Oh yeah, oh shit.

“Okay, there hasn’t been a good time to tell you this because there is no good time to tell you this, but also things have been kinda busy, so I’m picking now because you need to know,” I explained.

“Just tell me, Ally,” Ren demanded.

“I know who wrote that book. She’s a member of the Fortnum’s family. Her name is Jane,” I said quickly.

“Fuck,” he growled, “Seriously?”

“I don’t know if you’ve met her but—”

“Does your brother know?” he cut me off to ask.

“Which one?” I asked back.

“Either one, Ally,” he clipped, impatient.

“Um… well, yeah. Both of them do.”

“And what’re they doin’ about this shit?”

“Nothing.”

Ren stared at me a beat before he asked, “Nothing?”

“She’s a member of the family, honey,” I said quietly.

“Who’s tradin’ on the private lives of that family,” Ren returned.

“Who’s weaving fairytales,” I countered and slid up so we were eye to eye. “She’s wanted this her whole life.”

“I don’t give a fuck.”

“It’s beautiful, Ren. All of it. Why shouldn’t the world know?”

His head jerked against the pillow and he clamped his mouth shut.

“I’m not mad,” I told him. “None of the girls are mad. Neither Hank nor Lee freaked about it. And I want you to try to dig deep in you to find that to give to Jane because I care about her. And I believe in what she’s doing.” I shot him a smile. “Everyone should know how righteous we are.”

“Does it matter to you that I don’t want everyone to know how righteous I am?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered. “And if you dig deep and find that you can’t get there, you tell me. I’ll do what I can. In the meantime, I think we both need to read Indy and Lee’s book so we know exactly what we’re dealing with.”

He drew in a breath before he murmured, “That I can do.” My lips started turning up again, but his arms gave me a squeeze. “I don’t wanna do it, babe. That kind of book is not my thing and there are things about your brother and his woman I do not want to know…” He paused. “Like everything.”

I again had to fight my lips turning up as he carried on.

“But I should know how bad it is before I make a decision.”

“Or how good it is.” I gave him an alternate option.

“Whatever,” he mumbled.

I let loose my grin.

Ren caught it. The irritation leaked out of his eyes and he sighed.

Loved my man.

“I need to call, Lee, baby,” I reminded him.

“Right,” he replied and rolled to his back, taking me with him. He let me go to reach to my jeans on the floor where he pulled out my phone, settled back in bed and handed it to me.

“Thanks,” I muttered and went about engaging Lee.

After two rings, my brother answered with an, “Ally.”

“Yo, bro,” I replied. “Do you have some time for me this morning? It’s important.”

“Need to talk to you, too,” he stated.

Interesting.

My curiosity peaked, I asked, “About what?”

“About Indy,” he answered. “Last few days, morning sickness hit. It’s not good. It’s gonna be tough for her to be at the store. I know you’re workin’ a case, but with Indy in this state and Jet gettin’ to the point where she shouldn’t be on her feet for hours, she needs you. Indy feels shit she can’t take Jet’s back, but when she’s pukin’ half the time, she can’t do it. She won’t ask, but I will. She needs you.”

“Of course,” I said instantly. “I’m going to the store anyway. But need to talk to you.”

“About what?” he asked my question.

“Face to face, bro.”

“Shit,” he muttered.

“It’s not bad.” I thought on that statement and changed my tune. “Well, it’s not good. Actually it is bad, but I’m hoping it can be fixed.”

A pause before he asked, “You want me to come to you or you to me?’

“You’re close to the store, and I’m going there anyway so I’ll come to you.”

“Text me when you’re on your way and I’ll meet you at the store.”

“Copy that.”

“Later, Ally.”

“Right back at ‘cha, Lee.”