Page 233 of Hate to Love You

I’d bet that’s Jaxon’s famously chilly Alpha Squad.

He watches Wesley board before clearing his throat and turning back to face me.

“Once again,” he says with a sigh. “I apologize for the unprofessionalism of my commander. Rest assured he will be doing every miserable assignment until I’m satisfied that he’s learned his lesson.”

“Mr. Pace,” Pasha says quietly, swallowing hard. “It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. It was entirely my fault.”

Jaxon and I exchange a look before he crosses his hand in front of his body.

“Is that so?”

“The absinthe was my idea, well my friend’s idea,” Pasha nods. “I was the one who suggested we test out the weapons down by the dunes, and I was the one who shot him.”

Of all the things I expected to hear this afternoon, my kid brother taking ownership of his failures in this ill-fated weapons transaction to the Don Supreme Chicago mafia was not one of them.

“Tell me, were you also the one who put a weapon in Mr. Lee’s hands?” Jaxon asks, raising a brow. “And did you force him to shoot at you?”

Pasha opens his mouth to say something but then instantly closes it, and shakes his head.

“Then,” Jaxon says quietly. “It wasn’t entirely your fault. And what you just said was a lie. And a lie that accomplished nothing.”

My brother shifts uncomfortably, but says nothing, evidently feeling the weight of Jaxon’s words.

“I was just trying to protect him,” he finally says, glancing up at Jaxon nervously. “And for the record, Mr. Pace, we all lie in this business.”

Jaxon smiles, licking his bottom lip before looking over at me. Even though no words are exchanged between the two of us, I know that he’s silently asking me for my approval to educate my little brother.

I consent with a nod.

“We do,” Jaxon says quietly. “But as I’m sure you know, there has to be some honor, even between the damned. Otherwise, none of us would trust anyone, and the only thing we’d be accomplishing would be bloodshed. However, there’s nothing admirable about stupidity, and nothing to be gained by protecting a fool from the consequences of his actions.”

Pasha swallows silently.

“Think of it this way,” Jaxon says, crossing his arms. “If I fail to punish him, then I subconsciously tell him that I condone his behavior. And as Mr. Lee is my wife’s primary bodyguard, if his foolish, selfish, and grossly inappropriate behavior ever led him to slip in his duties, or miss his mark, causing harm to her, I’d be partially responsible. Which is something I will never allow.”

I have to fight my smirk, because true to form, the smooth-talking Jaxon Pace, has eloquently made his point. And based on the way my kid brother can’t even look him in the eyes, I know that it has hit its mark.

“In this business,” Jaxon says, his voice low and lethal. “Leadership is a privilege. But it’s also a responsibility. It’s our duty to lead and protect the men that follow us…even from themselves.”

Pasha, who always has a comeback, is silent.

“I’ve never thought about it like that,” he finally says.

“I know,” I reply quietly. “Which is why I’ve decided you’re going back with him.”

Pasha’s head suddenly snaps up.

“What?” He asks, confused, looking between me and an equally perplexed looking Jaxon.

“Wait, you didn’t tell him?” Jaxon asks, pointing at Pasha with his brow raised.

“No,” I say, clearing my throat.

“What the fuck?” Pasha scoffs, the look of betrayal on his face conflicting with one of pain. “Roman?”

“I’ll give you two a moment,” Jaxon says, politely excusing himself while shooting me a look that seems to say, “you’re a fucking dumbass.”

“Oh my God,” Pasha laughs sarcastically. “You’re actually fucking serious.”