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“I can’t take the chance that they find out and come after me—our baby, I mean.” I sniff.

Stupid hormones.

“Swear you’re not going to tell them.” Riley stands. She props her hands on her hips as she stares at Gunner. Fitch and Knox will follow his lead.

“I’m not a party to their contract.” He scrubs his hand down his grim face. “Still, I don’t like this. Carter, Knox, and Aiden are my friends. But Poppy is like family and…”

“Happy wife-to-be, happy life-for-thee.” Riley reminds him.

Kane snorts. “He’s not going to chance you shutting him out, princess.”

“Fine.” Gunner sighs. “They’re not going to hear it from me. But this isn’t going to end well. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He plucks the invite from my desk and tosses it in the trash.

The urge to fish it out and clutch it to my heart, or sniff the paper, or something equally mortifying is nearly overwhelming.

I squash those impulses along with all my other unwise urges.

Like running back to my men and begging them to officially make me theirs.

It’s not only me—and what I’m willing to sacrifice—that I have to think about now.

CHAPTER 17

Carter

The phone hasn’t finished its first ring when I snatch it up and answer. There’s nothing more pressing than an update from Gunner, and—hopefully—another liaison with our beauty.

I haven’t been able to think of anything but her for weeks.

Deals have fallen through, Aiden hasn’t gone to the gym, Knox stopped joining us for dinner and sulks while destroying aliens in his video games as if that’s going to alleviate any of his real-life frustration.

Come on.

“It’s a no-go.” Gunner is curt.

“Try again.” My intensity is all Aiden and Knox need to figure out who I’m talking to. They gather around, hardly blinking or breathing, as they eavesdrop.

Gunner groans. “Look, I can deliver the message, but I can’t make her read it. Or accept whatever bullshit you’ve cooked up.”

“You’re a persuasive bastard?—”

“Sweeten the deal however you think will work. We’re good for it,” Knox adds, loud enough for Gunner to hear.

“No can do. If you want a different outcome, you’re going to have to get it yourself. I’m not your middleman.” His voice is strained.

Something’s off, but I can’t put my finger on it.

“What aren’t you saying?” Of course, Aiden picks up on Gunner’s emotional vibe.

“I’m in a shitty spot here. Stuck between three rocks and one incredible young woman.” Gunner lowers his voice as if he doesn’t want someone—his fiancée or maybe even our beauty herself—to hear. “Look, this isn’t some kind of deviant game anymore, okay?”

“It never was to us.” I glare at Knox, daring him to say otherwise. “Not to Aiden and me anyway.”

“There were tears, damn it.” Gunner curses.

“When you gave Poppy our invite?” I pinch the bridge of my nose.