Page 5

“Mhmm,” I groan as I tense up when Calder goes over a particularly tender spot on my lower back.

Julian gently rubs the salve into my inner thigh, dangerously close to my pussy.

He is being so careful, and I appreciate it more than I know how to express.

I would love for this man to touch my pussy, but not like this.

Not tonight, after everything I’ve been through.

“Okay. Sit up here, and we can help you with your shirt,” Julian says.

They keep me concealed with the sheet until I can sit up and hold it. “Fuck, I don’t want to put a bra on,” I sigh.

“Then don’t. You’re going to the truck anyhow,” Julian says, putting my shirt over my head. He carefully puts my arms through before pulling me off the table to stand. Next, he and Calder help me back into my leggings, and I am finally clothed again.

“I’ll drive your car. You ride with Julian,” Calder says. “Have you eaten?”

“No. I’m not very hungry, though. I just want to sleep,” I admit.

“Okay. Let’s get you to bed then,” Julian says with a soft smile.

“Thank you, guys. I know I’ve been…. Stupid. I should have listened…”

“Stop,” Julian says. “You are not stupid. You were abused and manipulated. You’re safe now, so we can work on helping you heal. Okay?”

“I just don’t want to impose on your bachelor life,” I say, and Calder laughs.

“You are not imposing,” Julian says with a smile. I nod and just accept this for what it is.

Julian and Calder walk me out to Julian’s truck before I hand my keys over to Calder.

Not even five minutes into the drive, I fall asleep.

Next thing I know, Calder is standing at my door.

He gently wakes me before helping me inside.

I’ve been here before, but coming here like this is different. They are different this time.

They take me upstairs and down to the end of the hall, carrying all of my belongings. I tried to grab a few things, but they weren’t having it.

“There is an empty shelf in the bathroom closet you can take over. Towels are also in there. We can show you the rest of the house tomorrow, but you should get some rest,” Julian says.

“Any house rules I should know? Expiration dates for my stay? Rent price?” I ask.

“You can stay as long as you’d like, and if you try to pay us, we will just use that money to buy you something. House rules…. Uhm… Don’t set the place on fire,” Julian says.

“Or do. Insurance payout would be nice,” Calder says with a shrug.

“I’ll get my shit in order soon. I’ll actually be able to have my paycheck now, so I’ll start saving, and I can get out of y’all’s hair,” I say. “Why didn’t you want me in the pool house, though?”

“Because we’d feel better having you close. He is volatile. He thought you were sleeping with us, so I don’t really want to find out what he would do if he knew you were living here,” Calder says.

“Probably pull the trigger,” I say, and Julian sigh. “Thank you. I feel out of my element, and I think I am more traumatized than I thought, but I feel safe. This means a lot.”

“We’ve known you for six years, Liza. You mean a lot to us, and we want to take care of you,” Calder says. “Get some sleep. We will be down in the living room if you need anything. There isn’t much in the kitchen, but we can go shopping tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I yawn.

Julian gently hugs me, and I relax in his arms. “You’re going to be okay, kitten,” he says softly. “I promise.”

“I spent four years of my life with him. I tried so hard to be who he wanted me to be so I didn’t have to be alone,” I say quietly.

“You aren’t alone,” Julian says. “We will be here for as long as you want us around.”

“I really do appreciate this,” I say, pulling back to wipe the tears from my face. Calder hugs me next and kisses the top of my head. “Get some sleep. We will have the alarm on. All the windows and doors have sensors and locks, so you’ll be safe up here.”

“Okay,” I sigh. Julian pulls back the covers while I go to one of my bags and find panties and loose shorts. I stare at them, wondering how in the fuck I’ll do this, but Julian takes them from me.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Anytime, kitten. If you need anything at all, all you have to do is ask,” Julian says. I nod, and they get my leggings off before helping me put panties on. “Skip the shorts. You aren’t going to want anything touching those welts for a while.”

“Yeah,” I sigh.

“One of us will come up and change the bandage. Just rest for now. We can bring you anything you need,” Calder tells me as Julian helps me lie down. I groan as I settle into the bed but move to lie on my belly so I don’t have to move again.

“Thank you,” I mutter.

“You’re welcome, Liza. Get some sleep,” Julian says, shutting the light off. When they walk out of the room and shut the door, my phone lights up on the nightstand. I know it’s him, but I still pick it up.

Troy

We should talk.

I don’t want to talk. You hit me. There is nothing to talk about.

I shouldn’t have done that.

You shouldn’t have done anything you did to me, but you still did it. You literally cut me open, Troy. Just leave me alone. You told me to leave, so I’m gone. Have a good life.

Are you with them?

You are, aren’t you? I bet you’ve already let them fuck you.

Fucking whore.

Yes, I am at their house. No, I haven’t fucked anyone. They are my bosses and my friends. I am not a whore.

You went from my bed to theirs. You are a whore.

You told me to leave, so I left. I didn’t want to be homeless, so I am here until I find a place.

I’ve seen the way they look at you.

You should see the way they look at you.

Can we meet up tomorrow and talk? Please?

No.

Come on, baby. Four years. Did that mean nothing to you?

Nope.

Don’t be like that. Please, Eliza? I can’t sleep without you here. I don’t even want to be alive without you.

I don’t want to be alive with you, so… No. Have a good life and stop texting me.

Please don’t be like that. Just one conversation.

Please, Eliza…

I’ll think about it.