Page 34 of For the Promise (The Raider Brothers #2)

“I don’t understand what I did wrong.” ~ Jaxon

Jaxon

I ignore the beeping of my phone. It’s been beeping on and off all day. Despite being holed up in my office working, I didn’t switch off the sound. I couldn’t. What if something happened to Blossom?

Blossom. My hands tremble as I reach for my phone. I haven’t responded to her texts in two days. For all she knows, something bad has happened to me.

I am such an asshole. I open her latest message. It’s a picture of her with Dakota and Paisley. She has her arms wrapped around her friends and her smile stretches from ear to ear.

My thumb hovers over the response button but I set the phone back down without responding. I won’t engage. I need to stick to my resolution and keep my distance from Blossom before she breaks my heart.

The door handle jiggles. “Jaxon,” Miles shouts as he knocks. “We know you’re in there.”

“I’m working!”

“Let me try,” Zane says before the door handle jiggles again.

The door opens and Eli enters holding up a key.

I scowl at him. “Where did you get a key?”

“I have keys to every room in this building.”

“But I had the lock added after the distillery was built.”

Eli shrugs. “And your point is?”

I sigh. “Never mind. What are you doing here on a Saturday?”

“I think you mean, what are we doing here on a Saturday,” Kai says. “Mr. Workaholic is nearly as bad as you.”

“He doesn’t spend as much time working since Paisley’s pregnant,” Miles says.

“He was here all day,” Zane points out.

“What is everyone doing in my office?” I ask since this inane conversation can go on forever if I don’t stop it.

Kai shrugs. “No idea. Big brother called us and ordered us to get our asses down here.”

Eli sighs. “I didn’t order you.”

“You said you have good news. Same thing.”

“What’s the good news?” I could use some good news.

“I want to tell everyone at once.”

The only person missing is Rhett. “We’ll wait for Rhett.”

“He’s meeting us at Rumrunner. ”

“ Rumrunner? Why didn’t you say so?” Kai dashes out of the office without another word.

Miles grins. “Excellent. Another evening of watching Kai get rejected by Harper. ”

Zane rubs his hands together. “How many times do you think she’ll reject him?”

The two saunter off discussing the odds.

“Close down. We’ll follow them,” Eli says.

I fiddle with my glasses. “Do I have to come? I’m busy.”

“It’s Saturday night. You shouldn’t be working. I thought you’d relax more since you’re dating Blossom.”

Blossom. Why does every conversation lead back to her? Why can’t I get her out of my mind? Or my heart?

“I’m in the middle of an experiment. I’ll meet you there.”

Eli crosses his arms over his chest. “This news involves you.” He leans against my desk. “I’ll wait while you finish.”

Unfortunately, I lied. I’m not in the middle of an experiment. I switch off my computer.

“Let’s get this over with.”

We arrive at the speakeasy less than thirty minutes later. We join the rest of our brothers who are sitting at a booth near the stage where a band is setting up.

“What’s this news?” I ask once I’m seated.

“Not everyone’s here yet,” Eli says.

“And we need to toast first.” Kai grins as Harper arrives with a bottle of moonshine and shot glasses. “How are you, Harper?”

“I’d be better if I didn’t have to stock shelves on a Saturday night.”

“Can I help?” Kai stands but she glares at him.

“I think you’ve helped enough,” she mutters before returning to the bar .

“Does that count as one rejection?” Miles asks and Kai hits him upside the head. “What? I was merely asking.”

“We can’t figure out who wins the bet without proper guidelines,” Zane says and Kai growls at him.

Miles pours us shots of moonshine and passes them out. “Here’s to the bootleggers. Masters of sneaky sips and secret stashes. Thanks for keeping the party alive.”

“Thanks for keeping the party alive,” my brothers repeat before downing their shots.

I sip on mine. Getting drunk when my brothers are around is a bad idea. Besides, I prefer to keep my wits about me. I have never enjoyed getting drunk and losing control of my thoughts. I like to keep control of my thoughts the same way I prefer my emotions to be steady and controllable.

“We’re here,” Rhett announces as he arrives at our table. I frown when I notice he isn’t alone. Dakota, Paisley, and Blossom accompany him.

“What are they doing here?”

“Rude,” Blossom mutters. Zane stands and offers her his chair. She smiles at him before sitting next to me. “Hey, nerd boy.”

“Hello.”

Her brow wrinkles. “What’s wrong? You usually lose your mind when I refer to you as nerd boy.” She waggles her eyebrows.

“Eli has important news. ”

She immediately sobers. “Is everything okay? Has something happened? Where are your parents? They’re okay, aren’t they?”

And now I feel like the biggest asshole in the world. Distancing myself from her doesn’t mean I have to keep reminding her of her parents’ death.

I want to reach for her to comfort her. But I don’t dare. One touch and I’ll be ensnared by her again. All my work of the past two days distancing myself will be for naught.

“I’m certain they’re fine. They refuse to step foot in Bootlegger since the last time they were here Kai and Miles decided to strip down and streak through the bar.”

She giggles. “Let me guess. It was a dare.”

Eli knocks on the table to get everyone’s attention. “I have news.” His gaze settles on me. “Good news.”

When he doesn’t continue, Rhett growls. “Are we supposed to guess?”

Dakota pats his hand. “Don’t be grumpy.”

“What do you expect? I haven’t seen you all day. I’m ready to whisk you home for some alone time.”

Blossom sighs as she watches her friend. I want to reach for her but fist my hands instead.

“Tell them,” Paisley urges. “Or I will.”

“The way you told everyone you’re pregnant before I wanted?”

“Your mom guessed. ”

“Fine.” Eli meets Blossom’s gaze and smiles. My stomach flips over and a growl builds in my throat as jealousy fills me. My brother shouldn’t be smiling at my wife.

Blossom rubs my shoulder. “Be calm, nerd boy.”

For a moment, I allow myself to enjoy the feel of this woman who makes me lose control of my emotions before pulling away. Her brow wrinkles.

“Alan dropped the lawsuit.” Blossom gasps. “And he’s paying you for your attorney costs.”

“What? I don’t understand. My lawyer didn’t mention anything.”

“I asked her not to.”

Blossom blinks at Eli. “You asked her not to? Have you been in touch with my lawyer?”

“I had to contact her as she’s the lawyer on record for the lawsuit.”

“Eli,” Blossom growls. “Please explain yourself. Because I know you couldn’t have possibly taken over the defense of my lawsuit without asking me first.”

“Told you so,” Paisley whispers under her breath.

“I won’t apologize.”

Blossom’s nostrils flare but Eli holds up a hand before she speaks.

“You obviously care about my brother. And he cares about you. I didn’t want you to have this cloud hanging over your marriage. I’m sorry, Blossom. But I’m not sorry. I will always take care of my brother and the people he cares for. ”

Hanging over our marriage? Without Alan’s lawsuit, there’s no reason for us to be married.

“Can you arrange the annulment?” I ask Eli.

Blossom gasps. “Annulment? You want to annul our marriage?”

“It’s what we agreed upon when we got married.”

“When we got married?”

My brow furrows. “Yes, when we got married. Have you been drinking?”

She rears back. “Are you accusing me of being drunk?”

I push my glasses up my nose and she shoves a finger in my face. “No. You don’t get to be all geeky and cute when we’re having a serious discussion.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening. We agreed to get an annulment when Alan dropped the lawsuit. Alan dropped the lawsuit. Thus, it’s time to annul our marriage.”

“Thus, it’s time for us to annul our marriage,” she mimics.

She jumps to her feet and the chair clatters to the floor behind her.

“You’re not socially awkward. You’re an asshole.

” She rips the wedding ring off of her finger.

“You don’t want to be married. Here. Take your ring.

” She flings it at me. I try to catch it but it flies across the table and lands on the floor.

“And I haven’t been drinking.” She picks up the bottle of moonshine and pours the remaining liquid over my head. Once I’m completely wet, she slams the bottle down on the table. “Asshole,” she yells and stomps off.

“I can’t believe you. I thought you were the nice Raider brother.” Dakota shakes her head before following Blossom .

Paisley sighs as she stands. “You’ve created a mess. And I’m not referring to your wet t-shirt.”

Once she’s gone, I ask my brothers. “What did I do wrong?”