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“Thanks.” I nod and climb off the bed. I walk over and take the items from Mara-Lee, seeing they’re all new. It must be stuff she already had on hand. She always keeps shit on hand for the girls who work for us.
“No problem. See you at the table, you can’t miss breakfast. It’s waffles,” Mara-Lee announces. Pivoting on her heel, she leaves, closing the door behind her.
Glancing over to Arwen, I hold the clothes out. “Why don’t you take a quick shower?” I suggest, nodding in the direction of the bathroom.
Arwen’s cheeks blush as she nods. “Okay.” She climbs off the bed and meets me in the center of the room. “I won’t be long.”
“Take all the time you need,cuore mio,” I murmur, calling her a term I’ve used a few times already this morning, and I’m surprised to be using it at all. I’ve never called anyone my heart. Never wanted to.
Watching her go into the bathroom and close the door, I let out a harsh breath. What am I doing? I want this woman, but I shouldn’t. She’s Danti’s little sister. Arwen deserves more than what I can give her. Hell, she deserves the fucking world.
I can see the hurt and pain she’s endured in her life when I look into her eyes. Those beautiful green eyes hold so many secrets, I wonder how she’s survived this long. When I’d cleaned her up last night and changed her into one of my T-shirts, I didn’t miss the brutal scars on her back. It looks as if someone took a whip and beat her to hell with it.
Still, it doesn’t take away from her beauty.
Fuck me. I’m screwed when it comes to Arwen. It’s like she’s my very own form of ecstasy, and I haven’t even touched her, let alone kissed those gorgeous lips. Yeah, I’ve gotta get my head straight before the two of us head into the kitchen for breakfast.
* * *
Holding Arwen’s hand, I lead her to the table. Mara-Lee is setting everything out just as Finley, Vex, and Eliya take their seats.
Each of them twisting to look at us as Arwen and I step into the kitchen.
“Morning,” I grunt and pull a chair out for Arwen. Once she’s seated, I take the one right next to her and throw my arm over the back of hers.
“Everything okay?” Finley asks, already diving into the waffles.
Mara-Lee makes the best breakfast foods. We all love it—especially Finley since she’s been pregnant.
“Yeah, everything’s good.” I nod.
“Good,” Finley says and smiles at Arwen. “I’m Finley, and this beautiful woman next to me is my girlfriend and partner, Ainslee, but most people call her Vex.”
I chuckle at Finley’s introduction as Vex snorts.
“I think I can introduce myself,” Vex snickers, breaking up food for Dominic to feed himself.
“Nice to meet you both,” Arwen utters meekly.
Leaning into Arwen, I press my cheek to hers and whisper, “Remember, you’re safe here. You don’t have to be scared.”
I want her to feel comfortable. I promised to keep her safe and I will. No matter what it takes.
Chapter Seven
Arwen
Sitting next to Cedric, I’m feeling completely out of my element. Not that I really have one to begin with. I’ve never sat down to breakfast with family and that’s what this feels like. Well, all except for one woman.
Normally I’m not allowed to meet anyone’s eyes. I’m always to keep them cast to the floor. If I didn’t, I’d be punished. I guess you can say I could easily be punished for simply breathing wrong. However, being around these people, they continuously attempt to keep drawing me into the conversation—no matter how short my answers are.
“Cedric, are you gonna be going to Night’s Bliss today?” Finley asks, nibbling on a piece of crisp bacon.
“Think I’m gonna work from my office here today,” Cedric grumbles. “I’ve gotta go through some applications and deal with some of the staffing issues.”
“What staffing issues?” Mara-Lee asks, furrowing her brows.
I don’t know what it is, I truly wish I did, but I can’t put my finger on it when it comes to her. She’s so familiar to me.
