Page 102 of Second Sets Omnibus

Of course, she does; Gloria can’t do anything as simple as turning the other cheek when we need her to. Keeping my father’s nose out of my business is priority number one. Especially when it concerns the Battle of the Bands—the one thing we need. He gave us one year to sow our wild oats with the damn band, and I’m making the best of it without his interference. There’s no stopping us now.

“What are they?” I ask, holding back a yawn.

“When you win the Battle of the Bands, help me leave,” she says, looking directly into my eyes.

“If we win. There’s a whole competition. It’s us against fifteen bands, and it’s not a guarantee.” I shake my head, running a hand through my hair. “And where’d you like to go, Gloria?” I ask, seriously wondering where this woman would want to go.

“Anywhere but here,” she says with a shaky nod. “Far away from him…” She swallows hard at that admission, but good for her. “You’ll win. You guys have to win. Second stipulation…”

“Go on,” I say, waving a hand.

“The Central Girl stays here,” she says, firmly pointing a finger down. “I know you’ve offered to take her with you, but she belongs where she is. Not out there.”

I snort. “Right. Try prying her out of your son’s hands.” Or mine. She’s valuable to us, especially in East Point, California. If she doesn’t go, then we might not have a chance of winning. There’s no way… I shake my head, rubbing my chin.

“Think it over, Asher. Watch the way she’s wearing each of you down. Soon, she’ll split you all up, and Whispered Words won’t be a thing anymore. In less than a year, you’ll be suited up under your father’s thumb. All because you couldn’t leave one girl where she belongs. You’re going to be famous. Do you want some lost, stray skank following you around?”

Fuck! My eye twitches. Hook. Line. And sinker. An ache forms in my chest as she hits every point of my worries in the head. She raises her brow, reaching for the handle until I grab her wrist.

“How much money are you offering to get us away from here?” I growl through gritted teeth.

She smiles at me like the snake she is, winding her tail around me and squeezing me until I give in to her every whim. “I have five thousand. It’s good enough to get you there, help you get established, and then once you win, you’ll have so much more than that. Plus, whatever you’ve been saving over the years.”

“Are you spying on us, Gloria? And how do you know what the prize is?” I ask, raising a brow.

“You should be more careful with your internet searches,” she says with a cluck of her tongue. “Just think it over. Watch the girl. See how easily she gets what she wants. Central girls are all the same,” she says with a shake of her head.

“Like you?” I mutter when she walks out and shuts the door behind her.

Every pieceof fucking skin attached to my bones pulsates with my heartbeat, burning from the dark bruises dotting my body and face. Flashbacks from my night of terror overwhelm me as I lie awake in the early morning. Bright sunlight beams in from the fucked-up curtains I told Rad to secure the night before.

Clamping my aching eyes shut, I try to block out the horrors following my every step. The phantom feel of Bradley's fists driving into my face over and over again sends my heart pounding against my ribs. Oxygen seems to thin, evading my lungs. Warmth presses into each side of me, like most days and nights now, bringing me back from the brink of my waking nightmare.

Squished between Rad and Callum in my bed, their presence doesn't drive the memories of my attack any further away, but they help to keep me grounded here on earth. I would have sent them home the first night and suffered in silence if it wasn't for their insistence. And I'd rather suffer between their bodies thanbetween my cold sheets. Their presence keeps the monster in my mind at bay, but the memory of my attack will live forever.

Groaning, I try flipping to my other side. A giant hand wraps around my waist, holding me down. Even when he's snoring, Rad's handsy as hell and pulling me into him like I'm his precious possession. Next thing I know, he'll have his tongue down my throat while experiencing some sort of sex dream, and then… A flush of warmth spreads straight to my pussy at the thought. Shit. I need to get laid soon. They've each treated me like a little porcelain doll since I came home, and it's driving me bonkers. I may be broken, but I'm damn horny.

The tip of his nose drags across my neck, murmuring sleepy gibberish. The tone of his deep voice sounds so damn happy and raspy. His hands wander across my stomach, peeling up my sleep shirt and rubbing circles across my belly.Lower. Go lower,I mentally chant, feeling empty when his hand stills and a snore escapes him. From the moment I got home from the hospital, Rad’s been clingier than ever, following my every move and watching me every chance he gets.

“I’ll be okay,” I murmur, grimacing when I lie in my cold sheets for the first time since getting home. A headache forms in the back of my skull, pounding until I squeeze my eyes shut.

“It almost happened again. On my watch, Pretty Girl.” Deep anguish leaks into his low voice, and his eyes fill with tears. “I can’t ever let that happen again,” he mumbles, kissing my cheek and silently promising protection.

With major reluctance, I peel myself away from Rad and climb over Callum, missing their warmth. Silently, I giggle, forcing my hand over my mouth when they scoot together, filling the space. Rad's hand lands on Callum's hip, squeezing until Callum groans, wrinkling his nose. Rad's hand turns circles over Callum's hip until it freezes, and another snore fills the room.

I shake my head, running a hand over my forehead, and wince when the blinding pain hits me again, whitening my vision. It's been a whole week since the attack and five days since they let me out of the hospital. There, they determined my injuries weren't life-threatening, but they wanted to keep me on stronger pain meds through the IV. So, I sat with four vigilant guys, watching my every move.

“Go. Home,” I groan when Kieran lies in the hospital bed next to me. “I'm getting out tomorrow.”

Please let me breathe, you overbearing oaf.

“I'll stay the night, Pretty Girl. Your momma wanted hourly updates!” Rad chirps, sitting on the small couch next to Callum in my assigned hospital room, staring down at their phones. “Besides, Angel Warrior has a mobile app now. We have plenty to do. Die demon!” he hisses, smacking his phone screen with his thumb several times.

“I got 'em,” Callum murmurs, poking his tongue out in concentration. “Onto the pearly gates.”

“Hells yes, die, you dirty demons! We're headed to Heaven's light. Shit, look. Someone else is here, too.” Rad leans in further, squinting his eyes. “Looks like it's just you, me, and this SGW2100. Fighting the good fight. Yessss!” Rad cries out in victory, high-fiving Callum. “And high five to you, too, internet dude.”

I blow out a breath, blocking out their over-joyous celebration. “Didn't you hear what I said?” I groan, snuggling into Kieran more despite my protests of wanting to be left alone.