Page 52 of Far from Destined

I shrugged. “Maybe. But I’m still figuring out my thoughts. I’m sorry, you guys. I’m not doing it anymore. As Dakota said, that was my trainer. It’s not happening again.”

“Okay, okay.” Paris held up her hands when my brothers started to shout at me. “We don’t have time for this,” she said. “We’re here for Dakota, remember? Yes, Macon, you’re an idiot. But we’re glad you’re safe. And if you do it again, and if Nate holds it back from this family again, then I will have to make this a problem. And you do not want me to be the bad guy here.” That made me smile, and Paris just narrowed her eyes at me. “Don’t think I’m being funny. I’m not.”

I just smiled. “Okay.”

Paris flipped me off, and I rolled my eyes. “Now, let’s get back to Dakota.”

“I don’t want to be the center of this,” she said.

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, but you are the reason we’re here.”

“Let’s go back to talking about you.” She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. Without thinking, I brushed her hair back from her face and noticed the others’ sidelong glances.

They all wanted to know what the hell was going on between Dakota and me. Well, I wanted to know, too.

But this wasn’t the time for that. I had no answers anyway.

And, Jesus, I just wanted to hold her close and tell her that everything was going to be okay, even if I knew it wasn’t. At least not yet.

“So, what did the detective say again?” Myra said, looking down at her phone. “I have notes from that day, but I want to hear it once more.”

“You took notes?” Nate asked.

Myra glared like the ice queen she pretended to be. “My friend is being stalked. Of course, I took notes. And I’m sure Paris has it in her pretty little planner. If you have a fucking problem with that, Brady, have at it.”

“Okay, okay.” Dakota put herself between them and held out her hands. “Stop it. Both of you.”

“I mean, we can also spend the time talking about what the hell is going on between you two if we want,” Prior added.

“Nothing is going on between us,” Nate and Myra said simultaneously and in the same cadence.

I just stared at them, and Nate turned away and stalked towards the couch before sitting down and folding his arms over his chest.

Myra leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and looked like a prim and proper little princess.

Jesus Christ, I didn’t have enough brainpower to deal with all of this.

“Back to Adam,” Cross said, his voice low. “Hazel isn’t going to keep Joshua away for long, regardless of the cute kittens. Let’s make a plan. Because you’re one of us, Dakota. We’re not letting you get hurt.”

“Damn straight”, I growled.

Dakota reached out and squeezed my hand, and I wanted to hold on, bask in the warmth, but I didn’t.

“The detective said there’s nothing he can do. Just like he always says.”

“I hate that asshole,” I growled.

“Well, so do I. And yet right now, we can’t do anything but stay vigilant. The detective said he’d send somebody to talk to Adam, but for now, all we have is hearsay. And a note they may or may not be able to trace to him. I’m not a high priority. My son isn’t either.”

“You’re a fucking high priority to me. Both of you,” I added without thinking.

Again, I noticed the glances, but I ignored them.

Myra cleared her throat. “I’m in between projects right now. I can take over most of Nancy’s and Constance’s duties. Do we think Constance should be alone during this time when she’s with Joshua?”

“And you think youshouldbe alone with him?” Nate asked.

“I think I have trained in self-defense long enough that I can handle myself.”