The missing piece

Chapter 13

Joe's pov

"He doesn't even want to talk to me."

We just got back from dropping Alexander off at Ben's house and Rowan is telling us what happened yesterday. He's blaming himself.

"Didn't you say he told you, you guys would talk after he got back?"
"Matt's right Rowan, you guys will talk and everything will be alright."

He didn't look convinced and just when he was about to say something his phone rang.

"Yes." He put it on speaker, must be important.

"Boss, one of the guys from the El Veneno gang started talking." Rowan told us what happened at one of our locations. I for one didn't take it too seriously because we've dealt with that gang before and it's nothing we can't handle.

"What did they say?" You can hear in Rowan's voice that he'd rather be talking about something else.

"They said they got a tip about where the locations were and they were supposed to kill everyone inside."

We were all surprised. Who would be dumb enough to send the Veneno gang.

"Ok, thank you Archer. Call me when you get any more information."

"Yes, boss"

Rowan sat down on the couch and took in a deep breath. I've seen him stressed before but not like this.
Me and Matt sat on either side of him and we waited for him to speak.

"There's no way someone new about our locations if they didn't get the information from one of ours." I was really hoping that wouldn't be the case but now that he said it out loud, its the only explanation.

"We've have to find out who it is, who they're working for and what it is they already told them."

"Rowan, babe we will deal with that after you've talked to Alexander." I felt him tense up a little. I don't think I realized how much this is actually affecting him.

"What does Alex have to do with this Joseph?!"

"Everything and you know it! You'll be distracted the whole time and you'll make drastic decisions." He always does this. When he doesn't want to show how upset he is, he drowns himself in work. Sooner or later he will talk about it but I'm not letting him do it this time.

He was about to stand up but I didn't let him, Matt looked worried.
"Rowan this relationship has worked because you always urged us to communicate. But when it comes down to it, when it's about something that truly affects you, you shut us out. Why?"

I've always felt this way but I never said anything but now that we've found Alexander, I don't want him to think we don't want him here. So if Rowan shuts every one out, I can't help but think it will make this whole situation worse.

It took a while but Rowan started to talk.
"Because I'm supposed to be here for you. I'm supposed to protect you. If I'm breaking down and having you worry about me there is no one that's there to help you."

Once he said that it reminded me of when we were younger, I was over at Rowan's house and his dad called him downstairs and I overheard them talking. I can't recall why his dad called him downstairs but to this day I remember exactly what his dad said.

"You can't protect your family if you do what you did today. One day you'll be in charge and people will depend on you including your soulmates. You'll have to be there for them, you'll be their shoulder to cry on. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir"

Now from what I can remember about Rowan's dad is that he was very stoic. He never showed emotion but there was no doubt that he didn't love his family. And in the beginning Rowan was the same but over time when he was doing his dominant training he started to communicate more.

He talks about what happens but never actually deals with it. He gives a short summary and that's it.

Before I knew it Matt asked Rowan a question. "What about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Who's there to help you deal with the things you're going through?" Matt sat on Rowan's lap and was straddling him. "We are not just your soulmates, you are also ours, so we protect each other. If one of us is down the others come to help."

"But..." I interrupted before he could speak.
"Rowan don't. You know we can protect ourselves and you. You trained Matt yourself and we grew up training together. So let us be there for you."

"Okay."

"Okay?

"Yeah, ok. We'll wait for Alexander to get back and then we'll deal with the mole. I realize now what I was doing and you're right, I'll try to be better."

Rowan leaned forward and kissed me. His hand went to the back of my neck and he pulled me closer.
"Thank you." He whispered in my ear. I pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "Any time."

He turned to Matt and grabbed onto his hips. Matt leaned forward and kissed him. They didn't need to say anything, they knew what the other was saying.

Matt started to rock his hips and Rowan pulled him closer. Matt's head flew back and I took the opportunity to kiss up his neck. He grabbed on to my shoulder and moaned. "Mhhmmm"

Sadly before it could go any further Rowan pulled away.
"Wait, we said we wouldn't go that far without Alexander." Rowan's right. Either we are all together or we talk about it with the others so no one feels left out, again the whole communication thing.

We still had an hour until Ben dropped Alexander off, so we thought we would prepare dinner so we don't get...distracted.

—————————————————
Sooorry the update is so late! I know this one isn't that long but the next chapter will be.