“An investment? Is that what kids these days are callin’ it?”

  “And so what—can’t I have a girl, or is that not allowed anymore either?”

  Something slams against a hard surface, and I picture them sitting in their kitchen having this conversation.

  “You better watch your fuckin’ tone with me, boyo. I’m your goddamn president, or did you forget that?”

  Rush laughs—it’s caustic and humorless.

  “Don’t worry, Da. I haven’t forgotten. But last I checked, who I fuck is none of the Brotherhood’s business.”

  “It is if it’s Maeve King,” Cormac spits.

  My heart skips a beat at her name, and I don’t realize that I’m holding my breath to hear what Rush says.

  “It’s not.” Rush grits his words out.

  “Sure, boyo, but I just hope for your sake it’s not another Maeve.”

  “The world isn’t ready for two Maeves. Don’t worry so much, old man, she’s nothing like Maeve.”

  She’s nothing like Maeve.

  She’s nothing like Maeve.

  She’s nothing like Maeve.

  Insecurity overwhelms me, but hearing Rush say I’m nothing like Maeve obliterates the jagged pieces of my heart. They were already crudely stitched back together, but with four simple words, Rush has taken a pipe bomb to them.

  The thing is . . . he’s not wrong.

  I’m nothing like her.

  She can disarm a bomb, and I can make a latte. She’s strong and gorgeous and—and nice. And isn’t that the worst part about it? She’s fucking nice.

  Shame warms my cheeks as I realize in this moment, I’ve become one of those girls. The kind that lets emotion overrule logic and lashes out.

  But my god, I can’t stop my thoughts and emotions from spiraling. This is dredging up old stuff I thought I long buried—things I haven’t consciously thought about in years.

  I think I might’ve opened Pandora’s Box last night, and now I can’t close it, and shit from forever ago is flaring up.

  I can’t even get my own mother to see me—to pick me. And here I am expecting not one but three of the hottest men I’ve ever seen in my life to pick me—over them—the insanely gorgeous and talented King sisters?! I honestly don’t see that playing out.

  I recognize that my insecurities are strangling me, but I can’t stop the downward spiral.

  Logically, I know that I have a lot of good qualities, but the truth is that Rush would be much better suited to a girl like Maeve.

  And he probably wouldn’t even have to share her.

  There’s an ache in my chest that radiates outward, and I swear I can see it rippling in the air, filling up the entire room.

  What right do I have to be selfish and these men to share me when there’s someone like Maeve—who they’ve known for ages, who literally kicks ass, who’s in this life—right here? I’d be depriving them of a fulfilled life.

  I just . . . can’t. I can’t do that to them.

  “See? You see, Alaina? I told you you can’t trust those boys,” Mom says, shaking me from my melancholy thoughts.

  I sigh, the sound of my heart cracking. “Why did you play that for me?”

  She tsks. “I told you—you can’t trust them, and they don’t care about you. I spared you the rest of the conversation where Rush tells Cormac that you were something to pass the time with.” She sniffs. “I did that because you’re my daughter, and I care about you. And no one cares about you like I do.”

  “I . . . I don’t even know what to say to that, Mom.” My words feel hollow. How can a mother say things like that to her child?

  I’m not sure that I’ll ever understand my mother, but I’m fairly certain that she’ll never understand me. Not the old me—the me before I was kidnapped—and definitely not the new me.

  If we were having this conversation a year ago—or even six months ago—I might have just blindly believed her. Picked up my broken spirit and dripping heart and left without a word to anyone. I would’ve nursed my broken heart alone.

  But something changed inside me that night in the cabin. The old me is gone—she went up in flames, and I was remade.

  “Well, I’ve done my part. I can’t make you leave, but I really think you should. Call me when you do.” She ends the call before I can say anything else.

  I place my phone face-down on the table, tapping the case with my index finger a few times.

  I exhale and stare at the swirls in the marble, debating on my next move.

  After another moment, I know what I have to do.

  I look over my shoulder and see three figures in the archway leading to the hallway. Rush’s arms are crossed over his chest, his biceps bulging with tension. Sully’s standing too still, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. And Wolf’s leaning against the wall in a faux semblance of calm, one foot flat against the wall behind him.

  All three have varying looks of determination on their faces. With their matching scowls and furrowed brows, the resemblance is clear. I work to hide my smile at the pretty picture they make all lined up like that. They look like they’re at a photo shoot for bad boys who smell like trouble. All tousled hair, ripped jeans, and dangerous expressions.

  They’re a goddamn wet dream.

  After I’ve looked my fill—for now, I don’t think I’ll ever have enough of them—I ask, “Did you hear all that?”

  Rush is the first to speak. He takes a step toward me, and says, “I can explain.” His expression is unreadable as usual, but we don’t have time for this.

  I hold my hand up to stop his forward progress. “We have more important things to deal with right now—like what’s going on with my mother.”

  All three of them walk toward me, and I spin around in my seat to face them. It’s overwhelming when one of them sets his sights on me like this, but when it’s all three of them, it steals my breath.

  With the way they’re looking at me, I’m not sure that I need to breathe ever again.

  “We’ll get to that, Red, but first, we need to make sure you’re still with us,” Wolf drawls, gaze intense.

  Rush steps up to me and the other two flank him. I tip my head back to hold his gaze, and a shiver skates down my back. I straighten up and gain a couple of inches, but he still towers over me—they all do.

  And I like it.

  Rush settles in between my legs as he slides his hand up in between my breasts until it settles at the base of my throat. His tattooed fingers gently encircle my neck, and my pulse kicks up a notch.

  “I don’t know what game she’s playing, but that’s not how that conversation went down.” Rush brushes his thumb over my pulse point, and I have to concentrate on not closing my eyes at the feeling of his hands on me.

  “Aye, I was there. That’s not exactly how it went,” Sully agrees.

  I glance at him and hold his gaze as I ask, “Then how did it go, Sully?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Rush says, pulling my attention away from my first love. “All that matters is that there’s no one else.”

  “There will never be anyone else,” Wolf says, far closer than he was moments ago.

  “Ever,” Sully whispers.

  It’s enough to grab my attention in surprise. That sounded an awful lot like a promise. But that can’t be right—my ex-boyfriend turned stepbrother turned tortured hero once swore he’d never forgive me. That tiny kernel of hope that I’d been secretly harboring flares. Just a little—enough to rekindle the embers.

  “We want you. Not Maeve or anyone else,” Rush says, his hand tightening briefly on my neck.

  My eyes flare in jealousy. “Don’t,” I snap.

  “Ah, my little bird is still jealous I see,” Rush breathes the words against my lips as he slides his hand up my neck. “Was yesterday in the hallway outside where she was sitting not enough for you?”

  My lips part, and I tilt my head back even further. Denial is on the tip of my tongue, but it’s barely worth trying. They’ll see right through the lie before the words even leave my mouth.

  So I try something different—I embrace it.

  “You’re goddamn right I am,” I grit the words out. “I’m going to hang out with other guys half-dressed and by the pool, and we’ll see how well you weather jealousy.” The smile I give him feels foreign on my face. And yet, the conniving twist of my lips feels perfect.

  It’s painful for me to go against my nature—I’ve always been a people pleaser—but the sense of satisfaction I feel when I witness Rush lose his grip on his control is worth every uncomfortable feeling caused from a few sentences.

  My back arches as he presses his body into mine, one hand on my hip, the other still on my neck. My heart speeds up and I have to work to control my breathing.

  His slips in control always get me so hot.

  “Our little bird wants to spread her wings, brothers. What do we think about that?” His words seem simple enough, but the sinister edge lies just underneath the surface.

  “I say we remind her who’s cage she’s in,” Sully murmurs. I can see him out of the corner of my eye. His pupils are blown as he adjusts his dick through his pants.

  “Green’s your color, baby girl,” Wolf says from right next to me before he turns my head and claims my mouth in an earth-shattering kiss.

  Wolf turns me so my back hits something hard, and when a hand snakes up my chest to rest against the hollow of my throat, I know it’s Rush.

  I curl my fingers around the fabric of Wolf’s tee, anchoring him to me as I fall into his kiss. Rush drags his lips down my neck as his other hand curls possessively around my hip.

  There’s barely any air between the three of us, we’re pressed so tight. And just when I’m about to break the kiss to look for Sully, I feel his heat against my side. Rush and Wolf both shift toward each other, neither breaking their hold on me—lips or hands—to make room for Sully. He steps into the space they created. In one move, Wolf backs off and Sully steps in, claiming my lips as his own.

  Rush never loosens his hold, and it seems I’m not the only one comfortable to let him play puppeteer.

  Wolf’s hands start their exploration on every inch of available skin, and I tighten my grip on his shirt to keep him close.

  Sully slides his hands up my ribs as he tilts his head to get the perfect angle. Our tongues dance together, and I’m two seconds away from demanding they shed some clothes.

  Someone clears their throat, and it’s like a shot was fired. All three of them turn as one to protect me from the perceived threat, shielding my body with theirs, and pulling a gun from somewhere. Rush takes one from the back of his pants, Sully drops to grab one from underneath the coffee table before he quickly stands up, and Wolf grabs one from the drawer in the side table.

  Warmth spreads throughout my body, different from the potent feeling of lust. This feels softer, less dense. I feel protected and safe.

  It takes them a second to realize that it’s not a threat, but once they do, they lower their weapons. Dave, their head of security at Summer Knoll, stands at the edge of the patio, arms behind his back. For just having three guns drawn on you, he’s surprisingly calm.

  I wonder if this sort of thing happens a lot around here. I make a mental note to ask about it later.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but Rossi and the Blue Knights arrived.”

  “Fuck,” Rush growls out. He turns to face me, muscles taut and intensity rolling off him in waves. “We’re not done, baby.”

  My lips part and all I can do is nod my agreement. No, no, we are not done. Not by a long shot.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Alaina

  I follow my guys into the house and down into the basement in a conference-style room. The King sisters are already there, taking up one corner of the room. Wolf stretches his arm out behind him to snag my hand, lacing our fingers together, and pulling me beside him. We follow Rush to the front of the room by the head of the long table. I stand in between Rush and Wolf, and Sully stands on the other side of Rush.

  All three of them wear severe expressions, a vast contrast to five minutes ago when they had their hands and mouths all over me.

  I shiver just thinking about what would’ve happened had Dave not shown up. With how often I get interrupted, I’m starting to think the universe is trying to tell me something. I’m just not sure what.

  “Pay attention, baby girl. You’re about to be a part of Brotherhood business,” Wolf murmurs in my ear.

  My eyes snap up, and I startle at all the people now filling the room. I notice one or two familiar faces, but most of them are new to me.

  Rush waits until everyone is inside before he nods, and Dave closes the door from the hallway.

  “Thank you all for coming here. I know it’s a bit of a drive for some of you. As I’m sure you’re aware, my brothers and I are the junior council of the Brotherhood, which means we’ll be ascending soon. It might even be sooner than any of us realizes.” He pauses to look around the room. “You’re here because you’re a friend or an ally or both. And it seems we have a mutual enemy. Whoever broke into Summer Knoll, torched Mama Rosa’s, ordered a drive-by on wives, tipped off the cops to meet-up locations—whoever kidnapped our girl—is likely the same person.”

  Murmurs of agreement float around the room, and I feel the shift—anticipation and expectation hang in the air.

  “As of right now, the Brotherhood has decided not to pursue this . . . mutual enemy of ours. But I, for one, won’t sit idly by while some motherfuckers take what we’ve earned by blood and by right.”

  Goosebumps sprout along my skin when cheers erupt. I taste the promise of violence in the air and marvel at the dark king next to me. He’s ignited these people, and he’s going to set them loose.

  A smirk tips the corner of my lips at the idea of getting my pound of flesh from the people who orchestrated my kidnapping.

  Six months ago, that thought never would’ve crossed my mind. So I guess if I needed further proof that I’m changing— evolving—I just gave it to myself.

  Rush wraps it up after that, coordinating who’s doing what and when. The room clears out quickly until it’s just the Kings and us.

  I reluctantly untangle my hand from Wolf’s and walk over by them. All five of them eye me with varying expressions of curiosity.

  I push my shoulders back and keep my chin up even though the intensity they aim my way is enough to make me want to turn tail.

  “I need a favor.”

  “For the queen? Sure.” Maeve raises a brow and shrugs a shoulder.

  I tilt my head as I regard her. She’s the oldest sister, and the most vocal, so I shift my attention to her. She’s the one I need to convince. “Queen?”

  “Aye. Aren’t you banging all three brothers?” Roisin asks with a smirk.

  My first instinct is to clarify that we haven’t had sex yet, but I stop myself in time. I don’t owe them anything, and it’s no one’s business but ours, anyway.

  I scan all five of these gorgeous girls, looking for jealousy or indignation. When I don’t find a shred of either, I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

  Roisin tips her head back and laughs. Ava and Keira join in and the other two smirk their amusement.

  “I was wondering how long it would take you to break out of that shell you wrap so tightly around yourself,” Maeve says, her gaze assessing.

  “Yeah, well . . . I’m going through some stuff.”

  “I heard about your kidnapping. Heard you killed one of your attackers,” Ava says with raised brows.

  “I did.” I nod and fight to keep my stance casual. “That’s part of my favor. I need you to teach me what you guys know.”

  Silence greets my request, and I shift my weight to the other foot.

  “You have them”—Keira nods behind me—“why don’t they teach you?”

  “They are. But Sully spent nearly a week making me watch instructional videos on self-defense before he let me actually do anything—and that lasted a day. And with the other two . . . well, they tend to get distracted.” I feel a flush warm my cheeks.

  Keira snickers. “Can’t you just tell ‘em to wait until after they teach you some shit?”

  I fold my arms across my chest and tilt my head. “Not really. Would you if you were me?”

  I look over my shoulder at the subjects of our conversation, unsurprised to find all three of them standing next to each other, murmuring and staring at me. A flush works its way over my body under their gaze.

  “Yeah, I can see what you mean,” Keira says.

  I shift my attention back to the girls in front of me. “So, will you help me?”

  “Aye, we’ll help. We’re here for a couple more days. Let’s see what we can do. Meet us in the gym in twenty minutes,” Maeve says.

  “Thank you.” I catch her gaze and hold it. She nods once before she stands up from her chair and leaves the room. Her sisters follow one by one.

  I cross the room and stand in front of the three of them, my skin warming under their collective gaze.

  “What was that about?” Wolf tips his head toward the last King sister leaving the room.

  I shrug. “They’re going to teach me everything they know for the next two days. Starting now.”

  I can’t stifle my giggle at their matching expressions of shock.

  Rush recovers first, his face smoothing into an easy grin as he leans forward and places a chaste kiss on my lips. “That’s good, baby.”

  Wolf laughs. “Oh man, I can’t wait to see what kind of shit they teach you. Be sure to come find me first, Red. I wanna see if they show you any grappling moves. You can demonstrate them on me.” He waggles his eyebrows.

  “Alright. I’m going to go change into something I can move in. I’ll see you guys later.” I walk out of the room and head up to the third floor where my bedroom is.

  I know Sully’s trailing me, and it’s not because I have some sixth sense like Rush. His energy—frustration and lust tinged in desperation—rolls off of him, bouncing off the walls and taking up every available inch of space in the hallway.

  I make it inside my bedroom before he makes his move. He grips my arm right above my elbow, kicks the door closed, and spins me around to put my back against it.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24