“Will all of you stay here?” she asks.
“Yes.” Her expression smooths out.
“Good,” she sighs. “I know he needs closure, but I don’t want anything to happen to him. To any of you.”
“I know. Once the plan is in place, we'll have to. I can’t let him go alone. We're brothers, and he’s been through enough. We need to be there with him.” She looks away, and I brush my knuckle under her chin, urging her to meet my gaze. “All of us will be a team. I will always be honest. I'll have someone here with you when we go, and won’t leave you unprotected. The house is secure, and I'll give you the codes to the doors. The windows are bulletproof and one-way glass. This is the safest place for you to be. If we brought you with us, we would be worrying about you instead of the fight we will face. Frank will bring his pack. There will be others in the family who will help us.” I caress her thigh, my fingers skating under the fabric. “Since you're sitting on my lap, talking about the future, have you decided to stay with us?”
“I don’t want to leave.” She shakes her head. “You haven’t changed your mind, right?”
“We will never leave you. Our choice has been made. We are trying to be patient with you.” I tilt my head. “Do you still have concerns? Questions? Anything holding you back?”
“I’ve had a hard time accepting that there won’t be any jealousy,” she says, looking down.
“Look at me,” I demand, and her head snaps up. “I know you have been with Lawson and Bane.” She bites her lip. “I waited in the house so you would have time with Bane. It made me happy that Law opened up to you. They are my life, and now so are you. When I can’t be with you, I know my three brothers can give you everything you need. I understand from a human's point of view, it’s odd. It will take time, but when you are changed, you will never doubt again.”
“Why?”
“Once we are bonded, you will be able to read our minds. Our emotions will merge, and you will know the depth of our feelings. Are you scared of the transition?”
“Not as much. Breeane helped ease my fears.” She rolls her lips.
“What?” There is something she doesn’t want to ask.
“I don’t know…” She traces the edge of my tattoo.
“Princess, ask,” I say firmly.
“I called Bane Daddy,” she says quickly.
“And?”
“It felt right.”
“Good. Only do things that feel right,” I say softly.
“You seem like a Daddy, too.” She glances up. “You make me feel cherished, but you have this demanding, take charge attitude.”
“You’re right. It would please me greatly if you called me that.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “Never be afraid to talk to me about anything. What we do privately is no one's fucking business. I would never force you to use that word. I love hearing it, but it’s not a must. My relationship with you will be different than my brothers. Yes, Bane enjoys being called Daddy, but we aren’t the same in every way. Ultimately, it will be your choice to give us your body in any way. Do you like it? Do our demands turn you on?”
“I never thought it would.”
“But it does?”
“Yes, very much,” she breathes.
“That’s all that matters.” Her face is flushed, and I grin. “Do you want to complete the bond?” Her pulse skips, and I touch the beat in her neck.
“I do. I can’t leave you,” she rasps.
“Good. We will wait until everything with Lawson is settled. We don’t want you to be in a vulnerable state when Frank comes. The transition is unpredictable. It could take hours or days. During that time, we won’t leave your side,” I rumble.
“I believe you would never leave me,” she says, pressing her hand flat.
“I’m honored by your trust.”
“You take care of everyone. I’ve noticed how calm you remain. You are the glue that holds your brothers together.”
“We have fought our whole lives for each other,” I say.
