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“She was right last night, and we know it. We’re missing fucking pieces, and if my intuition is correct, they’re big ones. Face it, brother, all she’ll have to do is ask the right people and they’ll be dying to fill her in on what we do know. We can’t not be prepared for her to figure all this out before us, and if she does...” He trails off, looking to me with miserable eyes as he reaches out to capture my hand and squeezes. “Then we need her to battle it out.”
My eyes drop to the contact as unease fights its way in.
They’re standing here, talking like I’m not right beside them, worry and anger and flat out fucking uncertainty written in all their eyes.
My mind races.
These boys, they’re all about protecting their own, and outside everyone in this room – their dad doesn’t count – there’s only one other person I’m aware of who would evoke this type of reaction from them.
My stare snaps up to Cap’s and my teeth clench. He said his world.
Zoey.
The lines on Cap’s forehead become more pronounced, his grip grows subtly tighter and I know he knows.
Maddoc’s harsh exhale and Royce’s whispered “fuck” tells me they do too.
“Is she in danger?” I ask, anger vibrating through every bone in my body. “Tell me now.”
Cap starts to shake his head but hesitates a moment, then continues.
“Say it, Captain. Stand here and tell me she’s safe.”
“She’s safe, I swear it.”
The way his words trail at the end has my frown intensifying. “But she’s at risk?”
His eyes fall, unable to meet mine, his tone sure and steady as he says, “She will never be at risk, Raven. Ever.”
I nod, some of the strain in my body easing, but it only grows tighter when Royce then adds, “That’s sort of the problem.”
My eyes slide to his. “How?”
“We can’t allow her to ever be in danger, we have to protect her.”
“As you should.”
“At all costs,” Royce rasps, moving his stare to Maddoc’s.
Mine follows.
Pure anger lines his face, sharpening his already sharp edges, hardening his already hard eyes.
A soldier’s strength in a king’s body.
Maddoc’s eyes laser in on mine.
The cost?Cap’s hand leaves hers the second my body moves forward.
She stands taller, her game face slipping into place, but that shit won’t work right now.
I’m in her space in one step, but before a single word leaves my mouth, three fly from hers.
“I love you.”
I freeze, my pulse drumming harder in an instant.
She cautiously lifts her fingers, trailing them across the ticking vein in my jaw. “I love you, Big Man. I don’t know why,” she says as if she’s honestly confused.
The corner of my mouth tips up and my brothers’ low chuckles come from behind me.
“But I do,” she continues with a shrug. “You can ask or demand I stay a sitting duck, but I won’t even pretend to listen. I wanna puke right now at nothing but the thought of something – or someone – trying to take you from me. You, Maddoc, whatever your middle name is, Brayshaw” —another round of chuckles— “are mine. The only person allowed to take you from me is me.”
At her words, my chest caves with the pressure of the fucking world.
She has no clue, but that’s exactly what it would be, if she found out.
Fuck, who am I kidding, when she finds out.
She’ll take herself from me, to save my family the way she thinks we need saving, to protect my niece.
Would I let her or betray my brother instead?
Neither option is a fucking option.
I’d never turn my back on my brothers, and I’ll never let them have her.
My head starts to pound as I look at her. My dad said Ravina had to accept the marriage, so Raven will have to do the same. She will when she finds out it’s her or Zoey.
She’d do anything for us.
So damn selfless. So fucking strong. So mine.
For now?
As if reading my thoughts, her features pull, so I quickly wrap my arm around her waist and tug her closer. I run my lips across hers, but she’s feelin’ vexed, and bites mine.
“You could try to take yourself from me, but I’ll tell you right now it won’t fucking work.” I shift to squeeze her hips. “And I love you too, baby.”
“Yeah, almost as much as I do,” Royce throws over my shoulder and a laugh bubbles out of her, her eyes shifting to the ceiling before she steps back.
She studies the three of us, but before anything else can be said, the front door opens and closes, and our dad’s voice echoes up the stairs.
“Boys, Raven. I need a few minutes of your time before school!”
Raven’s frown is instant, and my brothers look to me.
With a curt nod, Royce turns and leads us out, but Raven grabs my wrist, keeping me back.
