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“Break it up, lovebirds,” Creed mumbles, making his way down the last of the stairs. “You can suck face with your demon queen later.”
A few years ago, I’d have taken offense at the nickname. Now, I absolutely love it and find it fitting. Gunner brings out a harder side of me and never makes me feel bad about the dark thoughts I have. Instead, he finds ways to soothe the thoughts and give me new outlets for them without a lick of judgment.
Gunner thrusts his tongue into my mouth, deepening our kiss before picking me up and carrying me out the door. I guess he thought, since Creed was in such a hurry, he’d get us moving while still giving both of us exactly what we wanted. I moaned with his steps, his pelvis grinding against my aching center. I knew I was soaked. There was no denying what my boys did to me.
“Oh come on!” Creed groaned from somewhere beside me.
“You asked for this,” Sebastian said through a chuckle in front of us. “Gunner, stop tongue fucking our girl. You made your point.”
With one final kiss, Gunner broke us apart and smiled. “Any dark thoughts today?” His eyes darken as he watches me. All the boys know I have issues with my mental health sometimes. Two years ago, I tried to kill myself when things got to be too much. Gunner was the one who found me with my wrists slit as I sat on my bathroom floor watching them bleed. The sight had terrified him, and he made it his mission to find me different outlets that didn’t involve hurting myself. It’s how I got into computer coding. It’s also how I learned to fight.
“Not today. I promised I would tell you,” I said, giving him a tight smile, hating talking about it. I didn’t like that I was weak. I especially didn’t like it when my boys saw me that way, even if they never mentioned it.
“Good girl,” he said with a kiss on my forehead, keeping me in his arms as we walked out the door.
Knowing the conversation is done, I wrap my arms around his shoulder and rest my head against the spot between his neck and shoulder, letting Gunner carry me to the car. I had no issues letting my boys take care of me like this. It’s why Sebastian likes to call me Princess. I always preferred to let them carry me places than walk myself.[1]
If this was what our life was going to be like in the future, then I knew I never wanted anything more. As long as I had them in my life, everything would be perfect between all of us. Damned Embers would be forever.
Chapter One
~ Present:5Years Later
The email came in thirty minutes ago, and I haven’t stopped staring at it since. I was frozen in my seat, terror filling my every nerve cell. My worst nightmare was coming back to life, and I didn’t think that was possible. I ran. I gave them exactly what they wanted, leaving the men I love behind. It was supposed to keep them safe. Creed, Gunner, and Sebastian were supposed to be safe from this hell. Now their lives are at risk, and I know my only option is to return—to a place I swore I would never go again.
When I left, I broke them. I broke every part of them. The headlines went wild with theories on why I left the band with no statement. I just up and disappeared. Skylar Mason was dead. I reinvented myself and just became Sky, no last name. Trevor and his company, Rockport Security, were just getting off the ground, and they were looking for someone good with computers. It was the perfect opportunity for me to hide. During my interview, I told them the truth, all of it: who I was, why I ran, and why I needed a place to hide. Knox, Steel, and Trevor immediately offered me the position and told me I would be safe with them. Through me, they agreed to pick up the security detail for Damned Ember, giving me a chance to still keep an eye on my men, but I never once had to see them in person. From the start, they treated me like family, and I guess, eventually, we sort of became one in some ways. Never did they question anything I did, and they relied on me more than others.
When I was hired, Trevor told me a large reason he created the company was to find his high school sweetheart and take down her vile father and his businesses. When I started doing research into the Delcoure family, I knew immediately that Trevor was right for what he wanted to do. I never would have imagined the sick shit Robert Delcoure had gotten into, but I guess there always have to be some sick individuals in this world, or we wouldn’t have jobs. When Emma got kidnapped by her father a week ago, Trevor nearly lost his mind–actually, he did lose his mind. I can't imagine the fear he went through in that situation. It was scary for all of us. A part of me is sorry that Robert was killed by Trevor's hand, but I’m more than happy everything worked out in the end. Now, Trevor, Emma, and their daughter, Alexis, can start building a happy life for themselves.
While I am extremely happy for the three of them, thrilled they are getting their happy ending, I just wish it was something I could have as well, but it’s something I don’t think is going to be possible for me. My men will never forgive me. Even if I told them the reasons I did what I did, it wouldn’t be enough for them. We promised in high school to always be together, to tell each other everything always. I broke that. The trust will never be there again. A small sliver of me hopes my men can forgive me the way Emma forgave Trevor, but my life has never had luck like that. I’m five years too late.
“Sky,” Knox calls out, knocking on the door to my office. Looking up, I see the man in front of me, always so well put together. Knox stands before me, his short black hair gelled some today; it looks pretty good on him. He was wearing a three-piece, grey suit that stood in contrast to his dark hair. He must have had an important meeting today if he was dressed up instead of, at least, not wearing his suit jacket around the office.
“You can come in,” I answer, shaking myself mentally from the news headline. I’m going to have to talk to my bosses about it soon; I know that. Putting it off won’t help save me or Damned Embers.
“We need to talk, Sky,” his voice sounding serious, like he means business, as he moves to take a seat in front of my desk. “I know about two weeks ago Trevor came and told you that you were needed on the bad security detail. Everything sort of blew up, and we delayed that, but it’s impossible now. That attack…”
“Stop,” I say, cutting him off, not needing to hear the rest. He’s right. Things with Trevor and Emma took precedence over me joining the security detail for my men. It’s partially my fault for this attack; Knox may not have put that together yet, but it’s the truth. “I know. I saw the headline. I was just reading it. This isn’t going to go over well.”
“We don’t have a choice, Sky,” he says with a sigh. “I know how hard this is going to be on you.”
“You really don’t, Knox. No offense, but this is my worst nightmare. I ran from the three of them five years ago to keep them safe. I was nineteen, and now I’m going back to hell. The person…,” I choke up, unable to repeat the event from so many years ago.
“Don’t say it, Sky,” he growls, hating what happened to me. It’s something no one should ever have to go through. “You won’t be going alone. You’ll have our other team members there, and I’m going to let you choose someone from our home office to go with you. You will be protected, Sky. No one, and I meanno one, will touch you.”
Knox had been extremely protective of me since my first day here. I know the story of what happened to his sister, and he hates that he couldn’t protect her. Finding out what I went through made him angry as well. He isn’t happy that I have to go back there. Ever since the request came in, Knox has had a chip on his shoulder over it. I know there is nothing I can say or do that will make it better, but we have two things going for us now. I have a great team of people behind me that would help me and keep me safe. I’m also not the same scared nineteen-year-old girl who had run. I am stronger now.
“What if you come?” I know asking is a long shot. He can’t be the one to come with me, but it would make me feel better if it was him. Knox is like a big brother to me. He’d make sure I wouldn’t be used again.
“I can’t. Too much to do here,” he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Plus if I came, I would probably punch your men in the face for being so stupid, and then I would kill the bastard who hurt you. I can’t be there and walk away without being arrested.”
His words make me laugh. “You’re not wrong there. I know you’d tell the guys off at the very least.” I pause thinking about who would be the next person to take. I could ask for Steel, but he is probably needed here. The mess left behind by Robert Delcoure’s death is going to take everyone. Knox knows there are very few people that I trust. No one else knows the story behind what brought me here. “Who would you recommend coming with me?”
I trust his opinion on who he would trust to keep me safe and help me. Whoever it is will have to be briefed on exactly what we are dealing with. I would prefer it if it was another female, but we only have a couple of them in our local office, and I haven’t gotten to know them well yet. Knox, Steel, and Trevor have done well limiting my interaction with others unless it’s something I seek out myself, which is rare.
“Do you want male or female?” Knox queries. “...Nevermind I know that answer. There are two people I would trust going with you. Rome has proven himself trustworthy and was there when Trevor went through that hell. He would keep you safe. The only other option is Valentina. She recently joined our company; you did the background check on her yourself. You know how impressive she is. Hell, take both. I’d rather you be safe and protected.”
“Are you sure?” I hesitate. It doesn’t feel right to take two people away from this office to go with me.I’m not that important. One would be just fine. I hope.
