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“No, baby,” Liam told her. “Nico has it right. We’re the lucky ones. We don’t deserve someone as sweet and lovely as you.”
“Damn right you don’t,” Regent said. “And you won’t be having her either.”
“It’s my choice,” Lottie said in a quiet voice.
Regent stood up straight, staring at his sister as though he’d been slapped. “You don’t know what you’re saying, darling. This has been too much. You need to go to bed, rest. Things will look different in the morning. Victor will take you up.”
“You don’t need to talk to her like that,” Nico said hotly. “She’s not a child. She doesn’t need you to make decisions for her.”
“She’s been through a traumatic experience, she needs support not the two of you to try and debase her.”
“Jesus,” Liam muttered. “Just what do you think we’ve been doing?”
“I wouldn’t know, since you’ve hidden it from me.”
“Put me down, Liam. Please.”
He set her down reluctantly. Letting her go wasn’t something he wanted to do. But she didn’t move away from him, just turned around to look at Regent.
“Please don’t be mad, Reggie. Please.”
Liam stiffened. If that bastard said that he was upset with her . . .
But Regent’s face softened in the face of his sister’s pleas. “I’m not mad at you. You know I could never be upset with you. I promise.”
“Don’t be upset with them either, Regent. We didn’t set out to . . . to deceive you. It’s just we figured you’d make them leave.”
Which Liam knew was exactly what Regent wanted to do. Although he’d likely have them leave in a body bag.
“Lottie, why don’t you go with Victor,” Regent said. “He’ll put you to bed.”
She leaned against Liam tiredly and he wrapped an arm around her. She held onto Nico’s hand.
“Reggie, I love you. But Nico’s right. I’m not a child. I needed . . . I needed to be coddled when I first came home. Needed it for longer than was probably healthy. But if I want to have a life then I have to be brave. I have to push the boundaries. I’m drowning. Every day, a bit more, I can feel myself drowning.”
“You just need some more therapy, that’s all.” His face was filled with a plea that Liam felt in his gut.
“I hurt myself again,” she whispered.
Regent froze. “What? When? Because of this thing with them?”
“No! Regent, they’re not the bad guys in this.”
“Are we?” Victor rumbled, watching them all intently.
“What? No! Of course not. I hurt myself because I was getting so frustrated because I couldn’t just do things. Things that are normal like going to West’s wedding! Like managing to take my nephew to the hospital without having a freaking panic attack.”
“You hurt yourself after that?” Regent’s eyes widened and he looked her over. “Where? How?”
“I didn’t that night because . . . because Nico and Liam found me. They helped me.”
“You should have come to me,” Regent said to Liam.
“You’re right,” Liam agreed. “I should have. Lottie and Nico wanted me to. But I didn’t think you’d be reasonable. And I’m not giving her up. No matter what you threaten.”
“You’ll have to give her up if you’re dead.”
“Regent, no! Don’t you get it? You can’t hurt them.”
