Page 18 of Beautiful Trauma

He gave me a pointed look. “And I mean it, Mila. If anything goes wrong, we’ll be right outside in an unmarked van. You have my word that you won’t get hurt.”

Although his compassion touched me, I merely bobbed my head. “Got it.”

As the jet skidded along the runway, I closed my eyes and prepared to get into the zone.

CHAPTER FOUR: KELLAN

The screeching sound of my alarm pierced through my dream-like state. With a groan, I rolled over to smack my phone on my nightstand. Rubbing my eyes, I tried coming awake. Although it was four in the afternoon, the room was pitch black with the blackout curtains.

After hitting the button for the curtains to retract, I rolled over to find the bed empty. Raising my head, I peered over the bedside to see if her clothes still were discarded on the floor.

When they were, I called, “Brooke?”

“Kitchen!” she called back.

I’d just raised up when she appeared in the doorway wearing one of my T-shirts. “I made you breakfast.” Wagging her brows, she added, “Would you like it in bed?”

Chuckling, I replied, “You made me breakfast in the afternoon?”

“I’d be a pretty shitty fuck buddy if I didn’t remember how much you like breakfast before you go in for the night shift.”

Shaking my head, I swung my legs out of the bed. “You are not a fuck buddy.”

Cocking her blonde brows, she suggested, “Bestie with Benefits?”

As I walked over to her, I grinned. “I’m well acquainted with that term as well as the fact there were no “benefits” last night besides cuddling.”

She laughed as she placed her hands on my shoulders. “Considering your new buff bod, I should get a medal for not listening to my neglected vagina when it said to attack you.”

I smacked her hands off playfully. “Don’t cheapen our relationship by objectifying me.”

“You were hot as fuck our fist time, K, but damn, you are smoking now.”

After bestowing a kiss on her cheek, I replied, “Thanks, B.”

Four years ago, I’d been introduced to Brooke when her sister, Isla, started dating my brother, Quinn. At that time, I was in hell over my guilt about my involvement in Maeve’s rape while Brooke was adjusting to single motherhood at nineteen. We both had a desperate need for sex, not just for intimacy, but to conquer the ghosts of our past.

While we both went on to other relationships, we often came back to each other after breakups. But we’d only fucked that one time. Brooke’s breakup was fresher than mine, so she’d called last night and asked for a sleepover.

“Listen, I’d love to stay, but I need to grab Henry from Isla’s.” She smiled at the reference to her son. “Apparently, he’s some sort of Rian whisperer, so I might not get him back.”

I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Take care of yourself, B.”

“I always bounce back,” she replied with more bravado than I knew she felt.

After smacking my ass, she said, “You better eat those eggs before they get cold.”

“I will,” I mused.

After enjoying Brooke’s breakfast with two cups of coffee, I showered and got into my suit. AlthoughBandiadidn’t open until seven, I always went in by six. There was always business to do before the doors opened.

As I was sliding on my suit jacket, my doorbell rang. After a quick glance at my phone, Dare’s concerned face reflected back at me in the camera feed. Something about his expression sent unease prickling over me.

I hustled over to the door and threw it open. “What’s wrong?”

He gave me a tight smile. “Hello to you too, boyo.”

A practically humorless Dare was extremely concerning. “Since when have you ever dropped by my place for a social visit?” I countered.