“Hey favorite brother in the whole world,” she said super sweet.
A deep laugh came through. “Oh man, when you talk like that, I know you’re up to something and need my help,” Jax said, sounding amused.
“You know me too well!”
“What’s the situation, Ruby?”
“How would you feel about having lunch with me today?”
“Missing your big brother already?”
“Always! But today I need you to bring the guys along.”
“What exactly are you planning, Ruby?” His tone grew slightly suspicious.
Ruby quickly outlined our situation without giving away too many details, simply explaining that we were having issues with some persistent men at work and needed to teach them a lesson.
“So you want to use me and my boys as bodyguards?” Jax asked, sounding more amused than annoyed.
“Well, when you put it that way… yeah, exactly!” Ruby said without even trying to deny it.
“You’ve got no shame, sis,” Jax laughed. “But I’m always down to help hot girls in trouble, especially Caroline.The guys and I got you covered. We’ll grab you at noon.”
“Actually, Jax, better if we meet you there. You should be there before us.”
“Playing it smart. I dig it. Text me the spot. Catch you at lunch.”
Ruby hung up and did a little victory dance.
“You’re evil!” Eleanor grinned. “And I fucking love it!” I couldn’t help laughing with them despite feeling like crap, and we all high-fived.
“Gotta get back before Joseph gets suspicious,” Eleanor said. “Dude’s been watching me like crazy.”
When lunch rolled around, we walked out super casual, like we had no clue what was up. Eleanor had texted that the front desk spotted Draven and Ryan lurking at the gift shop across the street, exactly where she said they’d be.
While we walked, Rory perked up inside me, sensing both trouble and the thrill of our plan.
Caroline’s POV
We walked into Bella Vita, Ruby’s pick for Italian, and damn if Jax and his crew didn’t steal the show. Five guys who looked like they belonged on magazine covers, Jax with leather jacket, two guys in fitted t-shirts that showed off their gym time, and the other two giving off that dangerous but clean-cut vibe. Every woman in the place was pretending not to stare, and failing badly.
The guys broke into huge grins when they saw us, all standing to greet us. There was Jax with his usual crew, Dominic, Wesley, Theo, and Paul.
“Ladies, you’re absolutely breathtaking! And that includes you too, Ruby,” Dominic said, greeting each of us with light kisses on our cheeks.
We settled in at their table, and after placing our orders, I found myself relaxing for the first time all day. These guys were genuinely fun company. We were all laughing at Theo’s ridiculous jokes when I felt Jax’s warm hand touch mine. He leaned in close to my ear, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper.
“Don’t look now, beautiful, but those idiots who’ve been hassling you just walked in,” he murmured.
Dominic had also noticed Draven, Ryan, and Joseph’s arrival. He casually moved closer to Eleanor, just as Wesley did with Ruby.
Then Jax spoke loud enough for our approaching “visitors” to hear,”Ladies, when are you going to do us the honor of accepting one of our proper invitations? This lunch doesn’t really count since you all have to rush back to work soon.”
“Never! And you should stop asking.” Draven’s deep voice growled out, the Alpha tone making every wolf in the room tense up..
“And who exactly do you think you are to answer for us?” Eleanor snapped back, her eyes flashing dangerously.
“I’m Caroline’s mate and your Alpha’s business partner, Eleanor. By the way, do Alpha Gerald and your mate Nate know you’re here?” Draven snapped, clearly annoyed.
Eleanor rolled her eyes with a scowl.
I felt Rory bristle inside me at his claim. How dare he call me his mate after what he’d done?
“Gentlemen, why all the hostility?” Dominic attempted to diffuse the tension. “Join us for lunch. Let’s enjoy some pleasant conversation among friends. Waiter, please…”
The waiter quickly added more places at the table, and everyone sat down. But despite their outwardly friendly demeanor, Jax and his friends expertly prevented Draven, Ryan, and Joseph from getting any direct conversation with us. Theo and Paul immediately engaged them in business talk about the local pack territories, while the others continued showering Eleanor, Ruby, and me with attention.
“Carrie, Ruby mentioned you have a son. I’d absolutely love to meet him sometime,” Jax said, steering our conversation to something personal that made Draven’s head snap in our direction.
“What’s your angle here, Jax?” Draven abandoned his conversation with Joseph and turned to Jax with a dangerous gleam in his violet eyes. “You’re not going anywhere near Liam. He’s just a cub, and you won’t use him to try to get to Caroline. Don’t even think about approaching my boy!”
Draven’s possessive tone made both me and Rory bristle with anger.
“What gives you the right?” I snapped, my anger boiling over. “He’s my son. I decide who he spends time with!”
“I’m confused here,” Jax said, looking between us with a puzzled expression. “Are you the father, Draven?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
We blurted out at the same time, leaving an uncomfortable silence around the table.
“No, Jax, he is not my son’s father,” I clarified, shooting Draven a warning glare. Who does he think he is, trying to make decisions about my child?
“I may not be his biological father,” Draven’s Alpha voice sent chills down my spine, “but I will be his legal father soon enough. As soon as Caroline agrees to be my mate officially, I’ll claim Liam as my son. So back off, Jax.” His wolf eyes burned through as he spoke.
Everyone at the table fell silent, staring at us with wide eyes. I was speechless. Marriage? Claim Liam? Was he out of his mind?
“That’s if Carrie agrees to marry you,” Jax shot back, keeping his cool even as tension crackled between them.
“Oh, she will,” Draven’s voice held such arrogance I wanted to drench him with my water.
“From what I hear, you two aren’t even together anymore,”Jax continued provoking him. “Don’t know why, but she seems pretty pissed at you.”
“We’ll work things out. Don’t concern yourself,” Draven’s smile was all teeth and threat.
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