Jude nodded. “He said that he’s told me everything.”
“I’m sure he has. And you know how close we are. But he still hated to reach out to me or Rowe. So many times he risked his life, and we had to charge in to save him. There were things he just had to figure out on his own and choices he had to make.”
“So we have to sit back and let them fuck up?”
Lucas nodded. “Our job is to be there when they are ready for us and to love them.”
Jude rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he released it, he tried to push out some of his stress and worries with it. He didn’t want to bring this negativity into Daciana’s new life. “It sucks. Never expected it from Jordan.”
“If you’re lucky, he’ll learn something from this or find what he’s looking for.”
Jude smirked. “How long did you have to tell yourself that when you were protecting that one?” he asked, jerking his head toward Snow.
“So many fucking years,” Lucas muttered, then winked at Jude.
It was something to cling to. Jude hoped that this was just a one-off bad decision on Jordan’s part that blew up in his face, but they’d be able to work it out only after his little brother woke up. And they didn’t know if or when that was going to happen yet.
“If Rowe runs into a roadblock in his research, you do have a potential source at your fingertips,” Lucas added.
“What?” Jude followed Lucas’s gaze back to Snow.
“Snow’s old world could prove to be a resource. He got involved in some dark and violent shit, but I know he was still only scratching the surface. Some of his old contacts might hear whispers or rumors. They might know something useful.”
Jude stared at the man still holding the little baby, and the lump was back in his throat for a different reason. It wasn’t the first time he looked at Snow and realized how close they’d come to never actually being together. He was grateful for their life with each other.
And he was beginning to wonder if Snow’s dark past might actually get them closer to the truth about Jordan.Chapter 13“How do you feel about driving to Dana’s again and seeing if we can get more information out of Anthony?” Jude asked as he started his Jeep.
With Lucas and Andrei keeping new-parent hours, they’d wrapped up the night early. It was only ten o’clock. The car was cold, and he shivered and turned the heat up. It promptly spit out colder air and he turned off the heat to let the vehicle warm up.
Snow rolled his head on the back of the car seat. “You sure you’re up to it tonight?”
“Seeing Daciana was just what my doctor ordered, and he was right.” Jude winked at him. “I’m feeling more grounded. Ready to try and get some more information out of that guy.” And his heart felt so much lighter after watching Snow swaying in that living room with the tiny girl. God, a part of him wanted to cart the man home to bed but unfortunately, the bigger part just needed more answers when it came to his brother.
“Well, at least we have the right shoes for it this time,” Snow drawled. They were dressed casually tonight in jeans, sneakers, and short jackets.
He’d known Snow would agree, and he reached out to put his hand on the man’s thigh. “Next vacation, we’re heading somewhere out of town. Maybe we’ll take up Lucas’s offer on that ski chalet. You and me and the whole week in bed like we planned.”
“Sounds perfect.” Snow flipped on the heat. “Except maybe we’ll pick somewhere warmer. Let’s go see if we can find Anthony.”
Jude drove them to Norwood and parked in the near-empty parking lot. Shivering as he got out of the Jeep, Jude took in the quiet neighborhood, surprised it wasn’t hopping more this early in the night. He shoved his hands into his pockets and ducked his head into the wind as they walked to the bar.
Like the other night, only a few people populated the tables and bar. Anthony was nowhere to be seen. Tonight, instead of news, classic rock played faintly in the background. He looked around the bar, noticing that nobody paid them any attention, which was surprising considering they’d run out of here after someone the other night. There were a few patrons loitering around the bar and the same bearded bartender served them. He gave Snow and Jude a few suspicious looks but otherwise ignored them. He wouldn’t be getting any more money out of them tonight, that was for sure.
God, this place was depressing. It could definitely use some updating. Paint and a new floor. Bleach.
He bought a couple of beers as Snow got them a table. He sat across from Snow and took in the weariness drawing his features taut. Even exhausted, his classically handsome face and sharp, light eyes drew Jude in. His silvery hair made him stand out in the dingy bar.