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eleven

. . .

Mia

“ A llow me,” Finn says, pulling my chair out for me, and I can’t help but blush. No one has ever pulled a chair out for me, and it feels nice, like I’m being taken care of.

As I settle into my seat, the strangeness of this situation hits me. I barely know these guys, and I don’t know Kane at all.

Why the hell am I here having dinner with strangers? For all I know, they could be luring me into a trap.

I keep waiting for this to feel wrong, but it never does.

Somehow, I feel safe and don’t want to leave, rather than feel guilty or scared. It feels right to be sitting here with them, though I can’t quite put my finger on why.

“Hi, I’m Mia,” I say to Kane, even though there were already introductions. “I’m a barista at the café where I met Finn. We’ve become friends, sort of.”

“Finn and Jace have told me all about you already, Mia,” Kane replies, his voice like rich velvet.

Something about the way he says it strikes me as odd, and I suddenly feel a wave of uneasiness. This feels like more than just a friendly dinner .

“Um,” I begin, already wanting to leave because of how awkward this is. It doesn’t make sense to be talking to him.

“Don’t worry, we only said good things about you,” Jace cuts in as he sits down to my right.

“I’ve never been to this restaurant. Do you have any recommendations, Mia?” Kane’s intense gaze shifts from Jace to me. He looks way too sophisticated and out of place here.

Just like that, we move on to simpler topics, which I’m grateful for.

“The salmon is delicious,” I say, glancing at the menu to see if they’ve added any new dishes.

“That does sound good,” Kane replies without looking at the menu. His eyes are strangely fixed on me, and I begin to feel uncomfortable, along with an unexpected throbbing between my legs.

“I used to eat here a lot. Before... well, anyway, it’s been a while, but I’m sure there are still great dishes.”

I silently curse myself. It isn’t exactly polite dinner conversation to bring up personal struggles, and I don’t want any pity or questions about Justin right now.

“May I take your order, please?” asks a waitress who looks like she is barely out of college, popping a bubble gum in her mouth.

The three handsome men at the table look to me to order first, and I blush again. It feels strange to have three gorgeous guys at a casual dinner right after breaking up with Justin.

“I’ll go with the salmon,” I say, gulping as I stare at the wood on the table, wondering what my life has come to. For some reason, the men seem hyper-focused on me after they place their orders, and I start to wonder if there’s something on my clothes or my face.

After the waitress takes our orders, Finn touches my elbow, and my breathing stops for a moment. His eyes flicker to my lips, and suddenly, an electric shock goes through me as we lock eyes. His green eyes, flecked with gold up close, are overwhelming.

“Something is off,” he observes.

I can hardly breathe with his hand on my elbow.

“What do you mean?” I ask, taking a sip of water to soothe my dry throat.

“Something happened, and you’re not telling us,” Finn says, and suddenly Kane looks at me sharply. “You look upset.”

“It’s not a big deal or anything,” I say, letting out a long breath as I stare at my drink. “I’m sorry if I seem a little off. I broke up with my boyfriend.”

The change in the atmosphere is immediate and bizarre. All three men straighten, their expressions shifting from concern to something that looks almost like excitement. Finn’s eyes darken, Jace’s lips curve into a smile, and Kane’s shoulders relax as if a weight has been lifted.

“When?” Kane asks, his voice casual but his eyes intense. “When did this happen, Mia?”

“This morning,” I admit, still confused by their reactions. “It wasn’t... it didn’t go that great.”

I notice the bulge in Kane’s pants straining against his expensive slacks, and my cheeks flush hot. Is he getting turned on by my breakup story? That can’t be right. I must be imagining things, just as I must be imagining the sudden spike in my arousal. God, what the fuck is wrong with me?

Our food arrives, sparing me from having to explain further. I pick at my salmon, my appetite diminished by the strange tension at the table. Finn watches me with his observant eyes, cataloging every movement.

“It’ll get better,” he says, sounding very sure of it.

“I’m okay. It just means I have to start over, you know?”

“Justin is a total asshole,” he states bluntly, and I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “I’ve seen how he treats you when he comes to the café. The way he talks to you. ”

“Yeah, he’s a bit of an asshole,” I agree.

His jaw tightens. “No one should be spoken to like that.”

A lump forms in my throat. I didn’t realize anyone had noticed. I’ve become so accustomed to Justin’s verbal jabs that I barely register them anymore.

Jace reaches across the table, his fingers stopping just short of touching mine. “What’s going to happen now? Do you have a place to stay?”

The concern in his voice seems genuine, and it makes my chest ache. When was the last time someone worried about me?

“I’m still going to live with him,” I confess, staring down at my half-eaten salmon. “Just until I can find somewhere else. We share an apartment, and I can’t afford to break the lease.”

“Why do you stay with him?” Kane asks carefully, his fork suspended halfway to his mouth. “Even before today.”

The question hits a nerve. Images of my foster parents flash through my mind. Their cold eyes and the way they counted every penny of the government checks made it clear I was just a source of income. I don’t have anyone but Justin, and they wouldn’t understand.

But I can’t tell these strangers that. I can’t admit how pathetic I am or how afraid I’ve been of being alone. So I shrug and force a smile, trying to appear stronger than I feel.

“It’s complicated,” I say, the understatement of the century.

“So,” Kane says, putting his fork down by his plate, “you work at the café part-time. It must be difficult to make ends meet.”

The observation takes me off guard, and I squirm slightly in my seat. I had been feeling more comfortable, but it’s strange to have the spotlight shine on my struggles like that. Finn and Jace had always danced around the topic, but Kane is confronting it head-on .

Fuck, I can’t control my thoughts tonight. Or my body, which feels like it’s running a fever despite the restaurant’s cool air. I press my thighs together, trying to ignore the increasing wetness between them.

How does he know my schedule? My heart stutters, and I glance at Finn, who seems completely unperturbed by Kane’s comment. Of course, Finn must have told him about my living situation.

“It can be difficult,” I admit cautiously, setting down my fork with trembling fingers. “But I manage.”

Kane’s expression is sympathetic, but it only makes me feel worse. I don’t want his pity. I don’t want any of this strange attention they’re lavishing on me.

“How do you manage?”

“Well, the strangest thing happened today,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “I told Finn and Jace this, but I checked my bank account and found an anonymous deposit of ten thousand dollars.”

Kane’s expression remains impassive, except for a slight tightening around his eyes.

“I did my best to keep it anonymous,” Kane says finally, meeting my gaze without a hint of shame.

The words hit me like a physical blow. My stomach drops, and the air seems to vanish from my lungs. A strange coldness spreads through me, starting in my chest and radiating outward until even my fingertips feel numb.

“You?” I whisper, unable to process what I’m hearing. “You put money in my account?”

Kane nods once as if this is the most normal thing in the world. “I thought you might need it.”

Tears spring to my eyes, hot and sudden. The restaurant around us blurs as my vision swims. I’ve never felt so humiliated in my life, not even when Justin called me fat in front of his friends, not even when my foster father told me I was nothing but a paycheck.

“I’m not a charity case,” I choke out, my voice breaking on the last word. “I was only looking for friends.”

Jace reaches for my hand. “Mia, it’s not like that…”

I stand up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. Several heads turn in our direction, but I barely notice. All I feel is the burning shame and the desperate need to escape.

“I’ll bring your money back first thing tomorrow morning,” I say, my voice shaking with the effort of holding back tears. “I can give it to Finn at the café, and he can return it to you.”

Kane’s expression darkens.

“It’s your money now,” he says quietly, but with an undercurrent of steel that makes it clear this isn’t up for debate. “I don’t want it back.”

His arrogance only fuels my anger. Who does he think he is, tossing money at me like I’m some kind of pet project? Some broken thing he can fix with his wallet?

“I don’t want your money,” I insist, grabbing my purse from the back of the chair. “I don’t need your help.”

But even as I say it, I know it’s a lie. I desperately need help. I need to escape from Justin and start over somewhere new.

I turn and walk away, ignoring Jace calling my name. My eyes blur with unshed tears as I weave between the tables, past the concerned hostess, and out into the frigid night air.

The cold hits me, bringing fresh tears to my eyes. Ice crunches under my boots as I step away from the restaurant, with no clear destination in mind.

I need to get away, to think, to breathe.

“Mia! ”

The voice sends ice through my veins. Fuck my life. I turn slowly, already knowing who I’ll see.

Justin stands a few feet away, his blond hair tousled by the wind, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. My heart sinks to my stomach as I realize he must have followed me here.

“Why are you dressed like a whore?” he sneers, closing the distance between us.

I flinch at the familiar insult. I know I’m not a whore, but Justin has always had a talent for making me feel dirty and exposed.

“I’m not,” I whisper, hating how small my voice sounds.

He reaches out, his thumb smearing the lipstick I’d carefully applied before dinner, leaving a streak from my bottom lip to my chin.

“Who were you with?” he demands, his breath hot against my face, the smell of beer sharp and sour on him.

“No one,” I reply, my heart pounding so hard I’m sure he can hear it. “Just some friends from work.”

His hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist in a painful grip. I gasp as his fingers dig into my skin.

“Friends?” he laughs coldly. “Now I understand why you wanted to end things.”

“Let go of me,” I say, my voice firmer than I intended.

Justin’s eyes narrow dangerously.

“So, who are you whoring yourself out to, Mia?” he demands, twisting my wrist until I whimper in pain. “Those guys I saw you with through the window? All three of them?”

Something inside me snaps.

Maybe it’s the culmination of all his insults, all the times he’s made me feel worthless. Maybe it’s the memory of Kane, Finn, and Jace treating me with respect I’d forgotten I deserved. Whatever it is, I feel a surge of courage that drowns out my fear.

“This is over. We’re over. God, I should have done this a long time ago. I don’t want to be with you anymore. Not for another minute. Now. Let. Me. Go!”

His fingers tighten painfully around my wrist. “I don’t think so, Mia. I want answers. And you’re going to give them to me, or so help me...”

“This is over,” I tell him, my voice trembling but resolute. “We’re done. I don’t want to be with you anymore.” I try to pull my arm away. “Let me go!”

His eyes darken with rage. Before I can react, he yanks my wrist with a vicious twist. There’s a sickening snap, and pain explodes through my arm like white-hot lightning.

I scream, the sound tearing from my throat as I collapse to my knees on the icy pavement. Salt and grit bite into my palms as I catch myself with my good hand, cradling my injured wrist against my chest. The pain is blinding, making it hard to think or breathe.

“Shut the fuck up!” Justin shouts.

Through the haze of agony, I hear the restaurant door burst open. Footsteps pound across the pavement, and suddenly, Justin is no longer looming over me.

I look up, my vision blurred with tears, and see Finn and Kane pinning Justin against a parked car. Their faces contorted with rage make them almost unrecognizable. Finn’s fist connects with Justin’s jaw, the impact snapping his head to the side.

“You worthless bastard!” Kane snarls, landing a punch of his own to Justin’s stomach. “How dare you touch her! And you shut the fuck up.”

“Fucking piece of scum!” Finn growls, his normally quiet voice raised to a shout as if he’s been waiting for this moment. “If I ever see you near her again, I’ll kill you!”

The threats continue, a barrage of insults that blur together as the pain in my wrist intensifies. I’m vaguely aware of Justin’s curses and threats to call the police, but they sound distant and unimportant.

Suddenly, Jace kneels beside me, his face tight with concern.

“Let me see,” he says gently, reaching for my wrist. I cry out when he touches it.

“It hurts, oh my God, Jace,” I whimper, tears streaming down my face despite my efforts to control them.

Jace’s eyes darken dangerously as he glances at Justin, his expression suggesting he wants to join the fight.

“I think your wrist is broken,” he says, his voice tight with controlled fury. Without another word, he slides one arm under my knees and the other around my shoulders, lifting me as if I weigh nothing.

I cling to him with my good arm, burying my face against his chest. His heartbeat is strong, and I try to focus on it instead of the blinding pain in my wrist.

“Kane! Finn!” Jace calls. “We need to get her to a hospital.”

They break away from Justin, who is now slumped against the car, blood streaming from his nose. Part of me feels a savage satisfaction at the sight, even through the haze of pain.

Kane and Finn sprint toward us as Jace carries me to a sleek black SUV parked nearby. Kane opens the back door, and Jace slides in with me still in his arms, unwilling or unable to let me go. I’m too consumed by pain to care.

Finn jumps into the passenger seat while Kane takes the wheel, starting the engine with a roar. As we pull away from the curb, I catch a glimpse of Justin by the restaurant, his face twisted in rage as he shouts after us.

“Ignore him,” Jace murmurs, his lips close to my ear. “We’ll take care of you.”

I nod weakly, the pain making it hard to speak. My wrist throbs in time with my heartbeat, but somehow, cradled in Jace’s arms, with Kane and Finn keeping watch in the front seats, I feel safe for the first time in years.