AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey, Pen.” He gives me a tired smile, then meets me in a couple of strides, grabs my face and kisses me stupid. After a long indulgent kiss, I break free from his hold then grab his hand and lead him to the table where the others are waiting for us to join them. Xeno is making coffee, avoiding the angry glares from Dax and Zayn. When he’s poured five mugs and added some milk, he places them on the table with a bowl of sugar and a spoon then takes a seat at the head of the table.
“How was the bath?” he asks, looking at me with guarded eyes.
“Relaxing, thank you.” I reach for his hand, squeezing gently, trying to reassure him that I meant what I said earlier. I have no regrets. Not one. He looks at my fingers wrapped around his palm then back up at me. I think he’s shocked at my outward show of affection around the others, not to mention my forgiveness. I’m not. This is it for me. This is the start of our new future and if we can’t show our love and affection in front of each other then when can we?
York whistles softly. “Fuckingfinally,” he says, giving me an encouraging smile when I meet his gaze. Thank God for York. “You know I’m pretty sure you two dancing together was the hottest form of foreplay I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing. No wonder you stayed away from Titch for so long, man. You totally would’ve jizzed your pants if you’d allowed yourself to give in when we were younger,” he jokes, winking.
Dax snorts, and my cheeks flush.
Xeno, however, doesn’t crack a smile. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Jeez, take a fucking joke. Clearly you’re not at the bantering stage quite yet.” York rolls his eyes and leans back in his seat, taking a gulp of coffee but he smirks at me above the rim of the cup. He’s such a wind-up merchant and right now I adore him for trying to make light of a tenuous situation.
“Shame the rest of the fucking warehouse witnessed it too,” Zayn says pointedly, bringing the tentative truce crashing back to the ground. I would scowl at him if I didn’t want to make this any worse than it already is. Besides, he has a right to be angry. I can’t prevent him from feeling the way he does.
Dax grunts his agreement, folding his bulky arms across his chest. “Fucking stupid arse move.” He cuts a scathing look at Xeno. “What thefuckwere you thinking?”
“I told you. I wasn’t.”
“What kind of explanation is that?!” Zayn cuts in. “Pen could’ve been killed!”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” Xeno exclaims. “Every time I shut my goddamn eyes; I see what could’ve happened to Tiny. To youall. I acted on impulse. It’s not an excuse, just a fact. I can’t change it. I won’t fuck up again. I give you my word.” Xeno gives me a meaningful look and my stomach tightens at the dangerous promise within them.
“What’s done is done,” York states, always the peacekeeper. “The Collector is dead. I call that a motherfucking win.”
“Where the fuck did you disappear to?” Zayn asks, ignoring York’s attempt at smoothing over the cracks.
“I guess we really are doing this now,” Xeno mutters.
“You better have a good explanation for disappearing for a week then wreaking havoc the second you’re back.” He swipes a hand over his face, trailing his gaze from our clasped hands back up to Xeno.
“You know why that had to happen,” Xeno retorts heavily. “Hudson and I intercepted—”
“Don’t fucking patronise us. We’re fully aware why last night went the way it did, but I’m talking about the fact you fucking disappeared for a week with no fucking word. Where the fuck were you?” Anger and hurt clear in Zayn’s gaze.
All three of them wait for an explanation, and I understand in that moment that Xeno’s absence cut a lot deeper than any of them care to admit. They’re not just angry with how Xeno handled things, but also because he left without a word.
“I was here,” Xeno admits.
“You were here? Fucking unbelievable,” Zayn shakes his head. “So whilst we were covering for you with Jeb, trying to stop Pen from losing her damn mind, you were chilling here without a care in the goddamn world? You fucking prick.”
“I deserve that.”
“You deserve a throat punch too,” Dax mutters, scowling. “I’m happy to oblige.”
“Hey! Enough. If I can forgive Xeno, you three sure as hell can,” I say, stepping in. “I’m sure he had his reasons for leaving the way he did, but he’s here now. Weallare. That means something.” I smile, more tears welling in my eyes. “That means something tome. I have you back, all of you, and I will not let anger tear us apart again.I won’t.”
“Titch has a point,” York says looking at me with pride in his eyes. “I say we listen.”
I look between Dax and Zayn, both of them have their arms folded stubbornly across their chests. “I know you’re angry. You should’ve seen me earlier,” I say, a light laugh bursting out of my lips. Xeno glances at me and gives me a puzzled shake of his head, like he can’t believe how lucky he is to gain my forgiveness so easily. “But we’re beyond this now.”
“Agreed,” Dax grinds out. “But I swear to fuck, Xeno, I will kick your arse to Timbuktu if you ever put Kid’s life at risk like that again. Hear me?”
“I’m counting on it, brother,” Xeno responds, giving him a tight nod. “Ineedyou to keep me in check. I need all of you to remind me every day what’s important. If that means a throat punch, or a kick up the arse, then I accept the punishment. I’ll fucking take it willingly.”
“Done.” Dax picks up his coffee and swallows a mouthful, some of the stress leaving his shoulders.
“Zayn?” I ask, watching him carefully. He seems the most reluctant to let go of his anger. I squeeze Xeno’s hand and get up, circling the table to reach him. “Zayn, I need you to look at me. Turn your chair around and face me,” I say, echoing those words I said to him that night at Grim’s club when Jeb offered me up as a prize. It has the desired effect, and he looks up at me with pain-filled eyes as he makes room for me. I step between him and the table, resting my arse on the edge.
