Page 29 of Unleashed By Eden

Underneath it, there’s a subtle tilt in the room, a shift, a piece sliding out of the way.

Liam has been orbiting Vi for the past two days. I don’t know if he was doing it on purpose or if his big-brother instincts are permanently on high alert, but he kept himself neatly between us, a walking reminder of every line I shouldn’t cross.

I love the guy. He’s my brother in every way that counts. He pulled me out of some dark places, and I would take a punch for him without blinking.

But him being here has also made every conversation with Vi that much harder.

Now, he’s on his way to the other side of the world, headed toward a hospital and a tiny human who’s about to rip his whole life open in the best possible way.

And I’m already thinking about the space he left behind. It makes me feel like shit that there’s a hint of relief wrapped up in the real happiness I have for him. All I want to do is close the distance between me and his sister, to finally finish a conversation we started years ago and never got right.

I screwed everything up with her. I ran when I should have stayed. It cost me more than I let myself admit for a long time.

But I’m not making that mistake again.

Chapter ten

Violet

Another show, another stadium losing its collective mind. Somehow, the guys keep finding a higher gear, ramping it up one level above the one I’m sure has to be the top.

I’ve spent the past three hours pressed up against the edge of the stage, camera glued to my face, catching sweat, light, and sound in frozen fragments. For the hundredth time in the last week, it blows me away how lucky I am that this is my job.

I’m flicking through the shots side-stage when Mika slings an arm around my shoulders, his bare skin slightly damp with sweat. He leans into my space like we’ve known each other for years, not just a couple of cities.

“Hey, Violet, you coming to the VIP room?” He grins.

“Sure, why not?” I tuck my camera close to my chest so it doesn’t bang into him as we head down the corridor.

“So, what did you get up to today?” he asks.

“Sentosa. Got some pretty epic shots of the water. You?”

“Universal Studios.” He looks pleased with himself.

I snort. “You couldn’t find something a little more culturally appropriate?”

“Nah,” he says without shame. “The Battlestar coaster with the vertical drop is wild.”

We turn the corner and push open the door to the VIP room, and two things hit me at once.

Tits. And perfume.

There are breasts everywhere, bouncing, pressed up against inked chests, spilling out of dresses, and the air is toxic with a lethal mix of flowers and vanilla that stings the back of my throat. What did they do, bathe in the shit? And how the hell did they get naked so fast? The guys walked offstage all of three minutes ago.

“Alriiiight,” Mika says under his breath, rubbing his hands together. “My type of party.”

I snort out a laugh. “You dog.”

“What?” He chuckles. “Once the camera turns off, I’m going to enjoy every second of this gig. I don’t mind sloppy seconds. In fact, sticking my dick into a warm, used snatch full of cum . . .” He rolls his eyes back, groaning quietly. “Amazing.”

“Ugh. Too much info, Mika,” I say, shoving his arm off my shoulder.

He wanders into the room, eyeing up the women, ready for his meal.

My eyes do what they always do. Find him. Carter is in his usual position at the center of the room, two naked women already draped across him, competing for space. It’s the same image that’s been looping in my head since my sixteenth birthday party. Even back then, he had a revolving door of options, unlimited access to pussy.

The only one he never wanted was mine.