Page 180 of Top Shelf

“I’m sorry,” I tell them again, pulling Silas in for a hug since he’s the closest. “I didn’t mean to worry you,” I say against his ear, holding on to him for as long as I can until Lucian practically rips me away.

“I—” Anything I was going to say is silenced as his mouth covers mine. His tongue invades my mouth, and I instantly melt against him. My hand slides through the fine hairs at the back of his neck as he deepens the kiss. My toes curl, and I could easily lose myself in him. Except…

Reluctantly breaking away, I move toward Ronan.

Sitting on the bed, he watches me approach.

Placing my hands on his shoulders, I place one knee on the bed beside his hips. Then the other. I straddle him, entwining my hands behind his neck.

Only then does he move, his hands coming to land on my waist. His eyes search mine.

“I promise, next time I’ll wake one of you or leave a note,” I swear to him.

That seems to be what finally undoes him. The air leaves his lungs in a rush, his hands moving to pull me flush against him as his lips descend on mine. I can taste the relief in his kiss.

All I want to do is get lost in these men. Inmymen. But there is one thing I need to do first.

Breaking away, I plant my hand on Ronan’s chest. I stare him in the eyes before pushing myself off him. I fall onto the bed beside him and look at the other two as I declare, “I know what I want to do.”

The room goes still.

Silas comes to sit on my left, while Lucian moves to stand in front of me. His arms are crossed over his chest like he needs the distance to protect himself from what I’m going to say.

Drawing in a breath, I hold Lucian’s gaze as I tell them, “I’ve given this a lot of consideration. I’ve made an appointment to speak to a police officer later today, but realistically, we all know there will be no justice. It was too long ago, and it is Isaac’s word against mine.”

“So he just gets away with it?” Lucian spits, pacing back and forth in front of the bed.

“No.” All three of them turn to look at me. At the conviction in my voice. “Isaac willneverplay professional hockey. His NHL contract is being shredded as we speak, and my father is reaching out to every team owner he knows.” I look each of them in the eye. “That, plus the accusation alone whenever I report him, is enough to ensure his career is dead in the water.”

“Holy shit, you got him blacklisted?” Lucian gapes at me, wide-eyed.

You spoke to your dad?Silas writes.

“I did. He has the power to achieve what I’m not yet able to, but one day I will, because men like Isaac don’t deserve to have their dreams become reality. They don’t deserve a pass because they have a unique skillset.”

Silas’s lips quirk upward, and pride glints from his blue depths.

Does this mean you’ve finally accepted your role to take over the Serpents?

Iflash him a grin. “Acceptis maybe a little too strong, but I’m ready to embrace my future with the Serpents. However, I want to start at the bottom and work my way up. Learn the ropes and have experience with every aspect of running a team before deciding whether or not I want toownit.”

“So, wait,” Lucian cuts across, sounding confused. “That’s it?” When I give him my attention, his nostrils flare. “He doesn’t even remember what he did to you!”

“Lucian—” Pushing to my feet, I close the distance between us. My hand presses against his abdomen.

“No!” he growls, running his hand through his hair and making it stick up on end. “He deserves more! He deserves pain! He deserves to suffer the way you have!”

“You’re right,” I tell him, my calm voice at odds with the tension rolling off him. “He deserves all of that.” I search his eyes for understanding. “But I don’t.”

Finally, his gaze softens.

“He deserves pain and suffering, and so much more,” I continue. “But I deserve happiness and love.” Reaching down, I grab his hands in mine. “And I already have that, right here in this room. But I can’t be happy while still stuck in the past. I need to let it go. I don’t want any more of my life to be about that night.” I scour his face. “Can you understand that?”

He studies every inch of my features before his eyes close. His hands move to cup my face, his forehead lowering to mine. “Of course I do, Little Moth.”

“And will this be enough for you?” Ronan asks. “Having him blacklisted?”

“‘Cause I’m more than happy to relieve him of a kidney if it’s not,” Lucian grumbles. He almost sounds as though he’s pouting, and it makes me smile.