Claimed by Shadows (The Shadowmen #2)

Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“ARTISTRY” BY JACOB LEE

IRIS

I head down to breakfast with a sober-looking Rufus, his brows wrinkled and his body stiff. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, my gut telling me something is wrong.

“What’s up?” I ask as we make our way along the halls. There’s a lightness in my soul, and I feel like a giggly schoolgirl who had sex for the first time every time I remember the day before and everything that happened with Rowan and Roman a few days prior. It was exactly what I needed, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t plagued by nightmares last night, instead, managing a somewhat peaceful night’s sleep.

They’ve all visited since, though none of the visits have been as explosive, and we’ve spent a lot of time walking around the gardens now that the weather is so nice out.

Julia is also pleased with my progress, not making it feel awkward in the least when I confessed what has happened between me and the guys.

Rufus’s jaw works and I pause, reaching out a hand and placing it on his tense, muscled arm as my brows lower.

“What happened, Rufus?” I ask, my heart doing an unsteady thump inside my chest. He sighs, briefly closing his eyes before opening them again and looking directly into mine.

“Depravity was blown up last night, and it looks like it was the Russians,” he tells me, and it’s as though the ground has fallen out from underneath me. My mouth opens, but no sounds escape, my nails digging into his skin. His eyes widen upon my reaction, his hand coming out to grip my other arm as if he’s afraid I will fall down. “Everyone is fine, no one was hurt. There was an issue with the sewage pipes, so the whole place was evacuated about half an hour before it happened.”

My breath whooshes from me as relief leaves me feeling almost dizzy. “Thank fuck.”

I’m distracted as I eat breakfast, Ember and Johnny glancing at me with frowns as I remain mostly silent, thinking over what Rufus told me and all that it implies. Did Nik know about the bombing? Was he part of it?

My stomach churns and I push my food away, not able to eat anything.

“Are you okay, babe?” Johnny asks, his hand reaching out to stroke my arm. My gaze flies to his, his voice bringing me back into the room where my mind took me away with all the questions swirling around it.

“Yeah, just, something happened last night, outside I mean, with the guys, and I guess I’m worried,” I confess, wringing my hands together. I wish I had a fucking phone, just so I could call them and ask what the fuck happened.

Johnny’s gaze flits behind me as Ember takes one of my hands in hers and rubs it soothingly.

“I’m sure everything is fine, Iris. They’d get a message to you if it wasn’t,” she assures me, and I nod just as a tap on my shoulder has me spinning, my heart racing.

“Sorry, Iris, didn’t mean to scare you,” Rufus gruffly apologises, his cheeks reddening. “Just got word that Hunt and the twins have arrived and are waiting in your usual room.”

I’m up before he’s even finished, rushing across the dining room and just catching Johnny calling Rufus sweetheart before I hear his footsteps behind me.

I don’t stop until I’m bursting through the door of the room that is fast becoming a place of comfort to me, my eyes catching Hunt’s, my body colliding with his before my brain has even caught up.

“Rufus told you then,” Hunt states, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me into one of his bear hugs that always leave me feeling safe and protected.

“Yes, and I want to know what the fuck happened?” I snap, pulling back and glaring at him. His eyes widen, then his lips twitch, and I just know he’s holding back a smile. It makes my eyes narrow on him, my blood heating in annoyance.

“You’re cute when you’re angry at me, Peaches,” he rumbles, his hand coming up to stroke a finger between my furrowed brows.

“Stop trying to distract me and tell me what happened, Hunt,” I say, my tone fire and brokering no arguments.

“Come sit down and I will,” he says, taking my hand in his and leading me to a soft-looking armchair. “You also might want to say hello to the twins, you know, since they came to visit too.”

My mouth drops as I look around the room, finding Roman and Rowan helping themselves to some pastries that were clearly laid out for us.

“Hello,” I say, my tone a little sullen, and they both smirk, leaving their pastries and strolling over to me.

It’s like being stalked by two jungle cats, their feline grace, a sight that always makes my heart beat faster, my pulse racing as they get closer.

“Hello to you too, Princess,” Roman says, being the first to reach me and pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “Have you eaten?”

“I couldn’t, I was too worried,” I confess, hearing Hunter making a tsking noise behind me.

“I’ll sort you a plate before Daddy has an aneurism,” Roman says, kissing my cheek and stepping back towards the side table as Rowan takes his place in front of me.

“Hello, Lamb,” he greets, his fingers tracing down my cheek. “You looked beautiful as you slept last night.” My brows dip and he gives a chuckle that really should be forbidden. It’s equal parts terrifying and sexual, my body lighting up at the sound. “As if I wouldn’t have my eyes on you every minute of every day.”

I let out a shaky exhale when he places a kiss over the top of Roman’s on my forehead, and then takes a step back.

“We will discuss that after you all stop avoiding telling me what happened at Depravity last night.”

Hunt tugs the hand he never let go of, and I fall into his lap, smiling when he makes an oof sound. Serves you right, bastard .

“Nik messaged me last week, telling me he needed to blow up Depravity. He said it was part of keeping you safe, so I didn’t argue, didn’t ask why, and just helped get everyone out before the bomb went off,” he tells me, and I straighten up so I can look into his eyes, my own no doubt wide.

“Wait, you knew about this last week and didn’t tell me?” I ask, hurt lancing my chest at the fact they kept something so big from me.

“We didn’t want to worry you, baby,” Hunt confesses softly, his hand cupping my cheek, his thumb passing over the skin under my eye. “And you’ve been through so much, we didn’t want to add to that.”

“You still should have told me. I don’t like that you kept me in the dark,” I say, unable to resist the comfort of his touch, rubbing my face into his palm. “Please don’t hold things like that back from me, okay?”

“Okay, Peaches. I’m sorry, love,” he replies, and I nod, pausing as something else occurs to me.

“You let him blow up your club? For me?” I ask in a shocked whisper, suddenly breathless, my muscles rigid. His face softens, his other hand coming up and cupping my cheek in a tender gesture so I’m held between his palms as he gazes into my eyes.

“Peaches, I’d let him, let anyone, do so much more to keep you safe. No arguments. No questions. Your safety comes first,” he tells me, and tears sting my eyes. “I love you, wife.”

“But you loved that club, and Roman loved playing there,” I reply, still unbelieving that he actually agreed, especially as he doesn’t seem to know exactly why it was needed.

“I love you more,” he says simply, using his grip on my cheeks to bring me close enough so he can place a gentle kiss on my lips. It’s reverent, worshipping, like he can’t quite believe he’s allowed.

“And we’ll fix it up in no time and I’ll play there again soon, Princess,” Roman adds, sitting on the arm of the chair, and I twist my head to look at him, Hunt still keeping hold of my face.

“I love you all so, so much,” I reply, my voice thick as I have to push past the lump in my throat. I turn to look back at Hunt, my mouth going dry as I think about the other part of my soul who is missing. “Is Nik… Is he okay?”

Hunt smiles, pressing another small kiss against my lips before letting me go as Rowan comes over with a plate full of fruit and pastries.

“He checked in just after the bomb went off. He’s fine, Peaches.” Then he sighs. “I just wish he’d tell me what he’s up to. Fucking idiot will get himself hurt if he’s not careful.”

I look away from the plate of food, my eyes narrowing as I find Hunt with his jaw tight, his brows furrowed. “Are you worried about him, Hunt?” His eyes snap to mine, wide, and a blush creeps up his neck. My mouth drops as realisation hits me. “You like him. Like, like him.”

Hunt’s mouth opens, then closes, no sounds coming out, but his cheeks turn red and Roman laughs behind me.

“They’ve practically been sexting,” he says, and it’s my turn to blush, my core throbbing at the image those words create.

“That’s not fucking true,” Hunt grumbles, his gaze sliding away from mine. “He was trying to say he’s more dominant than me, and I reminded him I put all my brats on their knees.”

A gasping giggle falls from my lips, and I squirm in Hunt’s lap, also imagining being on my knees, Roman on one side, Nik on the other. That visual has heat lighting my body on fire. “You’d put Nik on his knees?” His gaze snaps back to mine, and I don’t miss the way his green eyes sparkle like molten jewels. Fuck, he’s turned on by the idea for sure. “I’d like to see that, Daddy.” My voice is a husky whisper as my visual morphs to one where Nik has Hunt’s cock in his mouth, making my thighs rub together.

“Well, he’ll have to keep himself alive long enough first,” Hunt grumbles, and just like that, my lust drains from me, replaced by a shudder that sees cold settling into my very bones. I don’t have to ask him what he means. I know that Nik’s biggest threat is Sergi, and whatever Nik was up to last night, you can bet Sergi is behind it and it has something to do with Nik’s plan to take over.

“He’s clever, like a fox. He’ll be fine, Lamb,” Rowan assures me, plonking down on the chair on the other side of Hunt and setting the plate on his lap. “Now come eat.”