Page 83 of Tangled Lies

“Let her go, Talon. You never hug any of us like that.”

I caught a glimpse of Knox behind me and noticed a change to how he stood. Gone was the rigid, angry prick.

Talon whispered in my ear. “Go hug the grinch, his feelings are hurt.”

He released me, but his hands still trailed down my arms as I stood up. I looked back, unsure, but I nodded and took another step forward.

One deep breath later, and without a second thought I reached out and wrapped my arms around Knox’s trunk of a torso. My head came up to almost his chin, giving me the perfect feel of all that muscle. He was the tallest of the four of them, and that said a lot since they were all at least six feet tall.

“What the hell is she doing, Talon?”

I tried to wiggle against him to get him to wrap his arms around me.

“It’s called a Margaux hug, big guy. Pretty good, am I right? You gotta embrace her, otherwise shits going to be awkward in the house.”

He still hadn’t hugged me, and I almost gave up, but then his arms wrapped around me like a big protective cocoon.

His scent was just as calming as the others. He was different, just as they all were, but there was something about him that just hit right.

A nurse walked into the still dimly lit room.

“Oh good, Mr. Salvo, you’re awake.”

Knox wasn’t letting me go, and the nurse wasn’t saying anything. I couldn’t see everything, but it was clear she was checking his vitals.

“Alright, he has a strong pulse. If you feel any pain, hit the call button or send your family out to get me. Try to get some more sleep tonight.”

The nurse left with the click of the door. Alone again, just the three of us.

“Margaux, I was really out of it yesterday. I dreamed you kissed me, but I can’t remember what it felt like. What if my lips were affected by the injury?” Talon said.

I tried to pull away from Knox, but his arms just held me tighter.

“Knox, let me go. Talon needs me.”

I pushed against his chest, and he grabbed my wrists with his hands and held them behind my back.

“He’s playing with you, Margaux. He’ll be fine,” Knox said, his face getting closer to mine.

“I’m not stupid, Knox. But he’s the one that’s hurt.”

Knox looked back at the bed and then, with a deep breath, he let me go.

“Fine. Go to my fragile little flower of a brother.”

Knox let me go and stepped away, letting me turn back to Talon. I hesitated. Something about Knox’s reluctance was strange, like maybe he did have feelings.

Talon’s arms were outstretched, ready for me to jump into them.

“You two aren’t actually brothers, right? None of you, and I mean the four of you, look like siblings.”

I walked into the hug while I waited for an answer. I don’t think it would change my mind, but it would be good to understand what this was. What I was doing.

“No. We’re all part of the family tree though. Some of us are products of aunts, others cousins, and Ronan was a Barone affair.”

Talon yawned while I laid on his chest, careful to keep some of my weight off of him. It was calming to listen to him breathe in and out. I liked the way his heart beat in a steady rhythm. It was nice to think that I was helping keep him calm. It was nice to be needed and wanted.

I remained in Talon’s arms while he ran his fingers through my hair until he stopped and his arms loosened.