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I spun on the balls of my feet, my right leg still bent at the knee, my foot lifted. I blinked as I tried to process his request.
“A bunch of guys I just met want me to come and stay with them?” I asked. His face fell, and I struggled to understand why.
“No, we didn’t mean it like that!” Porter blurted, confusing me more.
“Huh? You don’t want me to stay with you? Or, you do? Sorry, you’re going to have to spell it out. I spend most of my time talking to myself, watchingPhoenix Hospital, and eating snacks while playing with my chemistry set. Sometimes altogether, sometimes separately.” I waved my hands in the air. “What I mean is, it doesn’t leave much time for boys.”
His smile returned as he stepped forward. “First off, we’re men, not boys.” He winked, sending flutters through my belly. “And I thought you were scared about being in a house with a bunch of guys you don’t know,” he admitted, taking my hands in his.
I crooked my head to the side, replaying his words. “Um, no, I didn’t think about that. Assassin, remember?” I giggled. “I, um, was making sure it wasn’t a prank.”
Phoenix placed his hands on my shoulders, his body pressing into my back. In between the twins, their intoxicating scent of rain and citrus swirled around me. They touched me together, sending my nerves off-kilter as I peered at Porter. One of his hands moved to my cheek, cupping it as he stared into my eyes.
“I think we were meant to find one another, Raven. You deserve all the best things in life. To be pampered and adored. Cherished. We’ll give that to you if you let us.”
Whoa. My eyes felt so big I worried they would fall out of my head. My heart galloped in my chest, my skin heating under his stare. What he was offering might sound crazy or ridiculous to other girls, but I’d never been one to fit into the status quo. His words felt like a promise, a declaration built on a lifetime of searching for that missing piece. I wanted to be that piece.
“Okay.”
Porter grinned, his eyes practically sparkling. Phoenix bent down, kissing a spot behind my ear.
“You’re ours now, pipsqueak. I’ll never let you go. Please don’t break our hearts.” His words were a whispered plea, emotion thick in their meaning.
I leaned back, staring into his deep green eyes. While they were the same color as his brothers, Phoenix’s were more haunted, mirroring some of the pain I held in mine. Porter’s were the color of grass after a good rain, but Phoenix’s were the dark green of an evergreen tree, bordering on black.
“I promise,” I said, not scared to make the declaration.
Perhaps it was a flaw, but it was one I definitely accepted about myself. I’d never been afraid to go all in. When I decided on something, I stuck with it, no matter what. Some of my tutors found my stubbornness endearing, while others said it would get me killed in the end. But right now, I didn’t care whether it was a flaw or not because the smile Phoenix gave me was worth everything.
For so long, I’d been given everything I wanted—food, clothes, sisters, knowledge, skills, and toys (both kid and adult versions). But in the past few hours, I’d earned smiles from a group of men I didn’t think gave them often, and I knew it was exactly what I’d been missing.
Companionship. Laughter. Love.
I wasn’t deluded enough to think I was in love with these guys, but I could see myself falling for them quickly. Being an assassin, I understood tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed, making me not waste moments on societal standards of do’s and don'ts.
“Alright, Porter, you grab my things from the bathroom, and Phoenix, you can grab my electronics. I’ll change and pack all my clothes.”
The three of us got to work, and I laid out an outfit to change into. A soft pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt called to me.
“Don’t look,” I ordered, keeping my back to them as I pulled off the scrubs and leather jacket, placing the sweatshirt over my tank top. Sitting on the bed, I removed the wretched boots and wiggled out of the pants. I panted for a second, sitting in my underwear before I could pull the leggings on. Once I had them up, I laced up my Converse and shoved all the dirty clothes into a separate compartment.
“Okay, I’m done,” I said, letting them know they could look again. Porter handed me my bathroom bag, and I set it in the suitcase, glancing around at everything else. Phoenix had all of my electronics in my bookbag, the strap over his shoulder.
“I guess that’s it,” I said, zipping my suitcase up and sitting it on the floor. Porter took the handle from me, and I motioned for them to exit back through the adjoining room. I took a few seconds to wipe any areas I might’ve touched in my fight, hobbling out of the room a few seconds later.
“You’re hurt!” Rueben exclaimed, rushing toward me. His brows furrowed, his lips frowning as he bent to me, checking me over.
“I just twisted it. It will be back to normal tomorrow,” I said, waving him off.
His eyes shot to mine, a storm brewing in them. I placed my hand on his cheek, and his eyes closed, his nostrils flaring as he took a few deep breaths. I felt the sudden urge to do something to make it okay for him.
“How about you give me a piggyback ride, Ruebear? That way, I stay off it?”
His eyes flew open, and he nodded, turning around so I could hop onto his back. The twins now watched me with worry on their faces at missing it. I felt terrible that I’d hidden my injury from them. It hadn’t been on purpose. I was just so used to taking care of myself.
Rueben stood up, my eyes wide as I realized how tall he was. “So, this is what it looks like from up here?” I teased, hoping to settle some of the tension.
The guys relaxed a little but still seemed worried I’d fall apart in the next second. Acting like Rueben was a horse, I made an imaginary whip sound as I twirled my hand in the air.
