Page 13 of Kylan (The Wylde Street Boys #3)

THIRTEEN

KYLAN

Benji’s first court appearance was awful. I was so nervous and overwhelmed, I couldn’t even imagine how Benji felt. So many suits, so many cops and lawyers, and people who stared.

So many reporters and cameras in his face, in his way. Intrusive, rude, and so disrespectful.

Loud and frightening.

I wore my new suit. A suit that Marek and Leon had taken me shopping for. It was from a ridiculously expensive upmarket store and they knew the tailor by name. I’d seen the price tag on a necktie and felt ill. Marek had tsked and ushered me to the suit section, telling Eduardo what I needed.

Marek knows suits, apparently. Leon watched on, nodding approvingly. And Eduardo was ever professional. He didn’t even bat an eye when Marek introduced me as their boyfriend.

It was the first time in public with them and the first time Marek had introduced me to anyone. It was a rush to hear him say it, and I’d been almost disappointed that Eduardo didn’t seem fazed at all.

Almost.

But mostly relieved.

Marek had distracted me so I couldn’t see how much Leon paid, and then we’d gone out for lunch.

As a throuple.

I kinda hated that word, but it was a good fit for us. It’s what we were.

People didn’t look twice at us. Whether they thought I was a nephew or their actual son, it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter what anyone else thought. Leon and Marek were proud to be with me, and with the confidence they exuded, it was hard not to feel that way too.

I felt so safe with them.

It also helped that Leon was no small man and he had a stare that could cut glass. With his aura of wealth and do not fuck with me , no one would have dared say anything.

Whether they knew it or not, they were creating a safety bubble for me that I felt totally secure in.

Which was probably what made the media at Benji’s father’s trial so scary to me.

Benji was ushered in with the DPP legal team and Nolan of course. I hated the way the media swarmed him. I was scared for him, panic clawing at my insides.

Standing there with Fitch outside the courthouse with all the mayhem, the chaos. The sheer fucking anxiety of it all. Fitch’s eyes met mine, wide and as overwhelmed as me. He was normally so chill about everything, but even he was feeling it.

Then a large, warm hand pressed against my lower back and I turned, looking up and saw Leon. The hard set of his jaw, the serious edge to his gaze, watchful of the whole scene unfolding before us.

The relief I felt was immediate. My protector was here. No one could ever hurt me when he was with me.

I instinctively looked for Marek, finding him on the other side of Fitch. He had a different protective energy than Leon, gentler but no less intimidating.

The way he stood by Fitch, not touching but close enough to shield him from the chaos.

I can’t believe I’d told them they didn’t need to come with us...

Then Dominic appeared, his phone to his ear. He gave Marek a nod of thanks. “We need to go in,” Dominic said to us. He slid his arm around Fitch’s shoulders. Marek and Leon were on either side of me, and the five of us headed in.

Cameras clicked, reporters asked Dominic questions. They knew who he was, and I had no doubt, no doubt at all, that if they didn’t know Leon and Marek—and Fitch and me—they would within the hour.

We sat a few rows behind Benji and Nolan.

He turned around, looking, searching, and visibly relaxed when he saw us. His father wasn’t even going to be at this session, thank god.

I didn’t want Benji to have to go through that. To have that man sitting there, staring at him, knowing Benji was testifying against him.

I never wanted that piece of shit to be able to look at him ever again.

But the legal process, the formalities, the bullshit; I could barely follow any of it. I kept thinking about Leon’s offer for me to study law, but I just couldn’t see it.

This type of law?

Not for me.

When the session was over, I was surprised when everyone stood up. I was lost and dreading having to walk back outside into the throng of the bloodhound media.

“Are you okay?” Marek asked me quietly.

I nodded, though I’m sure he saw right through me.

“Okay, we need to go,” Dominic said.

“What about Benji?” Fitch asked.

“He’ll be fine. He’ll meet us there.” Dominic nodded to the end of the pew, signalling we should leave. I grabbed Fitch’s hand, and with Marek on one side of us, Dominic at the other, and Leon at the front, we made our way back outside.

“Mr Ellington,” one reporter said, shoving her microphone in Leon’s face. “What are your ties to the Barbieri case? Who are these young men with you?”

“Mr Akhurst,” another said, getting in Marek’s way. “Can you explain...”

Yep.

They’d learned who they were.

Their faces, names would be on TV and in the papers. With me right beside them .

There was going public, and then there was this shitshow.

But Leon and Marek kept us walking, and Dominic gave some generic, cool-headed comment. We were shuffled into a waiting black van and the doors closing blocked out the noise.

The silence was deafening.

“Are you okay?” Leon said, taking my hand.

I nodded out of habit but then going with the truth, I shook my head. “I didn’t like that. They knew who you were. They’ll know who I am soon enough and wonder why you’re with me.” I looked back at the courthouse as the driver merged into traffic. “Where’s Benji?”

“We’re going back to Nolan’s place,” Leon said. “He’ll meet us there.”

“How do those reporters not get punched?” Fitch asked. Then he looked up at Dominic. “They pushed you!”

Dominic snorted. “I’m used to that.”

God. I could never.

It seemed all I could do was shake my head. I didn’t want to do this again.

“How often does Benji need to attend?” I asked. Leon, Marek, Dominic. Anyone. “Does he have to go all the time?”

Dominic answered. “No. The judge has agreed to video link.”

“For his safety,” Fitch added, frowning at me.

I stared at him. “What?”

“For the duration of the trial, he’s supposed to be at an undisclosed location,” Dominic said. “It would be best if he doesn’t have to see his father.”

Or anyone in his father’s mob connections...

I sighed, relieved. “Thank god for that. Where will he go? Is he leaving?” I turned to Leon and Marek. “I don’t want him to leave.”

“He’ll be staying where he currently is,” Dominic said. I realised that he didn’t mention Nolan because the driver could hear us. “Though that may change if required.”

Realisation sank in then that this was really fucking serious.

There were concerns for his life.

I sank into Leon’s side and he tightened his hold on my hand.

Dominic let us into Nolan’s place and as soon as we were inside, Marek pulled me in for a hug before he let go, only to put his hands to my face, scanning my eyes. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” I said. “Better now. I’ll be a whole lot better when this is over.”

Leon put his arms around the both of us, and I swear it was only then that I could breathe properly.

“Thank you both for being there today,” I mumbled.

“Of course, sweetheart,” Marek whispered.

“I couldn’t do that kind of law,” I admitted. “How do they defend the likes of Benji’s father? How can they side with him? I’d get so fucking mad, I could just never...” They let me go just enough so I could look up at them both. “Maybe property law is more my style. More conveyancing and title deeds and less murder.”

They both chuckled and Marek kissed my forehead, my cheek, my lips. “Anything you want, darling.”

“Does that apply by proxy?” Fitch said from beside us. “Because if it does, anything he wants applies to anything I want. And I can make a list.”

I snorted out a laugh and gave him a shove. “Shut up.”

The front door opened then and Benji came in. Fitch and I collected him in a hug, barely letting Nolan in through the door. Benji was teary and sniffled, letting us hug him.

“Wanna go lie down?” Fitch asked, and Benji nodded.

He looked like he’d barely slept a wink the night before.

So Benji, Fitch, and I went into Nolan and Benji’s bedroom, kicked out of our shoes and our jackets. “Never been so overdressed,” Fitch said, throwing his jacket over the back of the chair in the corner. “Have you had sex on this chair?” he asked Benji. “I’ll be very disappointed if you haven’t.”

Benji finally cracked half a smile. “Of course we have.”

Fitch put his hand to his heart. “So proud.”

He was such a brat and exactly what Benji needed right now.

The three of us climbed into bed, under the covers, with Benji in the middle. Until Fitch sat up, crawled over the both of us to snatch the remote control off the bedside closest to me. “You could have asked me to get it for you,” I grumbled.

Benji laughed. “No he couldn’t.”

Fitch snuggled back down and, grinning, turned the TV on and began scrolling through channels. He found some mansion renovation show and settled in. “Oh, those tiles are terrible,” Fitch said.

I ignored him and put my arm under Benji’s head so I could cuddle him better, and that made Fitch reposition himself so he was using Benji’s chest as a pillow.

“How you feeling, Benj?” I asked.

He sighed. “Glad today’s over.”

“I’m glad you don’t have to be in the same room as him,” I whispered.

“Me too.”

“You were brave today,” Fitch said. “Braver than I could have ever been.”

“Same,” I agreed.

“I wish I didn’t have to be,” Benji replied. “I’m grateful you’re both here. And your partners.”

Fitch popped his head up so he could look at me. “Marek was so hot today. Did you see how he totally swooped in to stand between me and the cameras?”

I smiled. “Yeah, I saw. Marek’s hot every day.”

“That little moustache is the sexiest fucking thing,” Fitch said, putting his head back down and watching more of the TV show. “Oh, those tiles are worse. Who would allow that?”

Benji and I chuckled and then were quiet for a while, watching the stupid show. He was right. Those tiles were worse.

“I’m so glad you two are here,” Benji said eventually.

“Same,” Fitch said, propping his head up again. “Because we need to talk to Kylan here, who was offered by those two hot-as-fuck daddies out there to be their live-in house boy and do nothing but float around the house all day in lingerie and stilettos?—”

“It was a robe and slippers,” I corrected.

Fitch wasn’t deterred. “Close enough. And what did you tell them, Kylan? Tell Benji here what you told them.”

I sighed.

“That’s right,” Fitch continued. “That he’d think about it. That he was considering university instead. Or an actual job.” Fitch looked at me, confused. “Like honestly, what the fuck? You could be a totally kept boy, your own expense card, living in the lap of luxury in their gazillion dollar palace, doing nothing but having the best sex ever. And you want a nine-to-five?” He shook his head and let out a disappointed sigh. “Honestly, sign me the fuck up.”

Benji chuckled again. “Maybe he wants to go to university. Leave him alone.”

“I haven’t decided,” I told them. “They want me to move in with them, but I don’t know.”

They both looked at me, waiting.

“I don’t want to rush things,” I whispered. “But I also made a promise to you two, and I intend?— ”

“Ky,” Benji murmured. “You have to do what’s right for you. Look at me? I’m living here now.”

“Because people were trying to kill you,” I allowed. “That’s different. And completely understandable. But I want to stay at the shithole apartment a couple nights a week with Fitch, make those solo videos, and try and make my own money. I need to try this. Sure, I could live with my daddies and want for nothing. Honestly, they have more money than the Reserve Bank. But I promised you both that we’d get through this together and that’s what we’re gonna do. I wouldn’t have survived this long if it weren’t for both of you.”

Benji frowned. “Oh, Ky.”

“I mean it,” I said. “I know I haven’t always acted like it, but you two saved my life. And I want to make good on the promise we made. Well, my part at least. I want to do all I can for the three of us, and this kinda feels like our one chance. Know what I mean?”

Benji nodded. “I get it. And I’m in, too. I don’t know what I can do with the court case going on right now, but?—”

“We got you covered,” I told him. “We’ll get you through this too, Benj. I promise.”

Fitch brightened. “And if you have to go into witness protection, that means we all go. And we all get new identities, like the Three Musketeers: Buttercup, Blossom, and Bubbles.”

Benji laughed. “That’s the Powerpuff Girls.”

“Close enough,” I allowed.

Then Fitch frowned. “All this talk about leaving, not leaving, going to university, or work,” he said. “It’s depressing.”

“But we’re not leaving,” I said. “That’s what I’m saying. We stick together no matter how things might change. We’ll still be us.”

Fitch made a face at me. “But uni? Or working a nine-to-five?” He sighed sadly. “I thought I raised you better than this.”

I laughed and gave Fitch’s shoulder a tweak. “Like I said, I still haven’t decided. I thought maybe law school, but after today, definitely not criminal law. Maybe property law.” I shrugged. “I could be their protégé. I would have the two best teachers in the country.”

“Mmm, schoolboy and two teachers role play,” Fitch said, happy again.

I chuckled. “It’s more of a schoolgirl role play, but whatever.”

Fitch shot me a look. “I’ve seen those photos. They’re fucking hot.”

Benji sighed. “You two are such whores.”

“Thank you, baby,” Fitch said easily, looking back at the TV. “Oh god, what is that wall colour? It has a warm undertone. It should be cool undertone to match the hideous tiles.”

Benji and I laughed just as our four daddies appeared at the door.

“Hmm, I’ve seen porn like this,” Fitch said. “Yes, please, and thank you.”

Dominic sighed and the others smiled .

Leon and Marek were looking at me, warm and wonderful, making my insides flutter.

Benji sat up. “Nolan, can I hang out with these guys tomorrow?”

Nolan walked in. “Of course you can. You’ll just need to be careful, that’s all. Now that your name and face are everywhere, you probably shouldn’t be hanging out on Oxford or Wylde Street.”

“I don’t want to go out anywhere,” Benji said. “I just wanna hang out with these two.”

“We can come here,” I offered. “I know you’re probably sick of staring at these walls but Nolan’s right. It’s safer and it’s not forever. We’ll do something fun.”

Fitch got excited. “We can bring the camera set up and film some solos.”

Benji shoved him. “You’re not doing anything on our bed. Jesus Christ.”

Fitch nodded to the chair. “I’ll use the sex chair.”

“It’s not—” Benji said.

“Oh god—” Nolan said at the same time.

Dominic and Leon both laughed.

I got out of the bed and collected my shoes and my jacket. “Fitch, get out. Benji needs a nap, and you need...” I turned to Dominic. “He needs some discipline. I would say punishment, but we all know he’d enjoy that more.”

Fitch shoved his jacket and shoes into Dominic’s arms. “I’m not even going to try and deny that. Thanks, Kysie. ”

Dominic smirked, his gaze full of nothing but love. “Home time?”

Fitch beamed up at him. “Yes, please.”

Marek took my jacket and shoes, and Leon put his arm around me. “We’ll see ourselves out,” he said to Nolan.

Nolan gave a nod. “Thanks again for today.”

“No problem at all. If you need anything, you have my number.”

“See you tomorrow, Benj,” I said. “Text me if you want me to bring anything.”

He looked about ready to fall asleep but he smiled, and Leon led me out the door. “Let’s get you home, princess.”

I smiled and leaned into him, and as we climbed into a taxi, I couldn’t help but think of that one word.

Home.

What it used to mean, and what it meant now. The place that felt right, the people who made it so.

“So I was thinking,” I said as we walked into the grand hall to the living room. The opulent furniture, the grandiosity of it all used to seem so over the top; now it felt like home.

“Thinking about what?” Marek asked as he laid my suit jacket neatly on the back of the sofa.

“About my future. About us. About the word home.”

They both stopped and waited.

“I was thinking I could stay here four nights a week and stay with Fitch the other three. Our lease is up in about four months, so that kinda feels like a great trial period for us to see if living together forever, and for real, would be good. And who knows, maybe after that, we can sign our lease for another six months but keep it as a studio for our Only Fans, and maybe as a bit of a boy’s club if me, Fitch, and Benji want to hang out and watch movies some nights. I don’t know. I haven’t run this past them, so I’m not sure. Hopefully our videos will start earning some money and we can afford that.”

I waited for them to object to being able to afford anything, but they didn’t.

They just smiled.

So I kept talking. “And maybe I can take some courses in the second half of the year to get me ready for university next year. I’m not ready for it this year, but with some practice and bridging courses, I could really hit the ground running next year. I think I’d be better suited to property law and you two are like the gurus of that, and I should have some income by then, so I’ll feel better about contributing...”

They were still smiling.

“What?” I asked. “You’re not saying anything. Did I say something wrong?”

Leon broke first, his grin wide. “Of course you didn’t. You just said forever . You said living together forever .” He looked at Marek. “Did you hear that?”

He nodded, smiling. “I believe so, yes. He definitely said living together forever, for real . That’s what I heard.”

I chuckled. “Did you not hear anything else I said after that?”

Leon nodded and cupped my jaw. “We heard it all, darling. You can be whatever you want, do whatever you want, whenever you’re ready. You can make decisions, you can change your mind, you can change direction, you can do whatever makes you happy. No rush, no pressure.”

Leon came up to stand behind me. He pressed his lips to my neck. “But you did say forever .”

“And I meant it,” I said. “Fitch and Benji are my brothers, my family. But you’re my daddies, my home. I don’t know what my future looks like. The fact I am even thinking of my future is a miracle and a testament to you both and how you love me. There’s still a lot I don’t know, and things could change. But we won’t. What we have is forever. I have to believe that.” I swallowed hard. “As long as I have you both, I’ll be home.”

Leon kissed me softly. “My sweetest boy. You said the word forever again.”

Marek hummed, his hands on my hips. He looked up at Leon. “Should I get him our gift? We were going to wait, but I think we should give it to him now.”

Leon nodded. “Yes, we should.”

Marek disappeared and I looked up at Leon. “A gift? What for? It’s not my birthday.”

He booped his finger on the tip of my nose. “We wanted to give you something to show you what you mean to us.”

Marek came back with a small box. “We considered getting you a necklace and threading our wedding bands on it so you could carry our commitment around with you,” he said. “But we agreed that it didn’t feel right to not wear our wedding bands. So we got you this.”

He handed me the box. It was a jewellery box but bigger than a ring box.

My heart was squeezing out each beat, my hands were shaking. I opened it, and inside were two plain thin gold bands and a third with a large pink stone. I looked up at them both. “What is...? I don’t understand...”

“One for each of us,” Leon said. He took the biggest plain ring and slid it onto his ring finger next to his wedding band, and then Marek took the other plain ring and did the same.

Which left the pink one for me. “Is this mine?” I whispered. “It’s so pretty.”

“Pretty for our pretty one,” Marek said.

Leon took the ring and took my left hand, sliding it onto my ring finger. “We can’t make this legal, but we sure as hell can make the same promise to you.”

I was so stunned, so shocked. So emotional. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. “Is it pink topaz? It’s just so pretty! I love it. I love you both. This is perfect.”

Marek chuckled. “No, darling. It’s not a topaz. It’s a pink diamond.”

I stared at him, then at Leon, at the ring, and back to them. I could feel the colour draining from my face, and I could not form the words to tell them...

This must have cost so much money. Too much money. Far too much...

Leon laughed and took my hand, kissing my new ring. “You won’t lose it, you can accept it, you can wear it, you do deserve it. Did I cover everything you were about to say?”

The only response I was capable of was to burst into tears and nod.

They held me tight, both kissing the sides of my head. “Is this kind of forever okay, princess?” Marek murmured.

I nodded, crying some more. “’S perfect.” I looked up at them, tears and all, hiding nothing. “Please take me upstairs. I need to be naked and in between you both for hours and hours.”

Leon laughed and hoisted me up onto his hips. “Whatever our princess wants,” he said, walking up the stairs as if I weighed nothing.

Marek followed us up, grinning at me. “Our princess gets.”