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Duke Knight.
It suits him. Strong, dominant, immovable. I don’t understand how I know this, just that I do. Same as when he called me little girl. My soul felt like it clicked into place. It was as if there was this missing piece, and finally, I was given access to it, and I’m now whole.
The other men that join him are just as large, handsome, and intimidating, and I feel the same pull to them as I do with Duke. Again, not sure of the why, only that I belong to them.
The dark-haired one meets my eyes, and I feel the blush heating my cheeks, but I can’t look away. I’m enthralled, captured in his intense gaze, and despite my fear of men, these don’t scare me one bit.
When the blond kneels in front of me, his melted chocolate eyes softening and ignoring the way the damp grass is about to stain his jeans, I whimper.What the hell is with these involuntary responses?
“We’re not going to hurt you, little girl.” There it is, that nickname again. The one that cries out for me to leap into their arms and allow them to take away all my pain and fear. Biting my lip, he cups my cheek in his warm palm, and I turn into the touch. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this kind of comfort. “My name is Lorde Prince.” Nibbling my lip, I don’t miss their names’ royal meanings, and it has me insanely curious about the third man.
He watches me with the eyes of a person who recognizes that he’s found the one thing in life he’s never going to let go. But there’s a darkness there. A possessive twitch he can’t quite hide. I catch the way his jaw clenches the longer I stare, and I realize how rude it is, so I drop my gaze.
“We need to go,” he grinds out to the others. His tone sounds like my father’s. Exasperated and annoyed. At least, it’s not like my mother, filled with hate and intolerance.
Lorde retreats with his hand, and I immediately miss his touch. I want to grab it and drag it back to me, hold onto it until I feel heat penetrating my bones again. Instead, I curl my fingers into fists and refrain from reaching out for any of them.
The one who has yet to speak to me steps closer and offers a hand. His height is intimidating as he towers over me, but I don’t feel threatened. All three of them, they project safety. Something I haven’t felt in quite a long time.
Accepting his outstretched hand, he easily pulls me to my feet, but my side twinges and pinches, causing me to cry out. A rush of tears crowds my eyes, and each man moves to surround me, their hands roving across my body, searching for injury.
There isn’t one.
Not a new one, anyway.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” my dark prince asks, his eyes filled with concern and anger. Lifting the side of my sweater, I’ve forgotten I’m wearing my full-body swimsuit, and the scar I abhor is hidden from view.
Shaking my head, I drop the garment and begin walking away. I’ve never felt more unprepared for anything in my entire life, which says a lot because when I was sixteen, I swam in the Olympics and won silver. I’m a champion athlete and have been since I was a small child. Nothing has stopped me from achieving anything I’ve ever set out to do.
But these three men have rendered me mute.
When I try to speak, I just whimper. I can’t seem to form words around them, and I blame my parents. The only man I’ve ever been around is my father, and his dismissive attitude towards me all these years has me terrified to speak to these men who seem to want to listen to what I have to say.
Or do they?They haven’t really asked me anything other than if I was hurt. Everything else has just been them trying to keep me calm.
They catch up to me quickly. Not that I expected differently since my father hired them. Though I’m still not sure why, I’m not in any danger. I learned my lesson over the summer.
No more friends. They can hurt me every bit as deeply as family.
Holding Duke’s coat to my chest, he eases it from my fingers before wrapping it around my shoulders. I give him a grateful smile, and he winks at me. I’m learning he’s a bit of a flirt.
An imposing hand slips to the small of my back, and I turn my head to see the man whose name I still don’t know staring straight ahead, but his calloused fingers seem to dig into my spine, like he’s trying to hold on to me without it being obvious.
Lorde jogs a few feet ahead, his head moving constantly, scanning for something I must be unaware of. My flip-flops are the only noise as we move, and the further we travel through Central Park, the more I realize how stupid I have been.
I’m aware of how dangerous the park is at night. The many terrible things that could have happened to me if not for these three men finding me. The trembling in my body from the cold breeze intensifies, and soon, I’m hardly able to put one foot in front of the other.
“Hey, hey, what’s this?” Duke asks, but it’s the other man who pulls me into his arms.
One hand rubs up and down my back, and the other cups the back of my head. I smell like chlorine, and my hair is a tangled mess, but he doesn’t seem to care as I clutch his shirt in tight fists.
“Lorde, go get the Escalade. Meet us at the entrance.” His voice rumbles in his chest. Scooping me up in his arms, he whispers in my ear, “Sshh, little girl, we’ll take care of you.” And for some inexplicable reason, I believe him.
I want them to take care of me, to show me that not everyone in the world is evil and out for blood. Because I no longer believe I’m meant to be a part of the big picture.
My love of swimming disappeared the day I was shot due to being the best. Jealousy ruined my life.
My mom.
