Chapter 65
Alyssa
After finally putting Zuri to bed, though it felt like a battle considering how long she fought, I find myself in the dark, wide awake. I understand now why Zuri struggled so much. This place is new, unfamiliar, I miss our beds at King’s place.
The silence of the room feels oppressive without any of the guys here. Mason left soon after Zuri fell asleep, even though I almost asked him to stay. But he’d already made it clear he didn’t want Gray getting the wrong idea.
I’m alone. The heavy feeling in my chest presses harder as I turn over in the bed for what feels like the hundredth time. I’m reminded of those many nights when Isaac and I were under the same roof, and yet he refused to cuddle with me. I feel just as fucking lonely now as I did then.
Dams it. Why did I have to get so attached to them?
I should hate them for bringing me here, for deciding what’s best for us without asking what I wanted. But I can’t.
When I finally do drift off, I wake up to the familiar warmth of them both surrounding me. For a moment, I think I’m dreaming. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me since I’ve been craving their touch all night. But the steady rise and fall of King’s chest beneath my hard, and the gentle pressure of Nike’s arm wrapped around my waist, prove othcncise.
I hum softly letting out a sound of contentment as I nuzzle into King’s bare chest. I don’t know how the hell they managed to sneak in here without anyone noticing, but I don’t care, I missed them, more than Em willing to admit
“Go back to sleep, kitten King’s soft command vibrates through my palm, warming my entire being,
1 stifle a yawn, but I can’t help the questions bubbling within me. “What are you guys doing here?” I whisper, my voice still heavy with sleep.
I can still feel King’s gaze on m even in the dark. “What does it look like? Sleeping with our girl.”
They came all the way here to sleep with me for a few hours?
“You’re not worried Gray’s going to find our somehow? Task, not quite believing that.
Niko chuckles behind me. “I think we’ve accepted our deaths by now, sweet girl.”
Despite everything, my heart swells. But my guilt from earlier creeps back in. “I’m sorry, I whisper. “for how I acted earlier. I know you did this to protect me, but I felt betrayed. Like you were going to leave me here and just forget about us. Move on with your lives like nothing ever happened between 18.
Niko’s lingers comb through my hair with gentle, deliberate strokes. Jeez. Have a little faith in us, baby,” he teases lightly. “I mean, just look at us now. We didn’t even make it through one night without you”
I can’t help but smile at that. “I don’t know why. I’m not that special”
King’s hand tightens at the nape of my neck as he pulls me into a kiss. “You don’t know how wrong you are. You’re perfer. More than perfect, if that’s even fucking possible.”
My cheeks flame, and I quickly change the subject before 1 melt into a puddle. “How are you guys even firing on this bed? King’s bed is like three times bigger. There’s no way this is comfortable
King chuckles, and Niko presses closer against my back. “Shit, even if we all had to fit on that damn door that chick used in Titanic, we’d find a way
to make it work
I laugh. Thankfully, you’ll never have to, because I’m never genting on a boatTM
“Really?” Niko’s voice is full of mischief now. “We’ll have to change that. One day, I want to take you out on my yacht”
1 gasp, turning my head slightly to look at him over my shoulder. “Be serious right now, Nika, You do not have a fucking yacht.”
Niko kisses my shoulder, his laughter vibrating against my skin. “I promise I do, I can show you a picture if you want. And I’ve thought of every surface I can fuck you on in it.
A shiver runs down my spine at the heated suggestion, and I squeeze my thighs together, trying to ignore the growing need between my legs 1 won’t be able to have either of my men until we leave here.
“I haven’t been on your bikes yet, and those terrify me. There’s no way I’m getting on a Boating death mobile”
“We’ll see,” he says, his grin audible in the darkness.
Τ
Chapter 65
King’s asleep a few aninutes later, which is surprising considering Niko is usually the one to crash before either of us. I savor the sound of King’s quier breathing. It reassures me that they’re here, and they’re not going anywhere.
“Long night?” I ask Niko softly
“Isaxe’s still hiding, but I feel like he’s probably right under our noses. He told his boss he was going on vacation with you and Zuri for two weeks. I don’t know if he was planning to find you. His voice tightens. “Or if he was planning to kill you both during that time.”
1 sigh bitterly. “Guess that depends on how obedient I am.
Or how unlucky I am.
There’s no doubt in mind that Isane would drag it out. He would make me suffer before he finally killed me. Make sure I watch him steal Zuri away from me. That’s the kind of monster he’s become
Twant him dead so fucking badly. Niko,” I whisper, my voice breaking with the weight of my confession. “I know that makes me a fucked up person, but I don’t care anymore. I want him gone.”
Niko’s hand tightens around mine. “It doesn’t make you a fucked up person, baby. You want to deliver your own justice, and I don’t see a problem with that. Sounds like you’re exactly where you belong with the rest of as fucked up individuals.”
A small, sad laugh escapes me. “Yeah, maybe I shift so that I’m facing him, my hand cupping his check. “Can I ask you something, though?”
“Sure.
“What made you join the Crimson Reapers?”
I’ve heard King and Mason’s stories. I hope he trusts me enough to tell me his.
“You really have a way of digging out our tragic backstories, huh? He reases lightly. “Mason already told me how you don’t know how the hell you got anything out of King. Must be a special skill of pours.”
worked him over.
and I still
I smile at that, waiting patiently to see if he’ll open up too.
“Mine’s not as bad as theirs. My crack addicted mom abandoned me in a gas–station bathroom. I was found naked and practically starving to death. Got adopted by foster parents, but batill ran away at 15 because I just felt like I never fit in. Then, I joined the Reapers not long after that, and found the family I was always missing
I bite my tip. feeling my heartache for him. “Do you still talk to them? Your Joster parents, I mean”
“Yeah. Leven visit them sometimes. Maybe I’ll make you with me one day” He pauses, “You know, since everyone else’s parents are either dead or dead to them. Well, mostly, King will deny it if you ask, but he still checks on lus mom from time to time. He’s even made some of her boyfriends! disappear, but she always finds another asshole.”
I struggle to swallow the lump in my throat. How could they all have such shitty, tragic childhoods, but they’re still so good to me? It makes me want to kill Isaac even more: How could he turn out the way he did, and his parents love him more than anything! Even enough to cover up the fact that he almost killed me several times!
“I would love that, I tell Niko, “But what would you tell them you know about the three of us
I know that’s probably the least of my worries right now, but I still want to know.
Niko doesn’t hesitate. That me and King are in love with the same woman,
1 freeze my heart shittering. Tri sorry what did you just say?”
“Shit, sorry, I said that without thinking” He chuckles, almost like it isn’t a big deal. “Yes, my sweet girl. I’m in love with you.”
As I press my hand over his heart, I feel the erratic thump beneath my palm. “And what about him?” I ask, nodding towards King
I hear him audibly gulp. “I think the brotherly love I had for him in the beginning slowly morphed into something else, especially when you came along. He’s always been cold, distant, but seeing him change for you and Zuri. it made me fall in love with him too.” His voice wavers just slightly. “I don’t know if he feels the same way about me, that doesn’t change how I feel
I stare at him, my heart racing in sync with his. “I love both of you too.”
Niko grins, his relief palpable. “Fuck, really?”
1 nod, feeling relief wash over me now that I could finally tell him. “Yeah, I’ve felt that way for a while now, even when I was pissed off with you guys
carlier.
2/3
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Chapter 65
That makes me so fucking happy, baby. Niko murmurs, kissing me with a passion that steals my breath away. When he finally pulls away, he adds, “I won’t say anything, but you’ll have to tell him soon. He needs to hear it from you.”
snule. “Only if you tell him 100.
He sighs, sounding hesitant. “Deal. Now go to sleep”
I settle bark between them, Nike’s hand slipping into mine under the covers. His thumb brushes gentle strokes over my skin, soothing me as I drift back into the comfort of them both. This–this is what home feels like.
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