Page 32 of Reckless Devotion

“Where is everyone else?” I clear my throat and peer around at the otherwise empty space, all beige and sleek glass, but I can hear a small girlish giggle drifting through from the dining room in answer.

“Go through, I’ll start bringing stuff in,” Mia says airily as she heads for the kitchen, used to our frosty interactions enough not to bat an eye.

“I’ll help,” Mason says quietly, slipping his arm around her waist as she walks by.

I turn away from them before their mushy-ness steals away my appetite. Like I said, he’s soft as shit for her and his kids only. I love them both, but he’s my brother and so I’m not exactly queuing up to watch them eye fuck each other any time soon. Zeke appears, holding a freshly poured scotch out to me with an amused smile on his face.

“Thanks.” I sigh, taking a sip of the stringent liquid as we head for the dining room.

“Did you see the article about Lewis Roche?” He tips his head, a small smile playing on his scarred mouth as he scratches the dark scruff on his jaw.

“Yeah, I never liked that asshole.” I huff, thinking back to yesterday’s front-page news.

“I’m sure this city will be just fine with one less slimy investment banker,” Zeke agrees. “Rumor has it that it was Incognito who exposed him.”

“The vigilante hacking group?” I run a palm down my jaw, considering the possibility. It does strike me as their style, considering they target criminals. Unbeknownst to Wall Street, Roche had been running a Ponzi scheme for the past decade.

Incognito have been all over the scene for the past couple of years, outing politicians’ dirty secrets and stealing information. No one knows who they are, and likely never will. I can’t say I’m mad at their work, and I’m damn glad I’m not the type to be up to anything nefarious. Otherwise, I might have found myself on the receiving end.

“Yeah, don’t mention them in front of Chloe, whatever you do. She’s obsessed.”

I snort into my glass. “They’re probably spotty-nosed teenagers.”

“Yeah, probably.” Zeke chuckles. “Good for them, though.”

“Uncle Chase!” I can’t see where the noise comes from to begin with when we enter the dining room, but soon enough the chair closest to us is shuffled forward and a small mass of dark hair and a yellow sundress barrels for us from beneath the table.

“Hey kiddo, how is it going?” I laugh, ruffling my hand through Macey’s hair as she clings to my leg.

“Are you absolutely sure you don’t want kids, Chase? You’re like kiddie catnip.” Chloe grins slyly from a seat on the other side of the table, her fiery red hair framing her face like a flaming halo.

Everyone assumes I don’t want kids, but I’ve never actually said that. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want them rightnow, but I don’t want to close myself off to the possibility of it someday in the future. Although that means I would have to find someone I actually want to have kids with first. And that feels more far flung than the kid part.

Zeke takes his seat beside her and slings an arm around the back of her chair, smiling at their babbling baby girl sitting in his wife’s lap. “Nah, he’s destined to be the creepy uncle who perves on all our kids’ friends when they turn eighteen.”

“That’s outrageous!” I feign shock and pry Macey’s hands gently off my leg, allowing a beat to pass before speaking again. “I’d wait until they were at least twenty-one.” I shoot a wink to Zeke and Chloe’s six-year-old son, Diego, who rewards me with a shy smile.

The table breaks out into noisy laughter and I join in as I slide my scotch onto the glossy mahoganysurface and scoop Macey up. I take her with me as I sit down in a spare seat, placing her on my lap because I know if I don’t, she will crawl up of her own accord anyway.

“Good to see you, Coach.” I grin at Teddy, who is tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her ear opposite me.

Teddy is a coach for the New York Yankees, which is how she met and married my best friend Jax, who sits happily at her side in his trademark hoodie and cap combo. Jax is the star batter for the team and a total sucker for his wife. Which is par for the course with this group.

“We’re overdue for pool yoga and meditation.” She winks, her cheeks rosy.

This is basically just code for drinking tequila and sunbathing. Something we do from time to time.

“Sorry, what?” Chloe cuts in with raised brows as Jax groans softly in exasperation.

“Don’t get jealous, Red, but I’m seeing other wives on the side.” I roll one shoulder sheepishly and grin.

“You’re seeing all the wives on the side,” Zeke grumbles, but the corner of his mouth twitches with humor.

“You’ll always be my favorite, kiddo.” I wink at Chloe, who giggles.

“What about me?” Mia cuts in as she enters the room, her arms laden with dishes.

“You’re spoken for,” Mason growls as he follows behind her.