee cradled in his hands. His familiar gray gaze cut to Jana and she gave an encouraging nod. “I needed to make sure the government couldn’t use any club business against me.”

The words hung in the air between us and I resisted the urge to look at Jana because I couldn’t bear to see her wearing an arrogant grin.

“Have a seat,” Jana broke into the contemplative silence and slid a tall stack of pancakes on the table, then eggs and bacon and fruit.

“How did you find me?” Savior was the only one who knew about Jana and he didn’t know her last name.

“Your phone. I knocked an hour ago and Jana was kind enough to let me in instead of calling the police.”

She grinned and blushed prettily. “I figured you probably had enough of them to last you a lifetime. Plus, the resemblance is strong, even with the different hair color.” Head down, she kept her focus on the breakfast while Tate and I caught up.

“You plan on staying at the compound?”

Tate shook his head. “Nah, I need my own space. I have a hotel stipend for a few weeks so I’ll use that while I figure it out.”

“Bullshit. I have a spare room. It’s only got a bed and a nightstand, but its yours for however long you want it.”

He grinned but I could see the strain it caused. “Thanks, Max.”

“I’m just so fucking happy you’re out, man.”

“Me too.” He smiled and for a moment I caught a glimpse of the boy he used to be before life had shown him what an unfair bitch she could be.

“Eat,” Jana insisted, “or I’ll start to believe you prefer prison food to mine.”

Tate laughed and it was genuine this time. “Yes ma’am. And if I’d gotten food this good in prison, it wouldn’t have been so bad.” He ate quickly and I could see a restless, unsettled quality that hadn’t been there before. “Would you like me to help with something?”

Jana frowned and shook her head. “No. You’re a guest.”

“Uninvited,” he added with a bit of anger.

Jana wasn’t fazed though, she turned big green eyes up at him and arched a brow. “That’s still a guest.” They were locked in a stare down and I didn’t know if I should intervene or not.

But Tate relaxed. “Okay then. Thanks for breakfast, Jana. It was nice to meet you.”

“You too, Tate. And I’m happy you got your freedom back.”

He blinked, uncomfortable for a moment with her words but then I saw acceptance dawn. “Thanks. Me too.”

The moment was so tender, so intimate I felt like an outsider and he was my brother. What the fuck was wrong with me? “I’ll walk you out.” I took a quick detour to hand off my house keys. “Use whatever you like, except my underwear and my condoms.”

Tate flashed a grin. “I’m all set in that regard, thanks.”

“You need cash?”

He shook his head. “No. What I need is someone who can go through my bank statements. Even though I’ve been cleared of the crime, the government isn’t willing to give up the money they confiscated from me. It’s a lot of fucking money, Max.”

I sighed, knowing that my morning plans with Jana were about to be derailed. Again. “Come on back in, you should talk to Jana. If she can’t help, she can point you in the right direction.”

“What? That little bitty thing in the kitchen?”

I grinned and followed behind him. “That little bitty thing is an accountant.”

“No shit? How’d you find her?”

“Art therapy.”

He looked over his shoulder with a quickly fading grin. “Shit, for real?”

“Yep.”

“You doing better?”

“A bit, not much. You?”

Tate shrugged. “Only time will tell.” He turned in the doorway and froze. “I think you should’ve told your girl I was still here.”

I peeked over his shoulder to find Jana scrambling off the counter, butt naked, as she tried to cover herself with a kitchen towel and then an apron. “Shit! I thought…never mind. I need a minute, or a million, maybe just a rock to climb under.”

I grinned at her adorable awkwardness and Tate laughed. “We’ll be in the living room. Tate needs an accountant.”

She peeked up over the counter and grinned. “Really? Great! Just…go away please and thanks.” She sank back behind the counter, whispering curses to herself. She was fucking adorable.

“We’re in the living room,” I told her when Tate fell onto the couch, stifling a laugh. “Don’t embarrass her,” I warned.

Tate held his hands up in surrender. “Embarrass? I’m jealous as fuck there’s no beautiful woman waiting for me butt naked on a counter somewhere. I’ve been in prison for six years, dude.”

“You up for a party tonight?”

“Nope. Dinner?”

“You cooking?”

He shook his head. “You’re buying, big brother.”

“Gladly.” I meant it too. Now that Tate was back where he belonged, maybe I could finally move forward with my life.