AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My father chuckled, wiping his eyes when he pulled back. “Yes, but I don’t even knowwhereyou’re going.”
Gianni leaned over my shoulder, arms wrapping around my waist as he dragged me against his chest. “Don’t worry. I’m sending you a plane ticket for Christmas. You can all come enjoy a little vacation.” My father’s eyes widened and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Tia hugged my leg, looking up at me. “See you soon, Uncle Rhys!” She had turned into a loveable ball of joy without her overbearing mother around and I couldn’t help but wonderwhat else would have changed if we hadn’t been subjected to the family we were stuck with.
I hadn’t spoken to Ada or Liam, although they had both sent a collect call to my phone. I had shut down that avenue real quick, unwilling to have anything to do with them.There was no reason to dredge up bad memories.
Deciding not to focus on that, I dragged my mother into one last hug, waving as the speaker called for us to start boarding. It was a bittersweet goodbye but I couldn’t wait to be far away from the nightmares that rested here.
With my house sold, college taken care of, and whatever we wanted to happen at our feet, I couldn’t be happier. It helped when Gianni threaded his fingers through mine and Dmitri slung an arm over my shoulder. I stared at Paval giggling as he sat on Valentyn’s shoulders, playing with his dad’s hair. My gaze dropped to the ring on my finger. This was our forever.
That had been three months ago and domestic life suited my men. I hadn’t seen Paval so fucking happy in the time that I knew him as he played in the sand with one of our neighbors and the nanny that Valentyn had finally hired after much prodding. I had fought against the idea too until I found that Dmitri and Gianni were constantly trying to bend me over somewhere – not that I was complaining – but that 5-year-old didnotneed to see that.
Watching Paval a few feet away, I rested against Dmitri’s chest on our little perch in the sand, complimented by a dark umbrella to keep the sun away. Valentyn and Gianni had disappeared for ‘business’ reasons, which I knew was code for doing things they promised we were done with. I knew they couldn't give up everything at the drop of a hat; these men needed a little bit of action. However, I was grateful they weren’t currently running full jobs for the sake of my sanity.
My anxiety had waned as we spent more time together, waking up next to one or all of my men, soothing my worries over time. The nightmares disappeared as well as that nasty voice in my head Owen had instilled while we were together.
Now, I was just here, with my men, withourson, and only happiness on the horizon.
Mostly.
Dmitri wrapped his arms around my waist a little tighter, his lips finding the side of my neck. I squirmed in his hold, hating how little it took me to get hot for them.
“Do you miss it? All the action?” I asked Dmitri. He and Valentyn had had the worst of it. Valentyn now had a permanent limp. There had been more than once when Dmitri had to sit him down so that Valentyn wouldn’t pass out. Dmitri had healed well but I still found him staring at his wound every now and then with a dark expression on his face.
Dmitri shook his head. “Not really. Sure, the adrenaline was a rush but the running, having to look over our shoulders, constantly moving Paval around? I don’t miss any of that shit.” He kissed my cheek and drew me closer. I didn’t have to see his face to hear the unspoken words. He didn’t miss the countless times I drew into myself because of the horrors of what that life threw at me.
Gianni appeared at my side, “Do you miss math?”
I wondered how long he had been listening in, watching as Valentyn moved toward Paval to help with his sandcastle. They both looked refreshed so whatever they had been up to seemed to have been enough to weather their need for action. I turned my attention back to Gianni. “Sometimes.” I hated saying it but numbers had been my entire life. I threw everything into it and in the end, I had nothing to show for it.
To stay hidden, we couldn’t assume our regular lives. I spent most of my days working at the café just to sort out my boredom– not because we needed money – but because I missed the intricacies that that life brought. My eyes dipped to the rings on my finger, a smile tugging at my lips at the memory of the informal ceremony.
“We’re getting married. Right now. I can’t wait any longer.”
My spoon was halfway to my mouth, Paval on my lap squealing about his scrambled eggs as I stared at Gianni. He’d been getting antsy lately with little to do, the upgrades to the house wonderful but unnecessary. Finding him covered in sawdust and soot had been enticing at first as I followed him to the showers but now, it was a little concerning. Valentyn found physical work to entertain himself but him and Gianni still disappeared every so often, coming back a few steps lighter. I decided not to task.
Dmitri seemed to fall into this life easiest, waltzing around in swim shorts, neglecting a shirt as often as he could. I think he knew what it did to me, purposefully sprawling out on the couch or beach when I was in view.
Still, the surprise from Gianni's mouth had me on edge – not because I didn’t want to get married – but because Gia’s spontaneity meant something was wrong.
“Gia?” Dmitri laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, squeezing to bring him back to the present.
Gianni sighed. “You don’t get it.” He looked at me. “You’re everything, Reeses. You are. But fuck, I wantallof you.” I blinked a few times, frowning, not understanding until he added, “None of us got married, Rhys. I’m selfish. I want three husbands.”
I snorted, realizing what the problem was, however, it was Paval who scrambled off my lap and returned with the present I’d been hiding for the past several weeks. We were in different states of pajamas and swimwear but we were together and that’s all that mattered. Paval jumped back into my lap and Iset him on the table, my men wondering what was going on until our kid unearthed four rings.
They were varying shades of metallic rainbow, Paval trying to contain his excitement as he looked at me. I nodded.
“Okay, you’re all my daddies but now you guys get to be each others’, too.”
I had helped him find the right words and watching him lean forward with a ring for Valentyn warmed my heart. Valentyn smirked at the hidden innuendo in Paval’s words as he stuck out his hand, Paval sliding on the ring. Paval looked at the rest of us, “You have to say it! I do! You have to say it!”
We murmured ‘I do’, Paval repeating the same step with each of us until he got to me. He knelt in front of me and slid the second ring onto my finger, smiling. “I love that my daddies found you, Reeses. You make them smile. And you love me.”
He wrapped his tiny arms around my neck, my men trying not to show their emotions but as far as ceremonies went, in my mind, this was the most precious one I had ever been a part of. The nanny had been given permission to feed Paval all the sweets he craved that day while we fucked each other into oblivion.
“We’re not going anywhere, Rhys,” Dmitri murmured against my ear.
I knew that now, smiling as Gianni leaned forward to kiss me. I slid my hand up to cup his cheek, dragging him a little closer. Dmitri resumed his attention on my neck, his hand sliding down to massage me through my swim trunks. He was growing hard against my ass as my hands roamed Gianni’s bare chest. A whimper slipped from my lips as my hips jerked in Dmitri’s hold, Valentyn’s dark voice carrying to our indecent embrace.
“Seems like that’s code for time to go.”
Oh, I wasn’t complaining.
