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“You can be as mad as you want with me, but you won’t put your hands on Aurelia.”
The three brothers glance between each other as Aurelia burrows against my chest. She starts to sob softly, and it breaks my fucking heart to see it. She’s already been through so much, too much for someone her age. She doesn’t deserve this shit from her brothers too.
“She’s not your toy,” Zeke growls.
“And I’ve not treated her as one. I love and respect Aurelia. I would never treat her like a commodity. I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’m not giving her up.”
“And I’m not giving him up either,” Aurelia says against my chest. “I don’t want to choose between you. I love you all. Please don’t make me.”
“You guys should leave,” Luke says. “Before things get messy.”
“No way in fuck am I letting him leave with her!” Kane snarls. “She’s our sister.”
“And she’s made her decision.” Bailey’s voice from behind them has everyone turning. She is standing with Elena and Sariah. “Zeke, your parents didn’t want us to marry. I would never have been their choice, but you made your own and look where we are now.” Her hand strays to her stomach. “We are about to have our own baby. Had you listened to them, this would never have happened. Your sister loves him. I can see it in her face. He might not be your choice, but Malone is hers. Why would you take this from your sister? She’s lived her whole life under your parents’ thumb. She finally has the chance to be happy with someone who loves her and you’re arguing about it?” Zeke’s redheaded wife turns to Kane. “You, of all people, know how it feels to have your choices stripped from you. You were forced into a marriage you did not choose. Even though you knew you would have the upper hand in that relationship, you must have had fear in the back of your mind that your entire married life would be a living hell. I know you love Elena, but that marriage could have gone very differently. You were lucky. You found your soul mate in her.”
Sariah places a hand on Luke’s arm. “Why would you deny your sister the chance of happiness?”
“I hate to tell you boys,” Bailey continues, “but only Aurelia can choose who she wants to be with.”
“I really do love him,” Aurelia says to her brothers. “For the first time in my life, I feel happy. Content. You don’t have to worry that he did something to force me. I was completely on board with everything we have done. He held me when I was having nightmares. He makes me breakfast every morning, just to make sure I eat. He hangs my towel on the rail in the bathroom to make sure it’s warm when I get out of the shower. Does this sound like a man who coerced me?”
I glance at the brothers, not sure if the moving statements of the women have made any difference. They still look ready to murder me.
Kane jabs a finger in my direction. “You’d better sleep with one eye open.”
He storms off, Elena arching a brow before she follows him. I kiss the top of Aurelia’s head, needing to be connected to her and to show her I’m still all in this.
Zeke shakes his head. “I trusted you.” He walks away, followed by Luke. Bailey remains with Sariah.
“Go now, before they change their minds. We’ll work on them.”
Aurelia pulls away from me, and I take her hand, walking her past the women.
“Thank you,” I say to them both.
“Don’t thank us yet,” Bailey says. “This is going to be a bumpy ride for all. Buckle up.”
I take Aurelia out to the car, wondering if we’re going to be stopped at any second, but the brothers don’t come for us. As soon as she’s in the car, I start the engine and glance in the rear-view mirror. She’s lying across the back seat, as she did on the way down here, but there are tears in her eyes.
“Love, don’t cry. Everything will be all right.”
“How? My brothers want to kill you, and I may have to sever ties with the only family I have left.”
I shake my head. “If you think for a second those three women are going to allow your brothers to push you away, then you’re out of your mind.”
I hit the accelerator and we get the hell out of there, because as much as I believe my words, I’m also aware of how riled up the Fraser brothers are right now, and I don’t want to test my theory.
