AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Incredibly hot, sexy ass, but still an ass.
“Why don’t we head back to our room? Wade has gone for the night, and I’d really like to get some answers.” Every bit of the frustrated aggression that had been dogging all of us earlier was stamped over Nato.
Jari nodded his head, and Sage met Yunez’s gaze with a steady one of his own.
Straightening away from me, Yunez sobered.
“Ah. I see.” He fingered a lock of hair falling in his eyes and pushed it to the side. “Then let’s go.”
Jari slid his fingers through mine to walk with me through the hall. I smiled at the Mannos who glanced our way. Waved at a few. Once we passed through the double doors, the rest of his castle was mostly empty. There were only a few times the place was bustling and that was usually in the mornings, when the Mannos went to the field, or when they were rushing to dinner.
What did the people do the rest of the time?
When we reached our suite after a continuously building silence, I waited for Nato to unlock the door, and once it was open, Sage went first.
Since the other Mazza had made an appearance, they made a habit of preceding me into any room to double and triple check there was no surprises. Especially since Yunez lost the sight.
We filed into the main living area, arranging ourselves on the couches and chairs, except for Nato. He stood in the center of the room. Should I be up there with him? This was as much my stand as it was his.
No, I’d let him be the voice. We were in a group relationship and the last thing I wanted was for Yunez to think we were ganging up on him.
Although, Sage’s death stares were enough of a clue, if he was wondering. I almost grinned. Damn, despite our current situation, these boys made me smile. And Sage’s affinity to be a jerk just made me love him all the more. It was just who he was.
“You have me where you want me, now, what are you going to do with me?” Yunez winked at me, even though his face was completely straight.
“Something has to change. We can’t keep going on as we are.” Strong words from Nato as he kept his body relaxed and his chin up.
Yunez let out a calm breath. “What would you change, Donato?”
I winced. The use of a full name felt like a reprimand, but it was probably just Yunez becoming more serious.
“How about not excluding us as if we were your students. That’s where I would start first.” Nato crossed his arms and braced his feet apart.
Rand rolled his lips as his gaze bounced between the two.
“Are you not my students? You are not anywhere near prepared enough to go up against the other Mazza. After that fight, I am more scared than ever for our lives. I am never scared, not like this. For us to stand a chance, you all need to be better skilled, a more cohesive unit. That is not now.” He shook his head, and the vehemence behind the action broke my heart a little.
Nato blew out a harsh breath. “What do you want us to do, Yunez? Every day we run through the same training drills, eat the same food, see the same people, experience the same failures. Is this how we’re supposed to win the war?”
Yunez’s brows lowered. “I see.”
“Do you?” Jari piped up. He almost never inserted himself in the serious conversations. But now, the somber look on his face clogged my throat.
Sage sighed and nodded. “We’re drowning here, Yunez. We’re quite literally fucking drowning. Every single day that nothing changes, we’re losing a little more steam.”
Yunez nodded, dropping his chin to his chest. We all gave him the time he needed to think. When he raised his head, he looked directly at me.
“Is this how you feel too, my love?” His voice softened in something like regret.
Sucking in a deep, fortifying breath, I closed my eyes for a second, gathering my thoughts. Because I did feel the same exact way as the guys. I was getting defeated before the battle even started. We got our asses kicked one time, and without any visible progress, I was falling under the nasty cloud of self-doubt and unworthiness.
Then again, Yunez cared so much. Some might even say too much. His entire life had been dedicated to his cause. To get the future—our future—that he wanted.
Our happily ever after.
And damn, but I felt torn.
I opened my eyes and met his beautiful violent eyes. “I’m sorry, Yunez. I wish I were stronger. I wish I had more patience, but I agree with the rest of the Lusty Legion. We need to do something different. Because whatever we’re doing, it’s not working.”
