Claimed by Shadows (The Shadowmen #2)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

“THIS WOMEN’S WORK” BY KATE BUSH

IRIS

A s soon as the others leave, Rowan comes over and sits next to me.

“Show me.” The two words are said as a demand, but a gentle one, and my heart races as I hand over his phone. His brows furrow as he looks at the screen, his eyes racing from side to side as he reads about Serene Haven. Then his throat bobs before he looks up at me, his amber eyes swirling with emotion. “Hunt’s not going to like it, you being so far away and unprotected.”

“I need this, Roo,” I tell him, taking in an inhale and watching his own chest rise and fall.

“I know, Lamb.” He places the phone down on the coffee table in front of us, running his fingers through his long blond hair. I love it when he leaves it down, and my fingers itch to follow his, to feel the soft, silky strands between them. “Fuck, he’s going to kill me, you know that right?”

“So you’ll do it? You’ll take me?” I ask, my breath bottling up in my chest as I wait for his answer.

The angles of his face soften, his fingers reaching out and brushing my cheek. “Lamb, I would do anything for you. I’d do everything for you, including facing Hunter’s wrath. If this is what you need, if being away from here and someplace you can heal, then that’s what we’ll do. Hunt will come around.”

“Thank you, Roo,” I whisper, my voice thick with the lump in my throat, and my fingers reach out to tangle with his, giving them a squeeze.

“No need to thank me, Lamb,” he tells me, setting down his phone and reaching for the laptop he was on before Hunt’s phone call from Kai. “You best go pack while I hack into their systems and check out their security.”

“Rowan!” I admonish, though I can’t deny that his words also give me the warm and fuzzies.

“No arguments, Lamb. We need to make sure Sergi can’t pull any shit, and it’s the only way I’ll convince Hunt. That and I’m sure he’ll want to place some guys on security detail.” At my raised brows he huffs a laugh. “Don’t worry, we’ll make a large donation to keep them sweet.”

He turns to his laptop, his fingers flying over the keyboard, and I huff out a breath before getting up and heading to my room to pack. I know this is the right decision, that I need to be somewhere with more specialist care, and Serene Haven specialises in caring for victims of sexual assaults. The thought makes my stomach churn, that I now have that label, which leaves my hands trembling as I grab the duffle bag that Nikolai gave me all that time ago.

But I won’t let that label define me. I refuse to give Sergi that power.

The morning is warm, the sun already up when we leave the World’s End Estate the next morning. Rowan is driving a stunning, vintage cherry red MG, and laughed when my eyes almost bugged out of my head. He told me that just because they usually keep more under the radar, doesn’t mean they aren’t boy racers at heart.

It made me laugh, and something loosened inside my chest as we sped away from the city, the early morning mining hardly any traffic to stop Rowan from definitely breaking a few speed limits just to show off.

The houses and buildings turn into hedges and fields, and soon we’re driving up a long, winding driveway lined with trees and surrounded by rolling lawns. I sit up in my seat and Rowan lowers the window, the fresh air hitting my face as I take a great lungful.

“It smells like summer,” I muse, turning to look at Rowan. His lips pull up into a smile that steals my breath for a moment, the perfumed air swirling around us.

“It’s already brought some light back into your eyes, Lamb,” he comments, turning back to face the road and pulling up in front of the large building.

It’s gorgeous, marble columns framing a double front door, which is open, big windows all facing the front, and there are roses growing up the front of the building, full of pink and yellow blooms. An older woman stands at the base of the stone steps, her face full of smiles and her grey eyes warm and welcoming.

Rowan cuts the engine, then takes my hand in his, drawing my attention away from the woman.

“Are you sure?” he asks, his honey amber eyes boring into mine.

“Yes,” I answer, feeling a sense of rightness inside my chest, a moment of lightness that I thought I’d never feel again.

“Then let’s get you settled,” he replies, bringing my hand up to his mouth and placing a kiss on my knuckles before letting it go.

We open our doors, and Rowan comes around the front of the car, taking my hand in his once more. Then we make our way over to the woman, who’s wearing a lovely floral dress that floats in the warm breeze.

“Welcome, Iris. I’m Julia and I’ll be your main point of contact for your stay here and your therapist,” she tells me, and I nod, butterflies flying around in my stomach. “If you’d like to follow me, I can show you to your room. Rowan, you are more than welcome to come along too, and thank you for your generous donation.”

“Not at all, Julia. Are the security measures I suggested being put in place?” Rowan asks as Julia leads us into a bright and airy entrance hall.

“As we speak,” Julia affirms, and I don’t bother to ask what he suggested, trusting that he knows what’s best when it comes to my safety. “We understand the seriousness of the situation and want to assure you that all staff are thoroughly vetted, as are any visitors.”

“Thank you,” Rowan answers, placing a kiss on the top of my head as we make our way up a steep wooden staircase. “She’s the most precious thing we have, we won’t lose her again.”

I have to blink the moisture from my eyes, then choose to look around at all the old paintings, which line the walls, in a bid to chase them away. Julia chats to us about the facilities, the spa and gym area, plus all the exercise and art classes that are available, as she leads us down a wide corridor and stops outside a carved wooden door.

“And this is your room, Iris,” she states, unlocking the door and opening it, motioning for me to enter first. It’s beautiful, a light peachy pink colour painted on the walls, creams and different shades of peach for all the soft furnishings. I wonder if Rowan specifically requested them, given my nickname. “No one is allowed inside anyone else’s rooms without express permission, and each room is fitted with a panic alarm that will be answered day or night if you need anything or anyone.” She walks over to the wall and shows us what looks like an old-fashioned bell pull with a tassel on the end. “Just tug on this and help will arrive.”

“Okay,” I murmur, my breaths a little quick as nausea swirls inside my stomach. Rowan’s arm slips around my shoulders as he pulls me closer into his side.

“Sergi can’t get you here, love,” he tells me, brushing a kiss to my temple. “This place is now more locked down than the Estate, plus you know he won’t piss off the Fallen, who have made it clear that trying to take you back would earn him a place in their bad books.”

Julia doesn’t comment, just gives me a small, understanding smile. “You are safe here, I promise. Even more so since the donation and suggestions made by Rowan came through this morning.” The tightness eases in my chest at hers and Rowan’s reassurances. She walks over to another carved door. “This is your bathroom, each room has their own.”

We follow her, and I gasp at the luxurious fittings, the cream marble lined with rose gold giving a delicateness to the room.

“It’s beautiful,” I say, my eyes feeling as wide as saucers as I take in the space. A twinge tightens in my chest, thinking of all the times the guys have run me a bath. I know I’ll miss that and so much more, but this is what I need—time and space to heal.

“I’m so glad you like it, Iris.” She beams at me before leading us back out into my room. “I’ll leave you to get sorted. Rowan, stay as long as you need. We have a very flexible visitor policy for approved visitors, so you and Hunter and Roman can visit as often as Iris likes.” She heads over to the door, pausing and placing the key she used to open it on the side table, then turns back to me. “This is your key, and there’s a lock on the inside of the door. Only a select few have keys to the rooms, and Rowan has approved each person so he can tell you who they are. Your welcome pack here also has their names as well as a timetable and the times for meals. I’ll see you later, Iris. Pleasure to meet you, Rowan.”

With that, she quietly opens the door and walks out, closing it softly behind her. I turn in Rowan’s arms to look at him, a lump in my throat.

“Will you stay? Just for a bit?” I ask, and he’s nodding before I’ve even finished.

“Of course, Lamb. Let’s unpack and then we can take a look around.”

Several hours later, we’re eating dinner in my room at a round table that’s set in front of the large window, the sun low in the sky when there’s a knock at the door.

“Um, come in?” I say, more of a question than anything else, and the door flies open, Hunter striding in with Roman on his heels and a security guard behind them.

“You have some visitors, Miss Iris. Are they okay to stay?” the older man asks, eyeing up Hunt who is almost vibrating as he stands there, his chest heaving.

“It’s fine, uh…” I trail off, trying to recall the man’s name but coming up short.

“Donald, Miss,” he supplies helpfully with a nod. “I’ll leave you to it then.”

“Thank you, Donald,” I say, watching as he retreats, shutting the door behind him.

“Peaches, look at me,” Hunt orders, and I tear my gaze away from the door to find emerald eyes blazing into mine. “Come here.”

“Hunt…” Rowan warns, his tone low, but I lick my lips, holding out my hand.

“It’s okay, Roo,” I tell him, slowly getting to my feet and cautiously stepping towards Hunter. My gaze drops to my feet, my body shaking the closer to Hunter I get, my thoughts swirling in my mind. I should have spoken to him sooner, not just left it up to Roo to text him once we’d arrived and unpacked.

“Look at me, Iris,” Hunt demands again, and I lift my gaze, realising how close we’re standing to one another, our chests brushing with each of our breaths. My eyes lock onto his emerald ones, which swirl with so many emotions it makes me dizzy. “Why didn’t you tell me, baby?”

“I–I’m sorry, Hunt,” I whisper, tears stinging my eyes. “I worried that you wouldn’t let me come, and I need this…so much.”

“Fuck, Iris,” Hunt breathes out, closing his eyelids and taking a deep inhale, his chest expanding and brushing against mine. He opens his eyes, staring into my very fucking soul. “Don’t you know that I’d burn the fucking world down without question if you needed me to? I’d start a war with the Bratva, sacrifice everything that I am just to keep you safe, baby.” The tears burn a path down my cheeks as they fall, and his fingers come up to brush them aside. “I’d do literally anything, even offer up my entire crew, just to see the shadows in your eyes go away.”

“I don’t want you to do any of that, Hunt. I just need time and space,” I tell him, my heart swelling at his offer. The Shadows are his life, he’s spent his life protecting them, and for him to offer them up is a big fucking deal. “And I like some of the Shadows in my eyes.”

One side of his lips tips up in a half smile, his palm cupping my cheek to bring our foreheads together. “I love you, wife.”

I huff a laugh, recalling how I became his wife without him even knowing. “I guess we’re even now. Maybe the next surprise could be something less…well, less dramatic?”

“Maybe that’s just how we roll, Peaches,” he tells me, pressing his lips against the space his forehead was a moment ago before heaving a sigh. “I’m going to go over security with Rowan, but Roman needs a hug.”

With another parting kiss that leaves tingles racing across my skin, he steps aside and I find Roman standing there, his hands tucked into the pockets of his dark jeans, his gaze on the floor.

“Ro?” I gently ask, taking a step towards him. “I’m sorry, I should have said?—”

“No, I’m sorry, fuck!” he rasps, his voice broken and thick with emotion. His hands come out of his pockets, tugging his hair loose, his fingers running through it. His brown eyes lock on mine, his gaze tormented. “When I read Rowan’s message, all I could think is that we weren’t enough to fix you, that we failed once again, and I know that makes me a selfish bastard, Princess, but I just wanted to be enough. For once in my miserable life, I wanted to be enough.”

A sob tears through me at the tears that glisten in his eyes, at the way his shoulders cave like he really believes that he is worthless. Without thought, I step right up to him, pulling him into my arms and wrapping him in a tight embrace.

“You are enough, Ro, more than enough. I’m the one who’s broken, who’s so lost I can’t find my way back to you. I’m lost in the dark, screaming and screaming, but no one comes, only monsters who want to tear me apart and devour me.”

My knees buckle as I weep, but before we can crash to the floor, strong arms wrap around us both, Hunt behind me and Rowan behind Roman. They guide us down, holding us between them as we both just cry.

“I’m the one who’s not enough, who’s like a shadow, a wraith,” I tell them, tears streaming down my face and soaking Roman’s T-shirt. He holds me tightly, his own tears dripping onto my hair. “And I refuse to let that man steal anything else from me. I will not let him take you away from me, but he’s winning at the moment, Ro. So we need to try a different approach, but it’s not because you’re not enough. Sometimes, we just need a helping hand.”

“Shit, I know, Princess. I’m making this about me, and it’s not?—”

“It is about you too, Ro. All of you. It’s why Julia has agreed to talk to you guys too. She agrees that it’s affected all of us and we need to work together to get through this,” I tell him, moving so I can look into his red-rimmed eyes. “And we will win. We will make it through this, Ro.”

“You’re so fucking strong, Princess,” he tells me, dipping down to place his lips against my forehead. “And we will win because of you.”