Page 79 of Addicted

My gaze flits to the man in question, and his lips are parted as he looks at Aeron, his forehead furrowed. I look back at Aeron and see him dip his head, his eyes on Knox too and it feels like something passes between the two men. Something that is almost like the beginning of forgiveness.

“Good. I believe, gentlemen and lady, that’s our business for this morning concluded,” Aeron tells the room, catching everyman’s eye and I’m struck by how much of a leader he is at that moment. He was born to lead, to steer others.

He shifts his arms, placing one under my knees and another around my back, and in a single, smooth motion, he stands, carrying me close to his chest. My arms fly to wrap around his neck, and I’d protest, but suddenly I’m so weary that I’m not sure I could walk out on my own feet. I glance down at the plate and cup on the table, still full as I hadn’t managed a bite with my stomach churning so much.

I guess that’s what betraying the men that you love does to you.

I look over his shoulder when I hear a pained sound, and see Jude holding the knife that was embedded in the clavicle of the asshole Tailor, Dumbo. Blood glistens on the blade, dripping from the tip.

“Good job, Dumbo. You didn’t pass out.” Jude claps him on the back, earning another wince and Dumbo looks like he’s about to keel over after all.

Tarl takes the knife off him, and they both saunter over to us as Knox brings up the rear of our group. The door opens once more, Jessica waiting for us. She looks at me with concern, her forehead creased.

“Is she okay, Mr. Taylor? Do you want me to call a doctor?”

“No thank you, Jessica,” Aeron replies, not pausing as he walks towards the front doors of the building. “She just needs to get home.”

Home.

The word drags a sob from my chest, Aeron pulling me closer as we exit the building and walk towards the waiting truck. The word bounces around my skull, becoming a taunt as I break down in his arms, clinging to him as he gets us into the back and pulls me closer.

“It’s okay, my love,” he murmurs, and I feel Jude come up next to us, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. “They’ll never hurt you again.”

I just cry harder, knowing that it’s not my past haunting me anymore, but my future.

And there’s not a fucking thing I can do to change it.

CHAPTER THIRTY

“I FOUND” BY AMBER RUN

LARK

The guys stay close to me for the rest of the day, and we spend it curled up on the couches watching endless Disney movies at Jude’s insistence. It’s the healing balm that I need, yet know that I don’t deserve, no matter how much I try to convince myself that I’ve put in fail-safes to ensure they’re okay.

The next morning, I wake up, my stomach rolling and an ache in the back of my throat that won’t go away, no matter how much water I drink.

“Let’s go shopping!” Jude suddenly exclaims while I’m pushing bits of fluffy pancake around my plate, all of us sitting at the kitchen island for breakfast as it has become our routine.

“Shopping?” I ask, my head tilting upwards as he comes to stand over me. He bends down, framing my face in his warm hands.

“It always makes me feel better, spending lots of money on pretty things, and you classify as a very pretty thing, Nightingale.”

I bristle. “You know that I’m a person right, Baby Devil?”

“Of course, a very pretty person,” he replies, his brows dipping as if he doesn’t get what the issue is. I huff out a breath that he inhales as his face is that close.

“I don’t have any money, Jude.”

“Yes you do, you have all of my money. What’s mine is yours, Nightingale, and what’s yours is mine. Especially that pretty cunt.”

“Jude! For fuck’s sake!”

Aeron laughs, the deep timbre of his voice distracting me from my misery and making my nipples harden. “He’s not wrong, Dove. You can use our money, and we do own that beautiful pussy of yours.”

“I am a person, assholes! Not just a hole for your dicks.” I don’t know why I’m so furious, my breath is coming in gasps, and I try to get up and break away from Jude’s hold, but he doesn’t let go, earning a frustrated growl from me.

“What’s wrong, Nightingale? Why are you so angry and sad?” His deep blue eyes bore into mine, concern lacing his unblinking stare.