Cam sent him a dry look. “Stop talking.”
Rubi flipped him the bird, but his expression turned droll. Unoffended.Relieved, as weeks of knowing something was up were finally over, for more than just him.
Orla, River, Decoy, and Juana exited the chapel, leaving Hope where she lay.
As Orla passed, she grazed the back of my neck with her lips, a whisper fluttering over my skin for my ears only. “You were right not to tell me.”
I shivered.
Then she was gone.
Attuned to me, Nash dropped his blazing palm on my thigh. He kept his attention on Cam, but I felt their combined touch everywhere. Their love. It was fuckin’ distracting, and I missed some of what Cam was saying until he spoke directly to me again.
“Ranger. Are you in touch?”
I shook my head. “Not recently. He asked me to visit his nanna at Elm Lodge, though. That usually means he’ll be gone a while. Different bed every night. No phone. I won’t hear from him until he’s ready to stay in one place longer than three fuckin’ hours.”
Cam grimaced, glancing briefly at Nash before he looked at me again. “Figured that, and I’d committed to leaving him to it. But Jakov wants him for something, and I promised I’d give Ranger the courtesy of deciding for himself if he wants to do it.”
I opened my mouth.
Shut it again.
Rubi rapped his knuckles on the table. “Say it, Locktipus. We’re listening.”
I knew it. Habit still made me choose my words with care. “I’ve known Ranger a long time. He only leaves his nanna when he’s fighting a war, but it’s not always literal. Sometimes he just wants to be free, and the fact that he’s in the wind by choice feels decisive enough to me.”
At my side, Folk nodded. “I’d agree with that.”
“Then we leave it.” Cam tapped his gavel on the table. “I’ll pass it on that he’s unavailable.”
“Jakov won’t go looking for him?”
Cam shrugged. “I don’t think so. He wasn’t specific on what he wanted Ranger for, but he was clear on it being a request, not a demand.”
“Soreasonableof him.” Alexei’s tone was bored, his features folded into an expression that let the whole table know he was done with this meeting. Over it and eager to be somewhere else.
Like Ranger.
LikeSaint.
Cam took the hint and wrapped it up, rolling his eyes as Alexei ghosted from the chapel a heartbeat later. Gaze melting when he realised Saint had stayed, waiting for him. “You good?”
That was for Nash.
Nash tipped his head, flashing a peace sign. “Got everything I need, brother.”
The chapel door opened as Folk and Rubi made their own sharp exits and Orla slipped past them, coming back to us.
Saint tracked her, his stare soft. Perceptive.Now you have.
I concurred and he steered Cam out.
Embry followed.
Mateo came for the baby, but I waved him away, knowing he’d been juggling the haulage runs and childcare all week. “I have her. Go lay down for a couple hours.”
Like Alexei, Mateo wasn’t a brother who needed much sleep, but he was human, we all were, and I could tell by looking at him that he needed a moment with his fuckin’ husband.