Page 20 of Lane (East Dremest Mafia #5)

ALTON

My phone rang in my pocket, vibrating against my leg as I finished at the office for the day.

I gripped my phone and glanced at the screen, seeing it was Raiden calling.

Even though I was in a relationship with him and Lane, my heart still skipped a beat seeing his name.

For too long, I thought we’d never get here.

Having Lane with us made it infinitely better.

“Everything okay?” I asked instead of answering like a normal person. Given their jobs, my first thought was them getting hurt.

“Yeah, it’s great. What are you doing tonight? There’s something I want to tell you. It’s good news, don't worry.” I loved hearing the smile in his voice. Before the three of us got together, he was too serious around me. I was glad he was loosening up.

“I’m having dinner with my sister and her husband. You and Lane should come. Meet me there.”

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“It's fine. My sister has been on me for years to find someone. She’s going to love meeting you both.” I’d already told Eleanor I was in a relationship with two men. She laughed and asked if I was certain I could handle them.

“If you’re sure.”

“I am.” I told Raiden what time before we hung up and texted him the address. I also sent a quick message to my sister to let her know I was bringing company. I’d spoken about Raiden previously to her but not Lane, not until I told her we were together.

At home, I had time to shower and change into casual clothes before needing to leave. Lane and Raiden waited in Lane’s SUV when I parked a few spots ahead of them on the street. There was no garage or even driveway attached to my sister’s home. We met on the sidewalk.

“What’s the news?” I asked.

It was freezing out, but I wasn’t sure what this was about or if my sister and her husband should hear it.

Lane put his arm around Raiden’s waist. “I’d like to introduce you to my personal guard. Jordan made the change since I’m moving up in his ranks. There’s no one better to protect me than Raiden.”

Raiden grinned. “Vinny was promoted to my old spot.”

“Wow,” I said as insecurities spun around in my mind. “That’s great news.”

The smile I pasted on must have worked because neither caught on to how I felt inside. I was happy for them. That part wasn’t a lie. But it was further knowledge of them being together daily while I wasn’t part of it.

They'd tried to assure me before. This confirmed I didn’t belong. I wasn’t in the building with them. They could be with each other day and night now.

Raiden stepped forward and placed his finger beneath my chin to lift my gaze to his. I hadn’t realized I was staring at the ground. “This changes nothing between us,” he said as if he could read my mind.

“It changes a lot. You’ll see each other all the time.

Everywhere Lane goes, you’ll be with him.

He’ll be your priority.” The words burned as they left my lips.

Raiden would watch out for Lane. It was his job; one he was damn good at.

I wouldn’t want anyone else protecting him, and Lane would look out for Raiden too.

Raiden's dark eyes held mine. “He’ll be my priority while I’m working, yes. When the day is done, you’ll both be mine. Just like I hope I’ll be yours and we’ll be Lane’s.”

Lane came up along my side. “Al, this isn’t us removing you. We thought you’d be happy, but we didn’t think it through from your perspective. You're important to us. We need you. We don’t want to do this without you.” He threaded his fingers with mine.

I swallowed, choking down a lump of emotion before smiling. Real or fake, who the fuck knew? Only time would tell how deep my insecurities ran.

“We’re not whole without you, Alton,” Raiden said. “I mean that. I want you as much as I do Lane.”

“Thank you,” I whispered before clearing my throat. “We should go inside before my sister comes looking for us.”

Raiden nodded, letting this go. We climbed the front steps to the home my sister shared with her husband.

They’d lovingly restored it from the red brick exterior to the archways and crown molding.

From the fireplaces to the flooring, no expense was spared.

Felix had made good money when he worked for Jordan and saved most of it.

When he fell in love with my sister, he gave her everything, like this house, even if she didn’t ask for it.

Three stories sandwiched between other homes with only a well-kept patch of grass in the back. This was the home of a happy family. A family that would soon be expanding.

I knocked on the door before opening it.

“El?” I called to let them know it was only me, not that any locals would dare enter this house uninvited.

Felix had spent countless hours outside, showing off his muscles as he worked.

He not only got the house in great shape, but he intimidated everyone around him.

“There you are,” Eleanor said, entering the hall from the living room.

Her rounded belly and the slight change in the way she walked had me biting my words back.

She should be resting, not greeting us. She’d have my head if I said that though.

The doctor in me knew she was healthy, as was her baby.

The brother was the one who had the urge to make her comfortable.

“I was getting worried.” I was never late, but stopping outside to talk to Raiden and Lane made me so.

“I was gathering us. We drove separately. Eleanor, I’d like you to meet Raiden Sutton and Lane Everhart.”

She pushed past me. “We don’t need to be so formal. It’s nice to meet you both.” She shook their hands. “Al’s only told me a little about you.”

I gaped. “I’ve told you more than that.”

“It wasn’t nearly enough. Let’s sit in the living room. Felix is cooking. You’d think women haven’t been giving birth for as long as we have by the way he treats me. I can fend for myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time. You know, like getting my own meals.”

Felix entered the room wearing jeans and a plain powder-blue shirt. With a broad chest and massive arms, he and Raiden were almost the same size. “You know that’s not what I think,” he said. “I just want you to be happy. If cooking your favorite meals makes you smile, I’m calling it a win.”

“Whatever,” she muttered. My sister wasn’t a happy pregnant woman. She couldn’t wait to give birth.

“Lane, Raiden, this is my brother-in-law, Felix,” I said. “He used to be one of Jordan’s guards.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Felix greeted and extended his hand. With his sleeves rolled up, his tattoos were on display. They shook then he clapped me on the shoulder. “Thank you for making Al happy. This is the only family I have. I’d do anything for them.” There was a hidden threat in his words.

“You don’t need to warn us,” Lane said with a smile. “We have no intention of hurting him.”

“Your names are well-known around here. Raiden, being a Sutton, has his and his twin’s reputations and his father's. The guards at Untouchable are no more to be feared than are Jordan’s.

And you’re the only surviving Everhart. How does it feel to be in the lair of a rival?

” Felix was aware of whose side Lane was on.

This was him digging for more information to make sure I was safe.

“He wasn't a rival of mine,” Lane replied. “Where I am now feels more like home than I had before.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs. “How about you, Felix? Here you are living a good life, no longer in the line of fire, yet you feel the need to interrogate me when I’m the one on the inside. Don’t you think Jordan has already had me prove myself repeatedly?

Moreover, as Raiden is one of Jordan’s top guards and Alton is the organization’s doctor, don’t you think they can decide who to trust in their bed at night? ”

I didn’t expect the grin that spread across Felix's face. “Oh, I like you.”

Lane smiled and sat back, putting his hand on Raiden’s thigh. I was in the chair near them. “Everyone does. I’m irresistible.”

My sister chuckled. “You have your hands full, big brother.” I glanced at Raiden and Lane and saw how they looked at me with such affection. It helped ease a little of the worry in my chest.

“I do,” I said. “In the very best way.”

“Oh, Al, I’m so happy for you.” She swiped at tears that had built in her eyes and stared down at her belly. “Seriously, could you stop making me a mess? I love you, but I'll be happy once you've vacated my body. This is getting ridiculous.”

“You’ll give birth soon enough.” I couldn’t wait to be an uncle. I was going to spoil the hell out of their kid.

A timer went off in the kitchen.

“Dinner’s ready,” Felix said. “Have a seat at the table, and I’ll bring it out.”

“I’ll help,” I offered and stood.

Felix pulled a roast from the oven and set it on the counter. “It’s a good thing I made more than we needed.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

He turned, his eyes softening. Where my sister had blond hair and blue eyes like me, Felix had red hair and freckles. It gave him a boyish charm, which contrasted with his size. “I want you to be as happy as I am with El.”

“I appreciate you looking out for me, but I can take care of myself.”

“If you couldn’t, you wouldn’t have lasted as long as you have with Jordan.”

“Do you miss it?”

He sighed. “Yes and no. Yes, because of the rush that came from taking out the assholes. No, because I have zero desire to be behind bars. Most importantly, El comes first. I’d never do anything to jeopardize her.

You have it differently. All three of you work for him.

None of you went into your relationship without knowing what to expect.

Just keep the lines of communication open. ”

I nodded. I wasn't the best at that. It was still unnerving how well Lane and Raiden could read me at times.

The problem I had didn’t solely rest on them. They lived in the same building. While my moving in was too soon, maybe we could spend our time together where they were. It was easy for me to do.

I hoped it was enough to quell the feeling I had. I wanted to be who they needed, as they’d said. I wanted to be the one they leaned on. Apparently, I just had to prove it to myself. They already knew.