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Once we’ve all gotten into the car—Miles is driving, Marcus is in the front next to him, leaving me and Jake in the back—Miles runs through the plan with us all.

“We’ve been instructed to meet the Doughtys at a warehouse about an hour away from here. Apparently, they’ve been dealing with business nearby, and the warehouse is neutral territory for us to meet.

“I sent some guards yesterday to scope out the area, and there doesn’t look to be any concerns we need to be aware of. I don’t know how many family members will be in attendance, but there’s rarely less than three of them at any meeting.”

“Why three?” I blurt out without thinking.

“Bree is the leader, and Kian is her second in command, so he’s always with her. But her husband, Liam, also usually accompanies her,” Miles explains, shuddering when he says Bree’s name.

Jake chuckles beside me, obviously picking up on it too, and when I look over at him, his eyes are almost twinkling with excitement. “Bree is a badass, and she scares the shit out of Miles,” he tells me, trying to hold back his laughter.

Marcus coughs from the front seat, a poor attempt at hiding his chuckle. Miles glares at us through the rearview mirror. “You all should have a healthy fear of Bree. She’s fucking terrifying,” Miles argues, which only makes Jake laugh harder.

I have to admit, I’m eager to meet the woman who can instill this kind of fear in men as tough as mine. Despite both Jake and Marcus laughing at Miles, it’s clear they’re just as apprehensive about Bree, which only has me more intrigued.

I’ve never heard of a female mafia leader before, particularly one with the power and reputation to scare grown men like mine. I’ve not met the woman and already I want to befriend her. I could really use some tips on how to be stronger and less scared.

The rest of the drive, we fall into easy conversations, all three of us trying our best not to slip up and reveal too much in front of Marcus. Occasionally, Jake will start to move his hand closer to me, as if to take mine, or to rest his on my thigh, but then he remembers himself and pulls back.

I want nothing more than to slide over to him and let him hold me while my nerves build, but I know I can’t, so I settle for doing my deep breathing exercises to calm my anxiety.

I remind myself that even though we can’t show each other the affection we probably need right now, it doesn’t change the fact my men are here with me. They’re by my side, caring for me, keeping me safe, and no matter what happens in this meeting, they’re not going anywhere.

As the car pulls to a stop outside a large abandoned warehouse, my heart is beating a million miles a minute, as sweat makes my hands clammy. My nerves are getting the better of me, and my chest is rising and falling rapidly as I struggle to grasp the control I worked hard for during the car journey.

Miles opens the door for me and holds his hand out for me to take. I grab it willingly, wincing when I’m sure he feels the sweat coating my palm. He doesn’t seem to care as he helps me out of the car.

Marcus and Jake are climbing out of the other side, and Miles takes advantage of their distraction by pulling me close, wrapping his arm around my waist.

He leans down until his breath is fanning my face, his warmth making me feel safe and secure. When his lips are beside my ear, he whispers for only me to hear. “I will keep you safe in here, no matter what. You have nothing to worry about. Just go in there, hold your head up high, and tell them your story. This is the first step in getting your life back, the first day of our future together without the past hanging over you. You’ve got this, and me and Jacob will be with you every step of the way.”

He presses a short, sweet kiss to the spot just below my ear, sending a shiver down my spine, before giving me a reassuring smile, as he takes a step back. Once he puts distance between us, the Miles I know is gone, and in his place is the mafia bodyguard who everyone fears.

The cocky smirk I’m used to seeing is gone, as his lips press into a hard line that matches the stone-like expression on his face. His jaw is set, like he’s grinding his teeth together, jutting his chin out in a way that makes him look tough.

He pulls himself up even taller, straightening his back until his posture is rigid, making him look like an immovable object. But it’s his eyes that have changed the most, and I have no idea how he does it.

I’m used to seeing his bright-blue eyes shining with emotion. Whether he’s happy, sad, or angry, you can see it all in his gaze, but with his mask in place, they’re dull and lifeless, giving nothing away.

The Miles standing before me now looks cold, hard, and tough, making it clear what his role is. His emotionless eyes are constantly flicking around as we move towards the entrance, with him leading the way. He’s looking for risks, assessing the danger all around us, as he does his job to perfection.

Marcus walks beside me with Jake behind us, no doubt making sure that nobody is going to attack us whilst our backs are turned. Once we reach the door, Miles pauses for a second and turns to face us.

“Is everybody ready? Do we need to go over any aspect of the plan again?” he asks.

Jake groans loudly. “No, we’ve been over the fucking plan so many times I could recite it in my sleep. Knock on the bloody door, you freak.”

I can’t help but smile at the disapproving glare Miles throws Jake’s way, but he just fobs him off, bouncing on his feet like he’s struggling to contain all the energy he has.

As Miles knocks on the door, Marcus turns to Jake. He’s also shifted into professional mode, and quite frankly, he’s terrifying. I have no idea how Jake doesn’t shrink under the weight of Marcus’ glare.

“Don’t get any of us killed,” he snarls, fixing Jake with a hard look. “Keep quiet if you feel like you’re going to say anything inappropriate.”

Jake waves him away, muttering under his breath as the door opens. A blond man with a bright smile on his face stands in the doorway, looking almost excited. I don’t have a chance to take all of him in before the men crowd towards him, but it’s long enough to tell he’s bloody gorgeous.

“Welcome!” he shouts, standing to the side to let us in.

“Hi, Kian. Thank you for meeting with us,” Miles says politely, shaking hands with the blond man who looks like he’d fit in as part of a boyband.