“Imagining you living with her is painful. I wished I could have rescued you,” he says.
“Like you wished you could rescue Lawson? Haven? Bane?” I lean against the rail, facing him. “You are not the sole person responsible for all the bad shit that happened to us. I felt guilt for not being there for any of you when you needed it, but I couldn’t have been. You take on everyone’s trauma. Don’t you have enough of your own?”
“I do,” he mumbles, bowing his head. “I felt powerless.” He meets my eyes. “So, now I do everything I can to never feel that way again. I try to stay in control at all times.”
“Love is all about losing control,” I hum.
“Yes, but for some reason,” he shakes his head, “it’s easy with her.”
“Because it’s meant to be.” I smile slightly. “You can need her, and us. It doesn’t make you weak.”
“I know. I do. I need you, too.” He rubs his jaw. “It doesn’t make sense, but I was angry at you and Lawson. You left me. I realize we didn’t have control over the adults' actions, yet it stung. I wanted you to fight harder to stay with me. We couldn’t, though. I’ve never felt so insignificant as I did when they took you away. I felt a rage a child should never feel. I think that rage has pushed me every year since, until we found you.”
“It’s time to let it go.” I move forward, stopping in front of him. “We made it. All the shit we went through made us the men who can love Haven as if every day is our last. She deserves our love, and to give her the family none of us ever had.”
“I know. I will,” he says gruffly. “I’ll work on it.”
I smile. “You can do anything, Big Brother.” I cup his shoulder, leaning close. “I love you.”
“I love you,” he says, pounding his fist on my back. “What matters is now.”
“Yeah.” We separate, and I roll my shoulders. “All the cars are leaving. Are you ready to claim our mate?”
“Very,” he rumbles.
“Do you want us to give you time with her, alone?” I ask.
“I’m not afraid to speak in front of you,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“That’s right,” I chuckle, as he steps on the path. “Big Brother isn’t afraid of anything.” I push his shoulder as I pass him. He growls, and I jog to the door.
“Remy,” he says, amusement in his voice he can’t hide.
I’m still smiling as I walk down the hallway and come to a stop in the kitchen. Haven is doing the dishes, and Lawson is wiping the counter. The scent in the room is strong with chemicals. Bane is leaning against the counter, his attention on Haven. He looks at Hunter when he enters behind me, and they share a nod. Hunter moves to the front door and enters the code, making sure the house is secure. At first, when they found me, I was jealous of the way they spoke without needing words. Knowing what they went through together, it’s not surprising, and it doesn’t mean they love me or Lawson any less.
Haven laughs at something Law said, and doesn’t see Bane coming. She squeals as he lifts her and throws her over his shoulder.
“Bane,” she gasps.
“Time, huh?” Law asks, grinning.
“Guys,” Haven laughs, pushing against Bane’s back.
“Go with it, Princess,” Hunter says, moving toward her. We follow Bane as he carries her up the stairs.
“Time?” she asks, looking at us through the curtain of her hair.
“Yeah,” Hunter rumbles, and an awareness moves over her features.
“Okay,” she mumbles.
Bane reaches the top of the stairs and doesn’t stop until he’s in her bedroom. He eases her from his shoulder and places her on the edge of the bed. She brushes her hair away, her eyes locked on his face. His chest rises, and he clenches his hands. I move to the headboard and lean against the canopy. This is the time for Bane and Hunter. I want them to be her focus. Lawson moves to the left, opposite me, and leans against the wall.
“Do you want to be with us?” Bane rumbles.
“Yes,” she says softly.
“Are you ready to be our mate?” he continues.
