“Well, mystery solved.” It hadn’t even taken the Scooby gang to close the case.
“Once I saw you two together, I was even more worried that you needed someone to watch your back,” Odin continued. “Because sometimes, when it comes to family, we can be blinded to their faults.”
Odin’s concern was sweet, but unnecessary. “Oh, I am quite aware that Ram is a psychopath with a trail of chaos in his wake. Not blinded to that at all.”
Ramsey shot him a dirty glare. “Do not get me started on your life.”
Probably better not to go there. Jinx peered expectantly at Odin. “Are more people about to burst inside? War, perhaps? Or your lovely lady, Maisey?”
“Just me.”
“Great to know.” He released his brother and stepped back. “Now how about you and Ram get out? The visit has been fun, but it’s over.”
Ali let out a quick gasp. “That is not a nice way to talk to your brother or your best friend!”
Was she for real? “Newsflash. Ramsey isn’t nice, and Odin is only semi-nice. Do not let him fool you.” And, bigger picture… “We’re supposed to be baiting a trap, remember? If our perp sees the whole party we have going on, he’s hardly likely to come and get me.”
Ramsey narrowed his eyes. “So that’s what you’re doing. Trying to draw him in? Get him to come after you and not her?”
Jinx opened his mouth to respond—
But Odin beat him to the punch. “Unfortunately, the perp came after them both tonight. Sabotaged the brakes on Jinx’s ride. If I hadn’t seen it, they would have smashed all over the road.”
Ramsey’s jaw hardened. His nostrils flared. “Give me a name.”
Jinx had to roll his eyes. “If I had a name, I wouldn’t be playing bait now, would I?” Obviously. Also… “My problem. Not yours. You’re the one who kicked me out of your life—”
“Because you’re an interfering asshole.”
“And you’re being an interfering asshole right now. I’ve got this. I have backup.”
Ramsey’s gaze slid to Odin. “Right. You’ve always had him and War.”
Was that anger? Jealousy? WTF? Brothers could be such a freaking pain.
“You don’t have to take the family you were given.” Ramsey’s voice was grating. “You could pick your own. How lucky for you. But then, you always were the lucky one, weren’t you?”
No, sometimes, his luck was pure shit. He surged toward his brother again. Only this time, Jinx didn’t pin him to the wall. “You’ll always be my family.” Just so they were clear. “I don’t care what you do, you’re still family. You always matter. Haven’t I proven that, over and over? I’m always there for you.” They’d been ripped out of each other’s lives long ago, but Jinx had clawed his way back to Ramsey. Jinx hadn’t turned his back on the guy, no matter what twisted truths he’d found.
Jinx was aware of Ali and Odin watching him.
Ramsey’s eyes blazed, but he didn’t speak.
“Appreciate you checking on me,” Jinx added softly as he tried to defuse a way tense situation. “Makes me feel all warm and tingly. Nice to know you care.”
“Screw off.” Ramsey shouldered past him. Then he stopped right before Odin. “You’re in my way.”
He was. Odin was a wall between Ram and the door.
“Am I?” Odin asked. He didn’t move. “Maybe you should remember that. Because Jinx might think he can trust you, but I don’t exactly feel the same way. I know how dangerous you are.”
“Good for you. Get the hell out of the way.”
Odin glanced at Jinx.
Jinx inclined his head. Odin got out of the way.
And just like that, his brother slipped from the house.
“So, I hate to point out the obvious,” Ali began as she delicately cleared her throat. “But, uh, here we go. Anyone watching the house will just have seen Ramsey leave. That could potentially make him a target.”
A possibility but… “As long as he isn’t fucking you, he shouldn’t be a target.”
Her eyes widened. “Well, there’s that.”
And he won’t be fucking you.
“We clear here?” Odin rumbled.
Jinx nodded. Tension twisted at the nape of his neck. He knew that as soon as Odin left, he’d have to explain to Ali about Ramsey. Like that was going to be fun.
Odin slipped away, too, but Jinx was sure Odin made certain not to be spotted. Despite his size, Odin was surprisingly good at blending into shadows.
Then it was just him and Ali. Her feet were bare. She hadn’t bothered to put on her shoes. Her toes curled against the marble tile of the floor. The atmosphere was uncomfortable. Way too tense.
Hell. “Guessing that was a mood killer, huh?” He’d gone from tasting heaven to being back in the cold. “You want a drink?” Because telling this story over drinks would be way easier.
But when he moved toward the well-stocked bar, Ali caught his hand. “That’s why you were at Ramsey’s the other night. You were there to see your brother.”
Yes. His brother had a tangled web going on with his life at the moment. “Ramsey wants me to stay out of his business. I want him to stop being a dumbass. I went to the bar in order to make my case again.” Her fingers were so soft against him. “He didn’t take my advice. The fool.”
“He cares about you.”
“Ramsey likes for the world to think he doesn’t care about anyone or anything.”
“But it’s a lie. Or he wouldn’t have come here tonight. He was checking on you. He was mad because I put you in danger.”
He reached for her hand. Lifted it to his lips. Kissed her knuckles. “That’s where you are wrong. Again.”
Ali shook her head. “No, no, I am sure he cares—”
“You didn’t put me in danger. The creep stalking you did that, and like I’ve told you before, I don’t mind danger. Hell, I thrive on it. Makes me feel alive.”
If anything, the shadows in her eyes deepened. “Ramsey is one of your secrets.”
One of many.
“There was no mention of any family in your files.”
Another kiss to her knuckles. Then he turned her hand over. Pressed his lips to her palm. “That’s because Jinx doesn’t have family.”
But he was more than just Jinx. That wasn’t even his real name. Not that he used the other name. Ever. That man was dead. He had the death certificate to prove it. For a while, even Ramsey had thought he was dead. The first time he’d walked back into Ram’s life, the guy had looked at him as if seeing a ghost.
Because that was exactly what Jinx had been.
“Know what happens when everyone else on your team dies but you keep going?” He shoved back memories. “Some folks say you’re lucky, but when you’re watching their families cry, when you’re watching friends get buried, lucky is the last thing you feel.”
He could see tears gathering in her beautiful eyes.
“Don’t,” Jinx ordered gruffly. “Don’t cry for me. I kept going. Found myself in a group slammed together by Uncle Sam. One that included Odin and War—those two had known each other long before that team was formed. They welcomed me, though, like I was a long-lost friend. Brought me in and never hesitated to protect my back.” They still didn’t hesitate. “Then you came along, and our team was set. I was determined to make sure that nothing happened to any of you. No one was going to take any of you from me.” Another kiss to her palm. No one was going to take my family.