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His eyes closed in frustration. “It’s killing me to see you like this,” he said. “I’m sorry we failed you.”
It was my turn to groan in annoyance. “I need you guys to stop apologizing. It’s getting really fucking old. You didn’t want this to happen? Well, neither did I, but I’m not going to sit here and convince you guys that I’m alright. The bruises will fade. The trauma always stacks up, but it isn’t going to change anything.”
“Damn, that was dark,” Weston said with a little chuckle. That was enough to pull the smallest of smiles onto my lips, and he let out a triumphant laugh and gently pulled me into his lap.
“I knew she was in there somewhere.” He hummed happily. “That shit does suck, and I won’t stop apologizing because it pisses me off that it happened in the first place.”
Hayes shifted in his seat to draw my attention to him. “We could sit here and lie to you and tell you that it won’t happen again, but the truth is we can’t. We aren’t able to predict the future, and we can’t be everywhere at once. I’d rather be honest with you than tell you pretty lies.”
“We can promise that we will kill anyone who hurts you,” Cyrus added on. The venom in his voice sent a shiver through me.
Weston grinned at his father’s words. “I will happily hunt them down and dismember them, piece by painful piece.” No one reacted to his violent promise.
“We also won’t leave you as vulnerable as we did,” Hayes said. “This place has better security and no balconies.”
“There’s no way you guys can be up my ass twenty-four-seven. I would lose my mind and so would you. It’s unreasonable, and if one more fucking person tells me to give you my life story so you can protect me better, I will cut off your dick and feed it to the wolves.”
“We don’t have wolves here,” Weston protested. “Maybe raccoons or coyotes at best.”
“Then I’ll feed your cocks to them,” I amended.
All four men looked at me with wicked grins on their faces as if they were happy that I was threatening their lives and their manhood, knots be damned.
“It’s nice to see you angry. It’s better than being a zombie,” Hayes pointed out in the blunt, casual way that he spoke.
Cyrus made a frustrated sound that sounded like a choked growl.
“What my idiot son is trying to say is that we’re glad you’re talking back to us now. We know that recovery isn’t going to be easy, but we’re going to take a few days here regardless. Someone will be here at all times while we continue to figure out…”
I narrowed my eyes when he trailed off. “What, exactly? The leadsIgave you?” I asked with as much attitude as I could manage.
He nodded, the motion underscored by a soft chuckle. “Exactly. I know you’re mad that we won’t tell you everything even though we’re asking you for information. But we’ve never been closer to this, and I’m not putting you at risk by involving you further. I think that our jobs are closer than we anticipated. One of us is going to have to give and let the other in soon.”
“Meaning me?” I clarified. “Because from here it seems you aren’t willing to give me an inch.”
“Actually, I’d love to give you about a solid eight to nine inches,” Weston countered. It was such a quick response that I doubted he even meant to say it, but he didn’t look the least bit embarrassed. Everyone ignored him, but my stomach clenched at the idea. I’d go for a quick fuck right now instead of this conversation.
We were at a stalemate. Cyrus was right about one thing. At some point, one of us had to give in.However, it wasn’t going to be me.
ChapterThirteen
Bailey
“Why is this building empty?” I asked as we walked inside the campaign office. There were a few straggling workers here and there, but for the most part, it was a ghost town.
Someone walked by and laughed, a haughty, judgmental sound. The thin, pale woman grabbed a memo off of the closest desk and handed it over.
“You’d think the senator’s prize trophy would be the first to know.” Her annoying laughter quieted as she walked away. Weston started to follow her, but I grabbed the back of his jacket to stop him.
“No fighting petty bitches. That’s a rule,” I told him as I read over the memo. “Apparently, the senator is gone for the week. Did you guys know?”
“No.” Sterling shrugged. “I’m surprised he didn’t tell you, though. She was right. Youarethe favorite around here.”
Hayes pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Really, Sterling? That’s how you want to start today? Do you ever not put your foot in your mouth?”
“No, he’s incapable,” I answered for him, pushing past the alpha to get to my desk.
Only it wasn’t there when I turned the corner.
