Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga #10)(42)

“Damn,” Talon said. “If Ted had something to do with that as well.”

“Right,” she said.

“I guess I owe him thanks, then,” Talon said. “If Jade had married Colin, I wouldn’t have her now.”

“It’s just conjecture,” Marj said. “I could be totally wrong. He told me his father called him a coward after he ditched the wedding.”

“Yet it kind of rings true, doesn’t it?” Joe said. “That Ted might be behind it somehow?”

“Yeah,” she said. “It kind of does. And Colin wants an audience with Jade.”

“Which he’s not getting,” Talon said dryly.

“I don’t know, Tal,” Joe said thoughtfully. “Maybe Jade should talk to him.”

“When she’s in the middle of a difficult pregnancy? You’d be hard-pressed to convince me when she’s in perfect health.”

“What if his father was behind him not showing up to the wedding? Maybe he wants to tell her that.” Joe rubbed at his chin. “Maybe he has some knowledge of what his father might be up to.”

“No way,” Talon said. “No fucking way.”

Marjorie stepped up then. “I’ve known Jade a lot longer than you have, Tal, and you’re not giving her enough credit. She’s as strong as they come. She won’t let Colin upset her. She won’t do anything to put this pregnancy in jeopardy.”

“You don’t have to tell me how strong my wife is,” Talon said.

“Then let Colin talk to her,” Ryan said.

“Fuck you, Ry,” Talon said, standing. “If Theodore Mathias rose from the dead and wanted to talk to your wife, would you encourage it?”

“Easy, bro,” Joe said.

“First, that psycho did way worse to Ruby than stand her up at the altar,” Ryan said. “The situations aren’t even close to equal. But trust me. If Ruby wanted to talk to her father, I wouldn’t be able to stop her.”

“You think I should let Jade decide,” Talon said with reserve.

Marjorie stood then and faced her middle brother. “Do you even hear what you’re saying, Tal? Of course it should be Jade’s choice. Jade is your wife, not your child. This is her decision.”

Talon regarded me then. “What do you think?”

Way to be put on the spot. “I’m not a member of this family. I don’t get a vote.”

“Hold on again,” Marj said. “The only person who gets a vote here is Jade. Jesus.”

“Bro, you’ve been an honorary Steel from day one,” Joe said. “Plus, you’re the one Ted Morse has reached out to. Of course you get a vote.”

“Do you people even hear me when I speak?” Marj said.

God, she was beautiful when her temper flared. Her cheeks and lips had darkened to a light crimson. Her hands were balled into fists.

Visions of our night together speared into my mind. Her lips and cheeks had been that same color. And her body…

“Well, Bryce?” Joe said.

“Marjorie is right,” I said.

“Thank you. At least someone else in this room has some sense.” She didn’t meet my gaze, though.

“If your wife was in the middle of a difficult pregnancy—” Talon began.

“I don’t have a wife.”

“If you did, you’d be as protective as I’m being.”

“Maybe so. But she’s her own person, and so far she hasn’t had a word of say in this.”

“She doesn’t even know,” Marj said. “I agreed with you, Tal, at first. Best not to rock the boat where Jade’s pregnancy is concerned. But if Ted Morse is up to something, Colin might know what it is. Right now, he’s vulnerable and will be especially so around Jade. We could learn something.”

“But…”

“She’s strong, Talon,” Marjorie said.

“I know that.”

“We all understand your need to protect her,” Joe said. “Ry and I feel the same way about our wives, right?”

“Of course,” Ryan agreed.

“Christ. Fine.” Talon relented. “But it’s up to her. If she says no, the answer is no.”

“Of course,” Ryan said. “No one wants to force her to do anything.”

“She’ll be up for it,” Marj said. “I know her. Especially if we let her in on what’s going on.”

“I don’t want her worrying,” Talon said.

“She’s—”

Talon interrupted Marjorie. “Yes, I know she’s strong. I’ll talk to her.”

I jerked slightly when my phone buzzed in my pocket. My mother. “Sorry. I have to take this.” I left the office and answered the call.

“Yeah, Mom?”

“Honey, Ted Morse just showed up at our house.”

Adrenaline spiked in my gut. I didn’t think Ted Morse was a danger to anyone, but I needed to get my son and mother out of that house as soon as possible. “What did he want?”

“You. He said he needed to talk to you about something important. I told him he’d have to come back another time. Henry was crying, and I didn’t know what to do.”