Page 50 of Don’t Break My Heart (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #3)

The smell wafting through the boys’ docks apartment is to die for—garlic, rich tomatoes, and basil maybe. Reef’s arm is still resting on my shoulders; he hasn’t stopped touching me since we left the club. He’s got his happiness back, and it’s so damn good to see.

Romeo’s eyes light up when he sees us together.

He has on a crisp black shirt and black slacks with an apron over the top.

He looks very domestic, and I can’t help but smirk his way.

“Good work,” he tells Reef in a way that implies he’s going to be rewarded greatly for being a good boy and getting me back here tonight.

Onyx follows us in, making himself comfortable on the sofa.

He takes up his laptop and glances over it.

I look over his shoulder, wondering what he’s up to.

He’s watching a security feed but not to a place I recognize, and I remember what Jagger said about him working with Malachi.

I can’t believe for all these years I didn’t realize he was working another job.

I don’t know what I thought he was doing tapping away at his laptop all the time, but it wasn’t working with my brother.

I pull out of Reef’s grip on me, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. He moves into the kitchen with Romeo, and I lean over the back of the sofa. “What you doing?” I ask Onyx, wondering if I’m about to be shut out again .

“Malachi sent me a quick job to look over. I thought I better get it done before we eat since for the rest of the night, I’ll be busy fucking you,” he says without looking up.

I move around the sofa and sit next to him. “Very presumptuous of you, big guy. Anything I can help with?”

He glances over at me. “Not this time, trouble,” he says, then his attention is back on the feed he’s watching, but his hand comes to my thigh, stopping me from going anywhere else.

There is a comfort in it, a feeling of coming home that makes me imagine what it would be like coming home to these guys every day.

Not because I have to or because they are holding me hostage to keep me safe, but because this is the life I chose, with all my boys.

Glad Onyx isn’t going to block me out, I lean over and kiss his cheek then relax back into the plush sofa and pull out my phone so I can text Harley.

SLOANE: You’re never going to guess where I am tonight…

HARLEY: With your boys? Good for you, girl.

I smile to myself, feeling content for the first time in so long.

There is only one thing missing. But I can’t dwell on him tonight, even if our conversation yesterday has been sitting heavy on my shoulders ever since I hung up on him.

I might have been a little harsh, but finding out he was still watching me from afar kind of tipped me over the edge into crazy town.

Orlando is the most confusing one of them all.

Sending me away, making me feel like shit, then admitting he can’t stop watching me.

It’s a whole new level of messed up. And the worst part is I can’t even confront him about any of it because he’s in another country and I can’t call him .

“Dinner,” Romeo announces from the kitchen.

I hop up to go see if I can help him set the table or something. I pop my head around the kitchen wall. “You need a hand?” I smile.

He leans in and kisses my lips. “Go take a seat, I have this all under control.” He pats me on the ass, and I eye him suspiciously. I know he likes to take care of me, but he’s being extra over the top tonight.

I pour myself a glass of water and carry it over to the table.

It’s already set with knives and forks, wine glasses, and even fresh flowers and candles.

He’s really gone all out. I drop down into one of the seats and take a swig of water.

It’s strange to be back in this place. I have such mixed feelings about it now.

We all take our places at the table, Onyx beside me, Reef across. Romeo serves up our plates of parmigiana, mine eggplant and the boys’ chicken. Then he takes his seat at the head of the table, grinning at me like the cat that got the cream.

“What has gotten into you tonight?” I ask, not able to stand it anymore.

“Can’t I just be happy we’re all here together again?”

“I guess.” I shrug, glancing at Reef to back me up that Romeo is being over the top. He just smiles back at me, just as happy.

Romeo goes to fill my glass with wine, and I cover it. “Not tonight, thanks.”

He raises a brow. “What has gotten into you tonight?” he turns my words back on me.

“I’m trying to drink less,” I say quickly, not really wanting to explain.

I feel all three sets of eyes on me, and I know I just shocked the shit out of them. Yeah, okay, I’m a borderline alcoholic, but I own a bar and I grew up in the place. Booze has been around me for as long as I can remember .

“We’re going to need more of an explanation, sweetheart.”

“Agreed,” says Onyx, backing Romeo up.

“Maybe I just don’t feel like it.” I collect my glass and take a sip of water.

“Maybe she’s pregnant,” Reef says, his eyes wide.

I spit my water out in shock. “What the actual fuck. No, I’m not. Shit, you lot just can’t stand not knowing something about me, can you?”

“We wouldn’t be sad if you were. I like the idea of our girl knocked up.” Romeo grins stupidly.

I stare back at the three of them in shock. What the hell has gotten into him tonight? “I’m not pregnant, and just to make it crystal clear, I do not plan on getting knocked up any time soon.”

“Shame,” Romeo says, and Reef nods, agreeing with him.

“I can hardly look after myself, much less a small human. You three should think about that.” I point a finger in their direction just to warn them off any fucked-up ideas that might be running through their heads.

I huff out a sigh. I wasn’t ready to talk to them all about this yet, but I would be a massive hypocrite if I told them to be honest with me and then kept stuff from them.

“I’m seeing one of Harley’s therapists, down at the clinic.

” I close my eyes so I don’t have to look at them when I say the next part.

“I want to get off the pills and get some control back.”

“Just tell us what you need, doll face,” Romeo says, sounding more serious. I glance up at him and he’s smiling at me softly.

I look back at Reef, wondering what he makes of it. “We’re here to help, wildcat.”

My heart swells. “Thank you, but this is something I need to do on my own, with my therapist. She has a holistic natural approach to healing that I love, and I know it’s going to take time, but eventually, hopefully I can come off the meds and just focus on taking care of my body with diet, exercise, and therapy.

” Even though there is a small part of me that is afraid of their judgment, scared they will see me as weak, like I have myself for a long time, it feels like a weight off my shoulders telling them because this is who I am.

I’m good at putting on a show for the rest of the world, but the truth is, I’m a mess.

Onyx pulls me onto his lap and kisses me. It’s not what I expected him to do at all. I was expecting some lecture, like I told you so or some shit like that. “I’m proud of you, trouble,” he says instead.

“Thank you. The alcohol thing will be the hardest because I’m around it all the time, but with a little willpower, I’m sure I can at least cut back.”

Romeo collects the wine glasses and marches the bottle of wine back into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” I ask him as he comes back into view.

“Supporting you.” He smirks. “Whatever our girl needs, we’re here for you. If you’re not drinking tonight, neither are we.”

Reef takes my hand in his. “We can’t help you with the other stuff, but we can all afford to drink a little less.”

I get teary and have to blink the tears away. I’m not sure what I expected when I told them, but it wasn’t this. “I’m sorry, I’m just so emotional at the moment.” I sniff. “You don’t think I’m weak for having to do therapy?”

“Trouble, you have been through a lot of shit. Whatever helps you get through and on with your life is a good thing. You’re not weak for admitting you need help, you’re strong.”

I can’t help but smile back at them, feeling like another part of my life is falling into place. I know it’s not going to be easy, but with their support, it will make it easier to ride out the hard days. “Thank you, I appreciate your support. Come on, let’s eat before this amazing meal gets cold.”

Romeo’s cooking is delicious. It stuns me every time that he has it in him.

But not only did he make dinner, he had time to whip up dessert, tiramisu.

The four of us eat as we talk about our days, making this whole thing seem so natural and normal.

I imagine this is what it’s like growing up in a normal family, something I never experienced as a kid.

I leave the three of them at the table arguing about one of the games Romeo has planned for the opening day of our new VIP section and come into the kitchen to do the dishes instead.

It’s not that I don’t care about the opening day.

I do. But for once in my life, I want to take a step back and let him take charge so I can focus on me.

And I trust him to do the best thing for our business; he did while I was away, and I know he will now as well.

He cares about the place as much as I do, and honestly, it’s kind of funny that he’s so into the love-game thing that he needs every little detail correct so his contestants can find their true love match.

I didn’t see him as such a hopeless romantic, but he is.

A hand brushes my back as lips come to my neck. I don’t have to look to see which one of them it is, but by the way he touches me alone, I know it’s Reef. “Came to see if you needed a hand, but it looks like you have it all under control.”