Eira stared. “This is home?”

Range nodded. “It’s a custom-made bunker complex that adjoins to a subterranean structure. Our own personal command center.”

“What the hell do you guys command?”

He laughed. “We like to be in command of ourselves, I guess.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “This is like something I’d expect to see in a military science fiction movie.”

He shrugged muscular shoulders. “I suppose. The entrance to the subterranean—underground—”

She laughed. “I know what subterranean means, you know.”

Range offered a sheepish smile. “Sorry. So, the subterranean access is down a narrow sloping corridor in the main house, but it’s hidden behind a bookshelf.”

She gave him a wink. “Clever. That’s not cliché, or anything.”

“Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve seen it. It’s some damned fine carpentry and well-hidden.”

“I believe you. Tell me more.”

“The corridor transcends into a labyrinth of rooms that will probably really remind you of a sci-fi flick. Computers, a plotting center. Pretty much looks like something out of a James Bond movie.”

She was intrigued. “Will you show it to me?”

“Well, let’s get passed the first hurdle—my brothers.”

“Deal. So how big is this underground area?”

“The facility is around 8,000 square feet—”

“That’s bigger than most people’s homes. Like three times the size.”

A hardness crossed his face. “Guess we’re not most people. Anyway, it has everything we’d need to survive down there, and it fans out to several different exits, if we need to make an escape.”

Incredible. And for a brief moment, the discussion about his home had pushed away her unease about meeting his brothers.

But it was back now, in full force.

Eira rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans. Nervous much? Hell yeah, she was nervous. After what Range had said, after all the things she was sure he didn’t say, she was certain she was going to be anything but simple.

A sound startled her from her reverie. Range clearing his throat. He’d killed the engine and was watching her.

“Yes?” What did I miss?

“I was asking if you’re ready.”

Of course, I’m not ready. She nodded. “Sure.” She never had a chance to prepare herself for going inside and meeting his brothers.

Range slipped out of the truck and came around to her side. At the same time, the back door opened and three imposing men, equally daunting, equally fierce and intense as Range, stepped onto the covered porch.

The grins on their faces dropped the moment Range opened Eira’s door and she stepped out.

She froze. This is not good.

Not good at all. Those now non-smiling faced dropped some serious frowns. Brows dipped, lips downturned, arms crossed over chests as wide as Range’s.

She studied Range’s expression, which showed zero concern for the glares of consternation shot in their direction. “This does not bode well,” she whispered.

“They can hear you,” Range responded without lowering his voice. “Shifter hearing, and all that.” He pointed toward her ear.

Eira felt a slow heat of embarrassment making its way up her cheeks. Great. Just great. She tried to force a smile onto her face, despite the nearly-hostile looks she and Range were getting from the men who were clearly his brothers.

One stepped forward. He was fairly clean-shaven, more or less like Range, especially when compared to the two who hadn’t moved yet. One sported a rather long blond beard while the other wore a dark, short beard.

The first one walked all the way to Range, only stopping when their chests were about six inches apart. She held her breath. If anyone wearing a look like that had stepped that close to her, she’d have taken action. It spoke highly of the trust Range had that his brother wouldn’t do him physical harm. Eira wasn’t sure she’d have tolerated any of the sisterhood doing that—probably not even Emme. Her Valkyrie instinct for self-preservation ran high.

“Asa.” Range put his hand on the other man’s shoulder.

Asa cut his eyes toward Eira then turned that steely gaze back on Range. “What were you thinking?” His voice was a vehement hiss.

The other two shifters now moved forward, taking long strides, they flanked Asa.

“What gives,” Blond Beard asked.

“Yeah.” Dark Beard glared at Range. “You brought—”

“Back off.” Range’s voice had a tone Eira had never heard before.

The three men in front of Range took a step back.

“I’ve never done anything to endanger us—”

“Until now,” Asa interjected.

“I still haven’t.” Range reached his handout and took Eira’s, then tugged her forward and closer to him. “You don’t know the first thing about her.”

Blond Beard cleared his throat. “We know she’s the one a client wanted found. We know—”

Range raised his hand. “You don’t know shit, Davin.” Then he looked at the other two. “None of you know anything about her. About why I brought her here.”

“Then why don’t you fill us in?” the one with the dark beard said.

Process of elimination, he had to be Jason, Eira figured.

“How about if we introduce ourselves and act civil for a shot?” Range’s smile was forced and tight.

Asa nodded, then turned to Eira. “Asa Wulfsen, Range’s brother.” He waved his arms toward the men next to him. “Davin and Jason,” he growled out.

Feeling much like she was talking around a mouth of sawdust, Eira managed a reply. “Nice to meet you.” Though she’d rather have met a slew of gang members in a dark alley.

“Let’s go inside,” Range tugged her hand, pulling her around his brothers.

One of them, she couldn’t have said which because she wasn’t watching, made a grunting sound as if not believing Range was adding insult to injury by taking her inside their home.

“Mind if we have a moment?” Asa’s voice came from behind them.

“Sure, as soon as I get Eira settled, show her the restroom.”

Another sound from behind them, a louder grunt. Clearly, the brothers didn’t approve of that either.

At that moment, Eira wondered if her decision to come with this man had been wise. Obviously, there was a dynamic in place, and she shouldn’t be here.

And then, Range’s fingers squeezed hers, and the energy that emanated from him was a salve that soothed her anxiety.

She followed him up the stairs of the porch and into the building. He closed the door firmly behind them, leaving his brothers in the yard where they hadn’t moved an inch. He led her through a home that was definitely decorated by men with its dark colors and austere simplicity. Down into a sunken living area, then up a set of four steps into a room that reminded her of a cave.

Dark blue curtains and dark wood furniture ensconced a king-sized bed garnished with a tan and navy comforter set.

“Your room?” she asked.

“Yours now, too. If you want it. I can stay in the game room. It’s got a pull-out sofa.”

Her hand still in his, she pulled him closer. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yeah.” He gave her that half-smile she’d come to be so fond of. “I’m sure about sleeping on a pull-out sofa.”

She yanked on his hand even harder. “I mean about my being here.”

“Eira.” His voice was husky. The same husky that made her melt, inside and out. “I’m not so good with words, but this is where you need to be. Where I need you to be. With me.”

Eira swallowed the lump of emotion that had formed over his words. She couldn’t have explained where the feelings she carried for him came from. They were sudden, they were intense, and she could tell they were forever. There was something inexplicable about what was between them. But still… “You can’t reject your brothers for me.”

“I’m not. Not anymore than you rejected your sisters.”

“I didn’t—”

He placed his lips on hers, stopping her midsentence. He pulled back. “I’m not saying you did. I’m saying that we are doing what’s right for us. And it might stretch those that care for us outside of their comfort zones, but we don’t intend them harm.” His gaze locked with hers. “Do we?”

“Of course not.” She knew he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her sisterhood deliberately any more than she would.

“But I won’t let them stand between us. There has to be a way to make it work.”

“Perhaps the approach was a little too strong?” She strove for a smile.

“I don’t know how to be any different. And I’m not sure subtlety works anyway. Not with my brothers.” He placed his lips on her forehead.

She leaned against him, her hand over his heart, feeling the strong beat beneath her fingertips. She held back a sigh, not wanting him to misread it.

“Why don’t you get a shower in while I talk to my brothers? I’ll bring your bag in while you’re in there.”

He tipped her head up with his finger under her chin and kiss her lips slowly, masterfully.

“If you keep that up, I won’t be showering alone,” she warned him.

“Promises, promises.” He slapped her derrière as he pushed her toward a door at the other end of the room.