Page 13 of Revenge Saints (BloodHawks Duet #2)

“It’s up to you, Aspen. What you want. What you need. And whatever you decide, we’ll respect it.”

The guys nod.

Aspen looks between us, gaze soft.

“I could never choose between the four of you. You each complete something in me. You’re all different… but equal. I never thought of having one boyfriend after the plague, let alone four, but I can’t imagine it any other way now.”

Boyfriends. Fuck.

I exhale, relief that she wants us. All of us.

One last thing I don’t have to worry about.

I was afraid, deep down, that she might’ve only wanted one of us. That I’d have to watch her pick someone else, while the rest of us stayed behind in the shadows.

And I would’ve made it work for her. For them .

I take a deep breath and sit back down, my body still humming with the weight of everything that just happened. My voice drops, turning serious as I glance between Max and Ryker.

“We need to find a way in and out without Roman ever seeing it coming.”

I point to the plan Ryker drew out across the table, sharp lines, and tight notes. The groundwork’s solid. Now we need to weaponize it.

Ryker leans in, eyes narrowing. “The back gate’s our best chance.”

Max nods in agreement.

“They’ll have guards on the gates,” I say, tapping the map. “But the brush behind the base, the trees, and thick bushes? That’ll give us cover. We cut the fence here,” I point, tracing the path, “just enough to squeeze through.”

“But how the hell do we find Dante?” Max asks, frowning. “They’ve probably got him locked up deep.”

“We won’t be able to get past Roman’s men,” Ryker mutters. “There’s too many.”

“I know,” I say, leaning back, cracking my knuckles. “We need a distraction. Something big enough to pull Roman out of the base… and take some of his men with him.”

“Me.” Aspen steps closer to the table. “He wants me. Let’s use that. Make him come for me.”

“Fuck no.” The words slamming out of me .

“Are you out of your damn mind, Aspen? He’ll take you, and we might not get you back.”

Ryker shakes his head. “That’s not an option. We j ust got you out of that kind of danger. We’re not walking you back into it.”

Max is staring at her, quiet for a second before he speaks. “It’s too dangerous. We already have Dante inside. We’re not losing you too.”

She rolls her eyes.

That’s all it takes.

I’m on my feet in a second, closing the distance in a long stride. My hand snaps to her neck, gripping tight, not enough to hurt her, but enough to remind her who the fuck gives the orders.

“I will fucking tie you to the damn bedpost if you try anything, Aspen.” My eyes locked on hers.

I know this woman, know how that stubborn little brain works, how she’s already planning something reckless, but she doesn’t flinch; she stands her ground, chin tilted up, fire blazing in her eyes. The kind of fire that means trouble.

“Aspen,” I growl, tightening my grip enough to feel her pulse jump under my fingers.

“Fine!” she snaps, all fury and frustration.

“I don’t trust you,” I grunt, looking away just long enough to bark, “Max, get a rope.”

“No!” Her hands fly to my wrist, but I don’t let go.

“I get it,” she says quickly, breath hitching, “Roman would probably send someone else, and you guys still wouldn’t get in, but maybe I can help in another way?”

Her eyes shift, softer now. Pleading.

“I just want to help, please.”

Fuck me.

My grip doesn’t ease.

“Promise me, Aspen. Promise you won’t do anything that puts you in danger. Promise you’ll obey for once.” It doesn’t come out like an order. It’s a plea.

Because if I lose her too? If she gets taken like Dante…

I don’t know what I’ll become.

“I promise, Knox,” she whispers.

I search her face, eyes flicking across hers, desperate to catch even a flicker of a lie, but it’s not there.

She means it.

I finally release her throat, letting her breathe properly again. My hand falls to her waist instead.

“We’ll find a way, sweetheart,” Max says softly, lifting his hand.

She takes it, letting him pull her down beside him.

“You need to trust us,” he adds, “and we need to trust you for this to work.”

She nods, quiet. “I know.”

Her fingers slip into his hair, playing gently, and Max closes his eyes like it’s the only peace he’s had in days.

Aspen is the only thing grounding us now.

The only reason we haven’t completely lost our shit.

I sink back into my chair. We have to find a solution today. Dante’s been in there too long. And as much as I try to believe he’s alive, that he’s still fighting, part of me… part of me fears he’s not.

But I don’t say that out loud.

I can’t.

I just pray he’s still holding on, doing whatever he has to do to stay alive until we get to him.

“I’m going to lie down for a bit,” Aspen murmurs. “My head hurts.”

She leans down and presses a kiss to the top of Max’s head.

Then she moves to Ryker, doing the same.

When she rounds the table and reaches me, she pulls my head down gently and kisses it too, but when she turns to leave, I grab her hand.

She stops and looks back at me.

“Please,” I say. “Don’t do anything, Aspen. I’ll get Dante back. I promise.”

Her eyes soften.

“I know, Reaper,” she whispers.

Then she lifts my hand and presses a kiss to it.

I let her go, watching her walk away, leaving the rest of us behind to plan the rescue that might be the last thing we ever do together.