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12
Mare
Can’t stay any longer, have to get home before work,I decided and got up from the bed. Glancing around the room, I searched for my clothes, quickly realizing there was nothing. All I had here was my driver’s license and the old cell that I had clutched in my hand.Surprise, surprise,I thought dryly. I hadn’t come in anything but my underwear and Ian’s jacket, so I didn’t know why I assumed there would be something for me to wear that would actually fit.
I stayed in the loose sweatpants and t shirt I’d woken up in and headed out into the hallway and followed the low murmur of voices into what looked to be the living room. There, Ian and Archer sat, beers in hand as they watched the television screen. It was odd to see them so domestic after so long. Sometimes, I forgot that they were just men.
I strode forward, straight towards the source of their entertainment, and turned with a flourish, putting my hands on my hips as they both looked up at me, watching curiously. “I want to go home,” I announced.
“No.” Ian went back to talking to Archer.
I growled. “I’m going,” I said.
Ian stopped and turned back to me with a sigh. “You’re not leaving this house,” he said.
“I have to,” I pressed. “I have to figure out a way to pay my rent, and I have a job to get back to. This isn’t like it used to be, Ian. I don’t have the kind of time to play with you like this anymore. With any of you. And you can’t keep me here.”
“Your rent’s been paid through the next two months,” Ian replied.
I blinked, shock filling me as I gaped at him.That couldn’t be what he just said. “What?”
“I paid your rent through the month after next,” he explained.
I didn’t know what to say to that. I should've been angry that he’d dare—but I wasn’t surprised. And if I was being honest with myself, after struggling so hard to keep my head above water, knowing that I didn’t have to pay for the next two months of rent was a relief. I felt the first strings of the weight holding me down being cut.No, I reminded myself,I can’t let this happen. I can’t let them just walk into my life again.Things were different. I couldn’t let them take over and control things. Not when they were at risk just by being near me.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said. When Ian would have spoken, I continued, cutting him off. “I appreciate it, but that still doesn’t change anything. I’m not staying here, Ian.”
We locked gazes, and I sucked in a breath at the intensity in his. Trapped in a battle of wills, I refused to look away. I was afraid if I did, it’d be giving in to what he wanted, and I knew I couldn’t do that. After several beats where I sensed Archer looking between the two of us, Ian finally sighed, closing his eyes and tipping his head back.
“Fine,” he bit out. “Archer.”
“Yeah?” Archer shot him a look, waiting for his orders.
“Take her back to her studio. Make sure the men I called delivered what I asked them to.”
“What men?” I snapped. “What did you have delivered?”
Ian’s eyes opened and zeroed back in on me. “Security cameras,” he said. “I had them installed in your studio and outside.”
“Wow, you’re really dedicated to this whole stalker thing, aren’t you?” I huffed, shifting to cross my arms tightly over my chest.When in doubt, sass the fuck out of them,I told myself.
Ian stood and set his beer down before moving closer. He towered over me, a veritable giant even though I wasn’t any shorter than the average female. “I’m dedicated to two things in this world,” he said slowly, his voice dark and full of warning. “One.” He lifted a finger. “My men. And two.” He lifted a second finger and pointed them both at me. “You, Mare.”
I swallowed and opened my mouth to say something, but no words emerged. The pure command and sheer intensity in his statement took my breath away, and I couldn’t seem to come up with anything. The edge of his mouth quirked before he leaned down and pressed a light kiss to the corner of my lips.
“Be a good girl for me, Mare.”
I wanted to respond with a smartass comment, tell him that we’d see, but I couldn’t do anything except nod numbly. That small, barely there kiss had stolen all of my defiance, completely wrapped it up, and sealed it away. Their fucking presence was messing with my senses, short circuiting my brain, and putting my actions on reset. I’d reverted to the girl I’d been back then—before witness protection, before I’d known what my father was truly capable of—when I was sure I’d been nothing more than a toy he’d played with and shared with his friends. Now though, I wasn’t so sure that’s what we’d been, but I didn’t dare open my mouth to ask.
It was only when he took a step back that I realized I hadn’t been breathing. Air rushed back into my lungs, expanding them as I inhaled, and watched him turn and leave the room. I pressed a hand over my heaving chest.What the fuck is it about him that leaves me such a mess?I wondered absently.
“Mare?”
Startled by Archer’s voice, I jumped and turned towards him. He, too, had stood and discarded his beer. “Yeah?” I squeaked, clearing my throat with a cough.
He chuckled. “You ready to leave now?” he asked.
I wasn’t. I really fucking wasn’t, but I nodded anyway. He held his hand out, and I forced myself to take it, letting him lead me from the room.
